Posted: 8/7/2011 12:10:18 PM EDT
|
I started at the end of 2006 knowing I needed to change careers for myself, my wife and my unborn son. But, after 8 years with the same company I had no idea what I wanted or could do. So I started making a list of everything Iwanted to do...
... some got crossed off immediately. I was too old to begin training to be astronaut, I could not afford (monetarily) to be a private in the Army and moving was out of the question. But there was one choice that was at the top of the list and was attainable, becoming an LEO. So, in January of 2007 I started college (I only had a GED at the time) and testing with the the surrounding agencies. I quickly found that my lack of experience in anything related to Law Enforcement was not only apparent but completely detrimental. Almost every time I did a ride along the Question was always asked "Have you considered our Reserve Program?" In March of 2008 I was hired as a Reserve Officer and I took a break from school to go through the Reserve Officer Academy. I graduated the academy, got FTO done in about a year (part time remember) and was out on the street being a cop. I excelled at it, and what I did not really excel at I made up for in hard work. Needless to say this really made my Sergeants and the rest of the patrol staff happy. Because of the way the reserve program worked and because I was certified through CJTC, I got a ton of freedom and therefore got to experience many things that other reserves do not. About this point is where the economy was tanking, agencies were not hiring, and I am actively looking for a job. To me the year of 2010 seemed the most dismal. I was working full time to pay the mortgage, working part time to gain experience to change careers (and for the minuscule amount of money it provided), attending college, and most importantly being a father and husband. But, I really wanted to be a cop and 2010 moved on as time does. As the year progressed I graduated college with an AA, the mortgage got paid, my wife and son still love me, I tested and did oral board as they popped up and I continued to bust my ass for the PD. In Febuary 2011 I ended up doing an oral board that I thought I bombed  really badly. But in May that agency called for a second interview  and a week later they called with a conditional offer.
I went through the hiring process just as I did when I got the Reserve job, Poly, Psych, Background, Medical. However, it took a bit longer this time as there were no academy dates set in stone. Now my academy PT test is on the 17th and I start the 18th I would not for a million dollars give up the way I came about this job or the sacrifice of time it took. While I am sad to leave my Dept I am happy to join a new one. Monday I turn in my Letter of resignation and my equipment, Friday I will work the last day in the place I have been over 13 years. The 18th starts a new chapter 
|
