Red Rocks…Not just for Concerts anymore!!

Week 4, Day 1

Well, it’s hard for me to believe that we are going into week 4. But on the other hand, we have done so much in 4 weeks that it feels like we should be father along. We wrapped up week 3 with the gut wrenching Red Rocks PT session. We were told throughout the day, the PT session would end when someone puked. I am happy to report it wasn’t me. Actually, nobody puked!! I think the instructors were shocked, yet excited that we all hung in there and everyone finished strong. We helped each other up the stairs, the bleachers and of course the planter boxes. Who knew that Red Rocks could cause that much pain? My knees and shins have seen better days, but my enthusiasm is strong. Most of the people I talked to throughout today’s class felt the same way, which is good, since we are going back to Red Rocks next week. GREAT!!!

Getting ready to run the stairs

Up and over the planter boxes

Finishing with the bleachers

We had a relaxed day today, with CPR and first aid classes. It was fun to be out of the classroom for the day and actually doing some hands-on work, instead of just sitting and listening. I know for me it’s hard to just sit all day. I would rather be out doing something. I know those days will end soon enough, but I still can’t help but feel a bit exhausted with all the classes right now. The rest of the week is filled with more law classes, but towards the end of the week we actually get into some classes on patrol. Patrol is where my heart lies. I hope to make it through my training in detentions and eventually test out, to get on the street. Most of the instructors we have had, say that if we want the experience then patrol is the way to go.

CPR & AED training

Basic first aid

What happened here?

Today, we started our week with a memorial formation to pay tribute to Fallen Officer’s of Colorado. It’s a beautiful way to start the day and it sets a tone for the rest of the week. Tomorrow morning we will start our day again, with a memorial formation and honor another 41 fallen officers. As I stand in formation, at parade rest and my head bowed, I listen to everyone say the name of a fallen officer. I can’t help but think about what their story was and how they died. I get a glimpse of what their families may have gone through and how the news was broken to them on that day. Then as it gets closer for me to snap to attention and say my officer’s name, I get nervous. I get nervous because I want to do that officer’s memory proud. That I have honored them properly and I can’t help but wonder…if someday an academy class just like this one will say my name or any of my classmates’ names. It seems like a horrible thing to think, but it is all around us. Just recently there was a shooting in Wheat Ridge, where a woman’s life was taken by another. One of the first arriving officer’s on scene is a friend of mine. I can’t help but think; if my friend was just a few seconds sooner would the gun have been turned on them? Today and tomorrow, I will read a name from the fallen officer’s list…a person I don’t know, but how long will that last?

So even though I am sitting bored in a classroom, or doing a CPR class for the hundredth time. No matter what we do in this academy, if we don’t give 110% to everything who are we really cheating? The instructors tell us often, it doesn’t matter if you’re the fastest or the biggest…it’s that you didn’t give up. So we don’t give up in class, we don’t give up on our studies, we don’t give up at Red Rocks and we don’t give up on each other. It’s an important lesson we are all learning in this academy. We are entering a tough world, where most of the time people only call for us when they need us or when they are in trouble. We are learning how to rely on each other, A LOT!!!

Are we lawyers, yet?

Week 3, Day 4

This has been a somewhat tough week and what I mean by that, is the classes. We have had a lot of information thrown at us for the last two weeks, but for some reason this week just seems very overwhelming. We have had classes on hate crimes, how to survive your law enforcement career and of course more law classes. I wanted to be a part of this profession (not to sound cliché) but, to help people. I just never imaged it would include so many law classes. I guess I don’t know what I was thinking, but in order to uphold the law…well we need to know it first. We had a class today on the U.S. Constitution. A lot of us were thinking…GREAT, the Constitution!! But I am here to tell you, this instructor was not only one of the funniest instructors I have ever had, but also really good. By the end of the class, I had a grasp of the Constitution and got a great refresher on American History. The last two weeks have really been filled with law classes. But we are starting to put together what types of crimes we can charge offenders with and how to look up the crimes in our “Blue Book”. The Blue Book translates to the Colorado Revised Statute book. Basically the Bible for all law enforcement officers, as well as attorneys. When I first saw this book, I thought there’s no way I am going to learn what this book contains and the print is so small. But now it’s becoming second nature.

So this week has not only been a long week for academics, but we have had a couple PT sessions thrown in as well. We had PT on Monday, which consisted of a formation run. We ran up the bike trail from our building to the Taj Mahal and back. It was a good run. A couple of the students called cadence for the run, which was awesome and motivating. We had another PT session today that consisted of a type of “Cross fit” training. We do sprints in between push-ups, crunches, flutter kicks and weight lifting. It is an exhausting workout, but we push each other through it and NOBODY gives up. Everyone pushes through the pain and we keep going. Tomorrow we have our first PT session at Red Rocks. We have all heard the stories and I think for most of us, we are just not sure what to expect. I know for myself, I will eat a light lunch just incase it wants to re-visit me while I am running the stairs. I will fill you in on how this session goes.

Tomorrow morning, at 0750 hours we are doing a memorial service for the police officers who have died in the state of Colorado. This is a way for us to pay tribute to them and their families and also for us to understand what this job entails. So each of us has been given a name of an officer, the agency they were with and the year they died. I have the name of John Spellman, from Denver Police Department, who died in 1906. I actually did some research on him and found out that he died on Monday, June 18, 1906 in Denver on 19th Street. He was attempting to stop and arrest three drunken individuals, when he was fatally shot. What is important about remembering the officers who have gone before us is…this could be anyone of us in this line of work. You know the old adage, everyone runs away from trouble and we run towards it. So I know for me, this is not just a name but a person who died doing what he probably loved to do and also to say we still remember you and thank you for your sacrifices.

This is No Joke

Week 3, Day 1

In formation getting briefed about the PT test

Well, we are starting week 3 and it finally feels as though, I am starting to get a rhythm down. For example: when to get up in the mornings (minus the snow storms) and when to get to school (without speeding). What to eat for breakfast (to get me through to lunch) and what to eat for lunch (to get me through the afternoon PT sessions). When to study when I get home and then what time I should go to bed. This all may seem very trivial and somewhat ridiculous, but this program demands a lot out of you, and this is just to get by for 1 day. Now, let’s throw in the schedule we had on Friday of last week. Friday morning we had our first written test, that consisted of all the material we had learned from the last 2 weeks. After we were done with the written test, we had our first PT test. It was a stressful day, but the good news; we got to wear PT gear for the remainder of the day. It’s the small things that make me happy.

The written exam wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I was really worried. To tell the truth, I was more worried about the PT test. I have been working out for months now, getting ready for this academy and I didn’t want to look like…..well a female. Being a female in any male dominated profession is hard and it’s even harder when you have to prove yourself physically to the men.

Well, my reign as the Class Sergeant ended on Friday and I can say I was not too sorry to see it go. Being responsible for the actions or inactions of 40 other people can be a little tough. Okay, at times it can be pretty miserable. For example: on Thursday night before we left for the evening I put out the word for everyone to bring ALL of there gear for PT, which includes hat and gloves. On Friday morning, when we got to the track to run the PT test…well some people decided to do their own thing. That does not bring a team together, when people are doing their own thing. So, it goes without saying, we did our PT test followed by an additional 82 push-ups for individuality. I know for the most part we are coming together; it is just taking some people a little longer to get with the program. Having been in the military for the last 16 years, I have seen this phase of training and it always gets better. Right now, my arms are sore as hell from all the push-ups.

So as we start week 3, we are finally in uniforms. We are wearing black pants with black polo shirts and spit shined boots. We had a formal uniform inspection first thing this morning, which for the most part went well. And as a team, we looked GREAT!!! Finally, we are looking like academy recruits. When you have to actually put on a uniform to go to work everyday, it makes you stand tall and want to look good. I was looking around the room today, thinking “Holy Crap, I am in a police academy”. I guess the nerves have worn off and the realism of this training program has set in.

So the things like what to eat for breakfast and how much time I dedicate to studying may seem trivial…but it is my life now and will be until June 19th. For the people out there, reading these blogs and want to go through this academy I can tell you this….get in shape and be prepared to do some HARD work. This program is no joke and will definitely test you, but if you love it as much as I do and the rest of my classmates do…well then this program is for you.

Push-up test

Sit-up test

1.5 mile run

Time to Get Serious

Week 2, Day 3


Well last week was the get to know you stage, it was a little like the first week of school. Everyone was learning names and getting to hear what type of backgrounds everyone has and what agencies we are all with. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office law enforcement academy not only trains Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies, but they train police officers and deputies from other local agencies as well. In this academy class we have representatives from Arvada P.D., Wheat Ridge P.D., Douglas and Boulder County Sheriff’s Offices, Avon P.D., Vail P.D. and CU P.D. Yes, CU actually has a police department, who knew.

All of the recruits in the academy have a wide variety of backgrounds and come from all over the country. We have a recruit from Wales, one from Louisiana and then some that were born and raised in Jefferson County. We have people that have just graduated from college, some that were and still are in the military and others who have master’s degrees. Like I said in my last blog we have 41 recruits and out of the 41, there are 8 female recruits. So as you can see it is a diverse group. But we have one thing in common….we all want to be police officers. We have fought hard to get here and we really want to do well. We want to prove that we deserve to be here and in 20 weeks we will graduate and be able to serve the citizens of various communities.

Each week the academy staff picks 2 recruits to be the class sergeant and the assistant class sergeant. In the military we refer to this as “Voluntold”, instead of volunteer. So for this week I was given that honor and it is an honor. But don’t get me wrong, it is not easy. Not only do I have to keep up with my studies, my physical training, but I have to answer to the academy staff. I am the representative for the class and anything that needs to get done or is wrong with the class….well I have to explain to academy staff why it was not accomplished. Yesterday, we did 92 push-ups because as a group we failed to fill out the required class evaluations that are due everyday. So we got down on the ground in our suits and dress clothes and pushed the floor. I think for some it was an eye opener. The academy staff is serious when they say “GET IT DONE

On Monday of this week, we had our first physical training (PT) session. We all assembled at 0800 hours ready to go. Well, almost ready. Monday morning the weather here at the academy was very cold and the winds were gusting, what seemed like hurricane force winds. So we were all dressed in sweats, hats and gloves, with the hopes that the instructors would get lost on their way to PT and it would be cancelled. NO SUCH LUCK!!! So we ran or kind of shuffled into the wind and up and down all the hills the instructors could find, for about an hour. We had some people fall out of formation for one reason or another and we as a group would circle back and pick them up and continue on. WE LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND!! It was a motivating PT session.

I will say this….this class, really knows how to motivate each other and we are coming together as a team. That is good in the eyes of the instructors, but it helps when we are one cohesive unit. We get to know each others strengths and weaknesses, and by doing that, we will be able to help each other through the next 20 weeks and graduate 41 strong. I want to end this blog with a poem I found and one I ready often. It reminds me why I am in this academy and the type of person that I am….I hope it rings true for others.

A Warrior’s Heart
By Anthony W. Busch

As I awake from my slumber,
My mind on my task,
I don my armor,
And walk the warrior’s path.

I am ready to fight;
Not for glory or fame,
And more importantly not to elevate my name.

I do walk this path, each and every day,
My life on the line and it’s not for the pay.

My task is hard and tears I have shed,
For the horrors I’ve seen that are stuck in my head.

But I make you this promise as I begin my quest;
I will protect you and your family and even your guest.

So close your eyes knowing I will do my best,
And know without doubt, tonight you can safely rest.

Please trust in your heart every word I have said.
May I never betray your trust.
I would rather be dead.

For this is my charge and a promise I swore,
Tonight is the night that I shall go to war.

And if I should live to see this day end,
I will rest my head and this pray again…

LORD, watch over my sheep as now I must sleep,
And forgive me my slumber,
My promise I must keep!

God, grant me this wish that when I awake,
Today in their life a difference I will make.

As I awake from my slumber,
My mind on my task,
I don my armor,
Again today, I walk the warrior’s path.

Class motto “BY COURAGE AND ARMS”

Week 1, Day 4

Academy Class 2009-1

The first day getting briefed by academy staff

Well, we are into our first week at the academy and it seems like we are coming together as a team relatively quick. I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop…..it’s just too good to be true. Of course, we are still wearing dress attire because most of the recruits don’t have all their uniforms items yet….so the academy staff really doesn’t want us doing push-ups or flutter kicks in our nice clothes. So I figure once we are in uniform, then the positive re-enforcements will start. We have 41 people in our class and we have been warned it will be one push-up for each of us. You can do the math. I can’t wait for that to start….NOT!!!

Practicing formations

The academy is run as a paramilitary training program, which is good and bad. Good because it has structure and organization. Bad, because so many people in this academy have not been in the military and they will push the envelope and see what they can get away with.

We were told from day one, that poor driving habits like tailgating, speeding and for the most part driving like an idiot…will not be tolerated. Well, we have already had one person test the instructors. A recruit was turned in to the training staff for doing just that. Like I said before…it’s only a matter of time before the push-ups will start.

The training room

On the positive side, we have accomplished quite a bit this week. We came together and got our class motto, “By Courage and Arms”. This will stay with us the entire academy. The academy staff will even order a streamer to be hung from the Guidon (that’s the academy flag that we carry everywhere) that has our academy dates and the motto. It may seem trivial to some, but every time we carry that Guidon somewhere we can see our streamer. That’s MOTIVATING!!

Our class motto, it's all becoming a reality

We started doing facing movements (left, right and about faces) and we began practicing formations. Formations are what we use to get from one place to another. What I mean by that is, marching or running as one big unit. That too is very motivating. When you see all 41 of us coming towards you, with the Guidon and doing everything as “One”, it really is something to see. We just started practicing these 2 days ago and already it looks and sounds AWESOME!! Can you tell I am just a little motivated to be a part of this academy?

We will have our first formation run on Monday morning. I will update my blog with how that goes. I included some pictures from class this week so everyone can see what we see everyday and for the next 20 weeks.

Introductions

I am 38 years-old and I am from Denver, CO. I grew up in Durango, CO and joined the U.S. Navy right out of high school.

I spent 6 years on active duty and traveled the world. I had a 5 year break in service, after which time I missed the military so I joined the Navy Reserves. I came back into the Navy Reserves as a Navy Corpsman, where I served with the Marines. This included a deployment to Iraq. During my break in service, I put myself through school and became a surgical assistant. I spent 12 years in the operating room, until I became interested in forensics and again went back to school. I graduated from Grossmont College in San Diego, CA with an Associates Degree in Forensic Technology. I took my degree and my medical background and went to work for the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office as a Medical Examiner Investigator.

After Hurricane Katrina I felt that I could do more with my military career, so I left the Navy Reserves and joined the National Guard. The National Guard has more to offer in humanitarian missions, and it seemed more appropriate for what I wanted to do in life. In March 2008, I graduated from the Army Military Police Academy. I graduated with honors, including the Sergeant Major’s award of excellence.

I moved to Denver in April 2008, where I was hired as a Deputy Coroner for Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. I worked there until my appointment to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Academy.

I believe my purpose in life is to serve people, in one way or another. I feel that my knowledge, education and life experiences have helped me over the years accomplish that goal. My life experiences have made me a well rounded person, who definitely thinks outside the box.

I am looking forward to starting the academy and again going back to school. I have tested with several different agencies and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is by far the best department I have worked with. No, I am not just saying that for brownie points. I have worked with many deputies on different death scenes, when I worked for the Coroner’s Office and they have all been professional and a pleasure to work with. I want to be a part of that.