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Many of those who have bought this book have gone on to have successful careers in Law Enforcement ranging from police
officer, military police, dispatcher, to state trooper.
Recently we received an email from a past customer who wanted to thank us for writing the book.
He bought the book a few years ago when it was selling in police supplies stores and said he had often thought about
getting in touch with us but didn't know how.
It wasn't until he came across our website that he was able to send us an email. He wanted to let us know how much he
appreciated having an opportunity to read the book which had prepared him for the career he was interested in.
He said: "Thanks for sharing your knowledge and the "secrets"to this elite profession. I have been careful to
follow your advice and so far my career is right on track. I am now a sergeant..."
At the bottom of this page are some more recent emails and reviews the book has received.
Chapters
1.The Testing Process
2. Surviving the Academy and Field Training
3. Out on Your Own
4. Shift Sergeant
5. Silver and Brass
6. Community Relations
7. Burnout
8. Reflections
This is a brief excerpt from Chapter 1.
The Testing Process
The Oral Board
Once you have completed the written and agility tests, which
are almost always pass/fail, you will be scheduled for the most important part of the initial testing process, the oral board.
The purpose of the oral board is to see how the candidate interacts and converses with the panel members, and to get an idea
of the candidate's overall reasoning abilities and common sense. The initial impression you leave with the board members will
be crucial in determining your final ranking on the eligibility list.
Oral boards are almost always held at the Police
Department or at City Hall. You will be given a specific time to show up, so make sure you arrive on time. It's generally
a good idea to get there at least 20 minutes early. For men, wear a conservative suit and tie and have a nice haircut. For
women, wear a nice-looking dress-nothing too flashy- and a little makeup if desired, but not so much that you look like Pee
Wee Herman. For any candidate, the trick is to look conservative, businesslike, and above all cool and confident.
The
Oral board is usually made up of three to four people and may consist of police officers, sergeants, and lieutenants and/or
captains. Some departments will have four to five members on the board, the additional member being a city personnel worker
or a member of the business community. Once in a blue moon a city has so many members on the oral board that when you walk
in, it looks like The Last Supper.
You will usually wait for your turn in a designated area, along with other prospective
candidates. Try not to look at anyone who has just finished the oral, because many times the person will look flustered, pale
and sweaty - like having just been through a bad carnival ride - and the sight will make you even more nervous and psyched
out.
Oral boards last 20 to 30 minutes on the average. When it's your turn, one of the members of the oral board will
come and lead you to the room where the orals are being held. As you approach the door, keep in mind that on the other side
there will be several people sitting behind a long table, and that each of them will actually start grading you as soon as
you enter the room. Remember that all of these people have a copy of your application in front of them and will have already
gone over it.
When you enter the room, someone will introduce each member of the panel to you. It is common courtesy
to shake hands or to at least acknowledge a person's title as each of them is introduced. Try to look relaxed and confident,
even if you're not. But don't go too far and appear cocky, you're not supposed to be cocky until after you're hired!
On
almost every oral board there is one member who is the designated "bad guy". We'll call him "The Intimidator". The Intimidator
is the one who will ...
During the oral board, you will be given hypothetical situations or scenarios in which you are the police officer responsible
for taking the most appropriate course of action. These are some examples:
You will have to buy the
book to find out what kind of scenarios are asked and how to deal with the Intimidator. The written and physical tests are
almost always pass/fail; the Oral Board is the key....
This is a
brief excerpt from Chapter 2. Surviving the Police Acedemy and Field Training.
THE POLICE ACADEMY
Police academy training is structured to give you the foundation of knowledge you will
need to become a successful street cop. Training can last anywhere from 16 to 22 weeks. If the agency that hired you has its
own academy, you will attend that academy. If not, you will be sent to an accredited police academy.
You should be aware of the fact that you may be able to put yourself through the academy
as a non-affiliate. If you have not been successful thus far in getting hired by a police department, this may be an alternative
you might want to consider. Putting yourself through the academy makes you a much more attractive commodity to police departments
looking to hire, because they would not have to invest money in your training. The disadvantage of going through the academy
as a non-affiliate is that you must incur the entire cost of the program, which can run as high as $5,000 (mostly on housing).
If you are hired first, then the agency incurs the cost.
Most recruits in the academy will be from specific agencies and will be getting paid
to go, unlike their non-affiliate counterparts. While attending the academy, these recruits will make their regular entry-level
salary, and their agencies also provide them with extra funds to cover the cost of travel, lodging, meals, and other related
expenses. This is the ideal situation for a police recruit. You are getting paid to attend the academy, and all your equipment
is furnished for you. When you graduate, you have a job waiting for you. It is a much tougher road for the non-affiliate.
One of the premises on which the academy functions is to put a lot of physical and emotional
stress on its recruits, since stress is something you will have to deal with constantly when you're out on the streets. The
idea is that a recruit who can't handle the stress of the academy won't be able to handle the stress of actual police work.
Most of the hours that you spend in the academy will be in classroom instruction. You
will receive instruction in a variety of subjects such as...
These are just some of the subjects you will be taught during your stint in the academy.
Just a quick reminder to those individuals who have weak stomachs: You will also be subjected
to the ecstasies of tear gas exposure. It is such a special thrill to have the opportunity to experience the ecstasy of tear
gas. Your life will now be complete.
Practicals...You will have practicals throughout the duration of the
academy. Most of them will be during the day, but you will have some night practicals and nighttime shoots at the range.
Practicals can be a very anxious time for a recruit....
To learn more about the police academy and the critical Field Training Phase you will
have to buy the book.
Remember you can't judge a book by it's cover. Try good cop bad cop on the
book cover above or below and click the hell out of it. It might confess!
This is a
brief excerpt from Chapter 3. Out On Your Own.
Once you've made it through FTO, you can congratulate yourself and look forward to your
first assignment out on your own. You can bet your first shift will be the midnight shift-the graveyard-which nine times out
of ten is the rookie's resting place. We have seen some cops who have worked mids for so long that they should have a headstone
for a hood ornament.
Don't kid yourself that you're a "real" cop yet, though. There is still another stage
of testing that you will have to go through. We like to call it the "street test." This involves no field training officers
or written exams, but it is nonetheless a test, one in which all your peers will play an active role.
THE STREET TEST
The most important trait your brother officers will be looking for in you is courage.
They will be watching to see how you handle yourself on hot calls that may involve physical confrontation. You must answer
the age-old unasked question that is posed to every rookie: How will you react in a confrontation?
You see, it does not really matter if you are a highly intelligent person, or that you
sailed through field training with the "future super cop" label stamped on your forehead. When you hit the streets on your
own, you have no reputation and you are starting from scratch. The one thing you want most of all is respect, but the only
way to gain that respect is to earn it.
Your fellow cops put so much emphasis on the area of confrontation because they know
that in police work their lives are always on the line. They want to know that you can be counted on to back them up in tough
situations and that you won't hesitate to get in there and mix it up with the bad guys-and, most importantly, come out on
top.
As a rookie, you may feel pressured to get out there and ...
Find out how to avoid all the typical mistakes made by Rookies.
Solving Crimes is not easy. 
If you are thinking of becoming a cop, you know someone who is thinking
of becoming a cop, or even if you're married to someone who has become a cop; this book is a must read!
My husband has been a police officer for 4 1/2 years, yet this book
opened even my eyes to areas of law enforcement that I had not yet encountered.
Rebecca Bilbrey
Your book is one of the most candid and truly representational
books on law enforcement I have ever read. I've been "studying" about the lighter & darker sides of this career...and
man, oh, man...did it EVER give some magnificent insight. It's been very helpful, and has really made me think
about the decision I am about to make.
Liz Cuevas
I just bought it this afternoon while I was at school, I couldn't put it down.
It gives a great insight into all the parts of the job that nobody knows or cares about. I've wanted to be a PO since
I was about 8, this has only helped me make a more informed decision. Anyway, I really like the book and I'm going
to recommend it to all my friends who are thinking about going to the academy next year.
John
Just finished the book. It was very informing and entertaining. My dad is a cop
and after 12 years on the force he is now beginning to experience burnout... The book gave me a lot of insight into what
it is like being a cop, which me and my dad never really talked about. He never brings his work home. Again, just wanted
to let you know that it was an awesome book..
Sy
After I printed the book I couldn't keep from reading it, I
was up till 3:30am. I have my written test on September 11, my oral interview will follow. After reading your book I have
more of an understanding of what to look forward to on the day of the test.
Thanks Again.
David
I went through several oral exam practices, and a lot of the questions I heard were
almost verbatim as you listed them in your book. I purchased the book last night at about midnight, downloaded it, and
read about 3/4 of it (yes, I was up until 01:30 doing that). I couldn't stop reading! I just finished it a little while
ago after getting back from the gym. Thanks for writing such a greatly informative and matter-of-fact book about police work.
I've been interested in law enforcement for about as long as I can remember, and after reading your material, I still think
it's the place that I want to be in life. Thanks again.
Sincerely, Todd Previte
I just downloaded and read your book. A fantastic insight into the career. By far the best I've
read yet. J
Romero
When I attended my first Oral, I didn't know what to say or expect. I thought I totally
bombed it. Then I received your book and read the section on Oral interviews. Man was I happy I did, because the other Orals
I attended after that went smooth. Believe me when I say that I couldn't put the book down once I cracked it open.
If it wasn't for your book then I feel that I would still be applying to departments instead of completing the final portions
of the testing process. Thanks again! - Joe
I just purchased your book and I have already read up to chapter 7 (Burnout). I think
this book is a must for all prospective Law Enforcement Officers. Some of my greatest fears in becoming cop is dealing
with the brass. However, I have been at ease since reading your material. If you ever write anymore literature, please let
me know. I would like to talk to you sometime. Thanks for a great book. I will try to let some of my fellow rookie school
classmates know about it. Thanks alot!
Robert
"So You Want to be a Cop is great fun reading even if you've already worn a badge and
carried a gun. But if you're not a cop, and if you want to be a cop, you've GOT to read this book"
- Al Angele, Executive Director, COPS
"I was enthralled by every word on every page. I kept yelling at my wife about how great this
book is in "telling it like it is"... I will certainly recommend this book to anyone thinking about pursuing a career in
law enforcement".
- Captain Charles F. Beene, Ret. SFPD
Hello! I have received the book and I have read it. It is a great book! Thanks a lot!
- Brian
I just finished reading your book and I
was so impressed I felt I needed to tell you how much your book helped me... I liked how you didn't try to sell the career
to anyone by leaving out the negative parts of the job or by glamorizing it in anyway. I am 17 years old, graduating
from high school this year...Your book didn't deter me from entering the field of law enforcement, but helped me so much.
I think it will help me a lot in my career as a police officer. I hope others have the chance to read your book because I
think it is a must for anybody thinking about entering the field of law enforcement. Thanks again.
TJ
If you know someone who is thinking about
being a cop, buy this for them. If you are in the fire or medical service and want to find out what police work is like in
the early stages, read this. If you are in law enforcement and want a trip down nostalgia lane, you'll find this easy reading.
Good Job!
- Al Burton 9-1-1 Magazine
It is enjoyable reading for even the most salty veteran on the force. It also provides great insight into the profession
for the regular citizen.
-Houston Badge & Gun
"So You Want To
Be A Cop" is great reading for anyone with an interest in law enforcement, from Police Explorer to seasoned veteran.
-Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police Journal
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