5 Ways People Fail the Police Academy 

“You have to be in some sort of shape before you enter the police academy” round is a shape. I think I’m good

As a veteran officer, my advice is: 1. Cardio 2. Cardio 3. Cardio (Start jogging TODAY if you plan to be a police officer)

*I didn’t go to an academy, in fact I didn’t even ask to be a cop. The sheriff walked up to me - while I was enjoying a jug of hootch outside the saloon, pinned a star on my shirt, handed me a rifle, and said you’re now a deputy.*

For my class we had someone who never shot a gun and that person ended up being one of the best in the class.

I would fail the run... My side started to cramp up thinking about it.

I start the academy tomorrow!!

Don't forget about integrity. They will kick you out immediately if you lie; I don't care how minor it is. You lie, you get kicked out; no questions asked.

For those wondering about SQT course scores, most departments also require a score of 280+ if you want to get the "Pistol Expert" pin, and 290+ to pass phase 1 of SWAT try-outs. For SWAT, you then need to maintain 290+ in any future shooting you do with your team. The hardest shots will be behind barricades at the 25 yard line. This is where squeezing the trigger makes all the difference.

As a police academy director AND instructor, I agree with the information that is provided in this video. Here in New Jersey (south) our academy is 23 weeks. Most academies are day and some are residential. Academics, Physical fitness or lack of physical fitness are a large portion of failures. Recruits coming into academies MUST have the mindset to adhere to discipline.

That one dislike is from someone who got kicked out

I graduated from a police academy in 1968 and am a poor test taker, but I paid attention in class. I also took copious notes which I typed up and put in a notebook when I got home. All this helped me graduate at the top of my class so put in the work and you’ll pass the academics.

I was fortunate with my Academy. I sprained my ankle to the point where it swelled up the size of a grapefruit in the second week. Luckily for me, the staff's position is "if you don't tell us that you're injured and you can continue to meet their standards. Then they're not going to make you go to the Doctor." So I iced and wrapped the hell out of my ankle and made it through. But I'm paying for it 25 years later due to the arthritis that set in that ankle. And" doing stupid stuff "is so true. Two guys in my class got kicked out and fired the day before graduation. Apparently they were BOTH screwing the same hot girl in my class and didn't find out about each other until the day before graduation. Of course the idiots got into a huge knock down drag out fight at a club and the police were called. They weren't arrested, but they were fired. Including the female that they were fighting over. For that all incompassing, "conduct unbecoming of a police officer." So word to the wise, DON'T GO TO THE POLICE ACADEMY TO GET LAID!!

Love the gun advice. Never heard it put that way before.

5 Ways People Fail the FTO Program?

This guy was spot on. Don’t show up out of shape. You will regret it, and will likely lose the $4000 plus you spent to be there. Everything else he said was 100% accurate, including number six. -2002 graduate.

New topic: questions you should ask during a ride along. Expectations during a ride along, what are the limitations as a civilian during a ride along, can you ride along with canines detectives and so on?

Firearms almost did me in. I was the only one in my class to admit I had never handled a handgun until I entered law enforcement. Now, our course of fire was not that difficult, but a.) firing a Glock as your first handgun is not an easy way to learn (5% of the problem); and b.) I psyched myself out (95% of the problem). I failed the range exam on the Friday of Range Week, and they gave me and the other two failing cadets a chance to shoot again, untimed. I slowed everything down and paid attention to my fundamentals during my retest. My score went up dramatically, from about 60-65% to about 90%. Lesson learned: Pay attention to the fundamentals they are teaching you, and you will do just fine. You got this!!

I went in weighing 210lbs and came out 167lbs

I know it’s a weird one, but we lost a few people to just being emotionally unfit. In one of the first classes on officer safety, they showed gruesome hospital pictures of an officer who had been sliced up with a knife, and we had a couple of people quit that night. Some people just couldn’t handle getting yelled at (similar to boot camp but not as bad) and quit due to lack of a thick skin. Again, I know it’s weird, because you’d think that’s stuff applicants/trainees have already considered and accepted as part of the process, but we lost more people to that than we lost to driving or firearms.

Reason why people fail the police academy 1. 0:37 Test taking 2. 2:02 physical training 3. 3:26 firearms 4. 5:19 EVOC 5. 6:25 injuries

They are pushing evoc and firearms now as the main failure. As far as just listening in class they now give you the PORT on a USB drive and alot of the material on the test is in the PORT and you have to read that. So alot of studying is required on your own now. Good video 401

I’ve been binge watching him for about 2 weeks and I can’t stop

Reason 6: Because they realize its too hard and go to the fire academy

YOU NEEEEEEEED, ABSOLUTELY NEED, I cannot emphasis this enough, NEED to do a video with afterprisonshow

Ironically the most people who washed out in mine were the ones who had problems with authority! They didn't like being yelled and screamed at and told what to do by a DI. Second would be fitness. We had PT tests every 2 weeks. You had to be better at everything ( running, sit ups, etc. ) from the last test. You had one retest a week later if you failed. Fail again and you go home. Free advice: You set your own benchmark the first week you are there. Don't go all out and give it all you got if your not going to be able to repeat and do better in 2 weeks.

When I went through in S.C. most of married people lost their wedding rings and up and "forgot" they were married. Even had an incident where a husband came to the academy to confront his wife's "academy boyfriend". Fun fact: The husband was also a CPD officer here in Columbia and almost got fired from his department over the incident.

I’m joining the St. Paul Police Academy (in Minnesota) in two years. I’m finishing up my schooling. Great video

New topic: police reports

Forget the academy, I will just watch a dirty Harry movie. That should do.

“Arrive is some kind of shape” Ok, how about round?

Going to Colorado State Patrol in January. Took me a year and a half to get in, a lot of your videos have helped me to see what I'm looking forward to both the hardships and the good things so thank you

My buddy moved from Massachusetts to St. Petersburg, Florida to be a cop down there. He started working out a couple months before the move to get into shape. He had what he thought was shin splints. It hurt but he could still do academy at the beginning. After 2 or 3 weeks his legs were in excruciating pain at all times. They were out on a 3 mile jog one morning and he passed out because of the pain. Turns out he had compartmental syndrome in his legs. He was kicked out of academy because of that. Luckily they saw how hard he pushed himself with that, and gave him a job in dispatch until he was ready to go back to academy in a year or two.

Just to add three more: 7. Having family issues or get scared out because you just realized the reality of law enforcement and the dangers associated with it. 8. Financial issues. Not being able to pay for the next class/block/semester. 9. Cheating, which I guess that can be included with doing something stupid. And yes, these reasons were the reasons why some of my class mates were kicked/dropped out.

Our first day of academy we ran 5-6 miles in no joke, 95-96 degree temp. A few heat stroked out but stayed in academy. A police van followed us to pick up those who couldn’t make it that day. It was brutal, but man did it feel good afterwards knowing how to push your limit

Here are some topics that might work: I watch most of your vids, but if I have missed one that was done and list it, my apologies. 1. How policing changes from the smallest areas, to the largest areas. The priorities, the attitudes, etc. Small town law enforcement versus big city for example. 2. (You may have done this one) the difference between deputies and police, sheriffs, private security, etc. 3. Where do different departments recruit from? Especially in big cities like Los Angeles. 4. Who determines the policies that are universally part of police work regarding use of force, etc? Specifically those policies which are universally adapted, like the idea that someone with a knife is dealt with a certain way, etc. 5. What will police work look like in the future? What trends, ideas, seem to be more popular now, less popular now...what will a police officer look like in 100 years from now? 6. How do demogrphics affect the way police operate? Specifically, we have the areas off the gulf (not too far from Georgia), all the way down to the border states...we have large areas land locked. I know that police and deputies in Louisiana have a hell of a time with drug carriers coming into the rivers through the bayou. How do police address these specific environmental, demographic issues? *7. How about a semi-regular segment... "interesting statistics", for you and some of your buddies? Google some interesting facts and comment: For example, the youngest police department, the largest police department...all the way up to, the police department with the most colorful uniforms, the most military grade equipment, the hardest to qualify for, the easiest...you get the idea. You could work this in with the mad libs routine, it gives you a chance to interact with your other friends and you guys are great together. You can also collect articles that are absurd to go with this segment: you know, things like "Cop apprehends suspect who steals birthday cake" yada yada. 8. How about finding cops who have very esoteric interests? for interviews, etc. Cops who may be a literary scholar, a martial artist of great repute, a great chef etc. 9. How about a segment on cops in popular television, cop shows and how they researched their plots, how they represent cops, etc. You have everything from Car 54 where are you? and other silly shows, to Dragnet, where Webb worked with LA detectives, and David Simon who did Homicide and the Wire. 10. scenarios A to Z: Let viewers present a scenario to you and Staten Island, it can be done ananomously of course... and you guys can advise. Even something like civil forfiture... It can be done in a way where it does not make blanket statements about policy, rather it gives some insight into the best way to deal with the situation from the perspective of one on the inside (your perspective as an officer of the law). Of course you and Staten Island, and your other friends are good cops and I know you would not do some of these things... but you might know how to deal with them from being on the force. That is ten off the top of my head. Hope some of them might be helpful.

Run three miles a day in the academy, After the academy eat three doughnuts a day.

I'm sure you get this a lot. As someone finishing up college about to apply for agencies, I really appreciate you sharing your perspective. It helps me understand what's coming my way.

I’m in the running to go to Cleveland Ohio’s police academy brother I’m extremely excited 😊

We need more of these videos, i absolutely appreciate and love how passionate you talk about law enforcement, sad to see how manny people are too lazy to do it💯

My cousin who’s now been a cop for about 4-5 years or something said the police academy was harder than his basic training. He was in the national guard and the fact that I’ve heard that WV Police academy is one of the hardest physically in the country.

New topic: what is SWAT like, is it more kicking doors saving babies, or more 13 hour stand offs?

Man it wasn't up until I started completing all these life goals for myself that I realized I wanted to be a cop. It all started off from meeting a single friend I hadn't seen in years. He asked me if I wanted to be his work out partner and we hit the gym together and now it's escalated into me taking up martial arts (have been training for the last 3 years, BJJ specifically 1 year) I am even looking into obtaining both fire arm safety licenses and completing my first aid course. I have been a house framer for 3 and a half years and although I love it I never realized how much I wanted to be a cop up until a year or 2 ago. I'm just now looking into everything I have to do to become a cop and although it's not easy I think it's what I need. If I fail I fail, the feeling of failing will never out weigh the feeling of getting old and thinking you could have pursued your dream but never did it because you were so comfortable doing a job you fell into. I mean don't get me wrong I love framing houses, but one day I want to move on.. I take more of a passion in training people at my coaches gym then I do framing houses. It's either a personal trainer or cop, I wont stop until I become one or the other. Maybe even both if I am lucky.

I just graduated from the JSO teen police academy and now I’m going into the explorers program. super excited!

This is great timing because I’m about to start my academy.

My husband is a purple belt and got that promotion before he started the academy. The self defense training was _REALLY_ outdated. To anyone reading this, *LEARN. JIU. JITSU.*

New topic: Essential skill sets the Police don’t talk about but is useful. What could perhaps give people an edge coming into a police department, a second language? Ground fighting skills? Firearms practice? What to write in reports? Communication skills? More paper work?

I remember hearing how the creators of "Police Academy" were inspired. They were told that the Florida Departments had to take everyone who applied, the catch was the instructors could just clear them out after three weeks or so.

Someone in my academy had flunked the PFT 2times, commander told him he could come back only because he was hired by a local department who wanted to put him through, he got kicked out a third and final time for insubordination. Homeboy refused to wear his mask.

I’m applying for my local academy in Huntsville, AL. They are offering free PT sessions every Wed and every other Saturday through September. The final Agility test is in October and the academy starts in March. I really like how they are taking time to get candidates ready.

Next year I'm joining Denver Police academy

I graduated from the Prince Georges County Police Academy in 2005 in its Session 104 class. Our training was for 28 weeks. We had a class of 42 and 31 of us graduated. We had one person fail the driving. Another fail at the shooting range. Then we had about 5 five who just decided they no longer wanted it. But where majority people fail at was during the Basic Survial Tactics Course. Before you graduate you're individually put in real life situations in a control setting to see how youll handle yourself. It could be anything from gathering information from a victim who had their car stolen to a full out fight with a suspect resisting arrest and trying take away your gun. We also had a few more people quit or flunkout during their FTO period after the academy. All in all. After the one year probationary period was over out of 42 recruits it was about 20 people left. I'm no longer with departmen but all I can is live a little before you join a police agency. Always have heart and determination but also realize that it's no guarantee you'll make this a 20yr career.

I love knowing I have a 401 video to watch tonight! Keep that THIN BLUE LINE STRONG, 401! 💙 ⚫️🔵⚫️ 👮 And I look forward to Sergeant401 videos in the near future!

My dad recently retired as the head training coordinator of * a state * and every week when he was out teaching classes I would wait for his phone call telling me an amazing story of how horribly someone had screwed up to flunk the academy he was running. There have been some doozies.

I’ve been watching your videos for the past two weeks, I really enjoy all the advice you have been offering! Maybe a video you could do, in the future, would be with single mom, married mom or just female cops in general. I’m currently in the process of going from a part time waitress/ stay at home mom/ nursing student to building a career in Law Enforcement. While all your advice and pointers are very helpful, I would really appreciate the perspective of a mom/female officer. If you already have one, point me in that direction. I’m here in south Ga, btw! I’m starting in the Jail then working my way up! Wish me luck 🤞🏼

After I will move to Alaska, US I will try to become police officer. This is gonna help me. Thank you for uploading this.

It's been a while since I saw an officer 401 video... Good to be back

One of my little brothers has been taking the Sheriff Interview and physical testing. Hoping he makes it to the academy, he deserves it.

I went through the academy 1 year ago. My academy was 26 weeks long with 43 people stsrting. Excluding those who quit, the top 2 reasons were integrity and injuries. A lot of people who get kicked because of integrity typically tell a minor lie they think they can get away with. The instructors told us a story that a guy forgot to shave the night before. When asked if he shaved, he said "yes." He was out of a job by the end of the day... Because he lied over shaving.

New Topic hand to hand combat. I'm not a LEO but prior military and when you have to go hand to hand that is some of the scariest shit you will ever experience. Keep it up 401 and wish the best for you and your family. God bless.

I went through military basic in Canada, we were looking pretty good as platoon, hadn't lost too many. That was until the field training week where we had 17 total negligent discharges. The P.O. said it was the most embarrassing display of weapon handling he'd ever seen.

Thanks for this video 401! I am attempting to get on with my local PD (oklahoma city) and their academy is 28 weeks. All Ive been doing is running. The best advice I got out here is "whatever you are doing, it's not enough"

Love the vids bro! My national guard contract is almost up and In about a week or so I am going to be a reserve officer for my local department and I am so excited. Keep them vids comin my man and be safe!

Officer401 Your the whole reasoning behind me wanting to Go into law Enforcement. I didn’t really think much about getting into this career. until I started watching your videos. Now I have a burning passion for Law Enforcement. So Thank you for your service and thank you for what you do !! You Should give me a shout out man !!

New topic: hardest call you've ever had to repsond to? Could be level difficulty or emotionally.

Officer401 I love the content. I try really hard to watch everyone but if I miss it I go back and watch it. Video Idea: Air Force stories

Another firearm group to draw from: Competitive shooters. Many ranges have events once or twice a month. They reinforce gun safety, while also providing practical gun handling skills. Not to say these events prepare you for a gunfight, but with the timer, the audience, and the need to quickly problem solve gun issues, there's a lot these events can offer.

You were 100% correct. The only thing one could prepare was to get in top shape in running, and loose weight. Weapon: It was critical to have prior shooting experiences. Bad habits was better than none. I have seen cadets panic at shooting, especially on shot guns.

Recently enrolled North East Wisconsin Technical College for law enforcement and due to the college’s program, I should be going straight to the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy after graduation. Wish me luck in my journey to become a Wisconsin State Trooper. 🤙🏽

I love when I open up RU-vid and see 401 uploaded. Awesome video man!

Hey 401. First off Congrats on Sergeant! I want to ask a few questions. Do you get to chose which squad car you can drive? And can you chose your sidearm/ use your own pistol? Thanks. Love your channel bro, keep it up!

I just did my physiological and have my P.T Training this Tuesday. I'm hell of nervous! This is my second attempt trying to get in the academy. I failed my TSI Test and was so bad at the P.T Training they literally kicked me off the course. I was devastated... but I've been running at the gym, no soda? Nor Junk food. Straight water. But if everything goes smooth on my P.T I'm in the academy officially next month. I've been trying so hard to get in shape these past months. I hoping I pass this Tuesday.

Cutting class: "to have a tall one" @ The Blue Oyster Bar.

Thanks for your help brother! Peace!

I just got hired by the local PD to take basic law enforcement training. Blet starts in August. I am leaving the county jail to be a cop

So on each point I’d like to throw my input in for my academy in the State of Washington. 1. Testing: - We take three tests throughout. We have a 19 week academy and we have a test every 6 weeks. - Phase A test was 100 Q’s - Phase B test was 150Q’s - Final Comprehensive Final was 300Q’s. - we can fail only twice, if you fail a third time, you are done. 2. Physical training. - we did a PT program everyday after class. -We also did our own Ju Jitsu classes after hours as well. 3. Firearms -We luckily never lost anyone on firearms. We definitely had some who were new shooters. I was able to coach quite a few to help as instructed by the instructors as I was the “Top Shot” shooting a perfect 500 score. 4. EVOC - We did not lose anyone on EVOC either. We all did very well on the practical and written. It was only a week long. We drove Ford Explorers. 5. Injuries - we never had any injuries in our class. The things that caused people to leave were testing. We had people do “Stupid shit”. We have one guy who didn’t care. He didn’t turn in reports etc. another got removed due to sexual harassment. And out third was due to a statement made in a journal that was said would be anonymous yet he was still removed. So that stupid af because he was going to be a phenomenal officer.

Much appreciated brother, only thing am worried about is the tests.

My first pistol qual in the Corps was a half hour course on a Beretta M9 and then qual at a cmp shoot. If you can’t shoot a pistol, you’re just overthinking it or not listening.

I failed about 2 times😂😂 I finally did it though. The third time I we t back to the academy and I remember pushing myself to study before I started.

Being a sponsor got me a sneak preview. Love that perc.

Im working on my GED at the moment, took my locator test and thought i did horrible.... come to find out i did great!! Scored highest i can score in reading/language and did great in math so im excited and my teachers said they are very confident in me that ill have my GED within a month. Im so excited for this. Im doing this for one, i do need some kind of diploma and two my brother has been a cop now for a year and i wanna work right there by his side as a police officer. Im proud of myself going through to get my GED and making a great career choice.

Thank you. I have a friend testing for Wyoming highway patrol in January

When I was in the academy, I almost got kicked out for being late. But I got it together and made it through. We lost a total of 9 people in my academy.

Great video right when I needed it. I just applied to a Sheriff's Dept out by me. I'm hoping I pass everything!!

I'm only 16 but I'm so interested in going to the LMPD when I'm older.

Awesome! I actually am graduating my academy tomorrow night. We started in January with 10 cadets and 3 of us are graduating! You Definitely hit the nail on the head when it came to shit you gotta complete. The academy is not a playground at all! Good luck to anyone seeking out their dream!

I went into the Army when I was out of shape never ran a day in my life either. It was very very bad

Thank you too all our police officers nationwide... You are the people we call when we need protection , you are the ones that run to the trouble that we are taught to run from . Thank you

Can you do a video of exercise you can do so you know what to except and be ready for? New topic

I just got out of Navy bootcamp and for people who have never shot before look up the “interview stance” and thatll help alot with the kickback of your weapon

Can you get a GSP to talk about trooper school? Or if you know anything about that, will you go into that.

I'm currently going through the process of joining my local department. I'm on step 3 of 6. Been running with a 16 pound weight vest for the past 2 months.

NEW TOPIC: Practical Jokes Between CopsPractical Jokes Between Other Emergency Services (Fire, EMS)

Loving your videos man, I'm right now looking into joining law enforcement right now and these kind of videos are giving me tons of good info!

My academy back in 13-14 at cscc started with 42 people, graduated like 15. Biggest failure point by far was physical training, and the instructors told us to basically focus long term on that only, because other things weren't too terribly difficult. For those going in, dont let something as stupid as pt make you fail. You dont have to workout for 10 hours a day. Doing 3-5 miles along with pushups and situps a few times a week is good enough, as long as you take care of yourself besides just pt (eating correctly).

Thank you! Not only for your service but the video! I am a proud dad of my son who is in his 4th year of college at Ferris state university in michigan. He is in the academy now and has went thru the MSP trooper academy as well. He tentatively accepted a position in Irving Texas instead of being a state trooper here in michigan..question...how as a dad be so proud of his career decision but so scared bc of today's society? Im just glad he will not be sent to Detroit

This October im going into the NYPD academy and im nervous/excited to join.

Another firearms tip: don’t squeeze the trigger sooooo slooowly that you jump when the gun actually does fire. It’s easier to do that with a long gun, but still.

as another officer in Georgia. i just want to say that I weighed 295 when i went to academy. the physical stuff was the hardest place. i lost 70 pounds during this time and have last another 40 since then. I had to improve a ton just to stay. but if you put your mind too it and stick to it. you will make it. just showing the initiative to improve and to do the work shows a lot of persons character.

Lays my mind to rest. I’m going through the academy this year. Very helpful, thank you.

Top most dangerous situations you have been in as a police officer