What is "Bridge Week"?
From the comment section:
- mean discipline as in PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE because there is no other type of discipline there!
The ego's of some of the instructors during bridge week was beyond belief! Taking their frustrations out on recruits is uncalled for.
And if the administration thinks that the critiques tell that the recruits liked it = well your wrong!
The recruits/PPO's, 8-1 class, all got together and decided to write good things so that the recruits that haven't gone through it will SUFFER AS THEY DID.
FYI - Maybe when you implement a new program into the curriculum, the supervisors and instructors should go through it first to see if it will work and it is not going to be a death sentence for some recruit!
Who on this job works for four straight days 10 hour days with switching early and late start times? Who on this job does not speak? Who on this job works out and gets 5 minutes to shower? Some of this was so out of line, who on this jobs runs for an hour straight? Who on this job after clearing a room has the offenders go back in that room and hide again? Who on this job when they cannot complete the above or is the slowest one to complete the above gets disciplined by doing more PT?
Is this some sort of "hazing" prior to hitting the street? Is this supposed to mimic some strange ritual found in fraternities? From what appeared in the comment, it seems a bit unrealistic and more than a little masochistic.
Is it some secret? Are the recruits sworn to silence? What's it all about?
Is it some secret? Are the recruits sworn to silence? What's it all about?
Labels: department issues
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
120 Comments:
I work in a training district and I can tell you that the most recent recruits we've had have been a more than a little aggressive than usual.
Maybe something extra in the Kool-Aid?
But my cool, calm demeanor usually classes with these individuals.
I love when they fidget when I pull into a nice spot to read one of my newspapers, periodicals or school books.
There is so much to learn & be entertained about. And none of it has to do with ANYONE or ANYTHING ON THE WEST SIDE!
Sorry bud (or hon), I make this job work for me. Don't get thrown under the Jodi Express Bus!
Hmmm, sounds exactly like my academy class.
More than twenty-five years ago.
Apparently, nothing's changed.
That seems like exactly what we went through many moons ago. I see nothing wrong with it. We are a paramilitary organization and starting off with a "boot camp" atmosphere seems completely reasonable. As with children, you have no voice until you have learned and been trained and should keep your mouth shut. That is 60-70% of the problem with the new whiners on this job. Shut your mouth, do the job, and learn from those that went before you. You must earn the right to speak up. The job of the academy is to put you through hell early so you can make mistakes and learn from them. Also to get you in shape before you hit the streets. Even though most P.O.s don't keep up on the workouts, most are in great shape when they leave the academy.
Remember how well the "Jane Fonda Feel Good" approach a while back worked out? It didn't.
Since the deputy and the stupid Lt. R.P decided to cut out the psych workshop this is their answer to replace it. Complete incompetence runs this dept. Psych wkshp was one of the best weeks at the academy and they tossed it out 4 no reason.
if the academy is testing these new recruits mettle good about time. A good way to weed out the weak and the dumb. Look at the L.A. county sheriffs academy a real academy. If you can't handle the academy too frickin bad its not a guaranteed job once you are in the academy. Go become a tma. Obviously the people going through the academy now and compalaining were never in the military sans Air Force. Grow a fuckin pair.
This is the first I've heard of bridge week. I only ask that the PPO's be able to write a basic ( GOCR ) general offense case report.
If you can't comprehend that this job may take your life or your freedom, then you need to apply some where else. Because all the push ups and yelling will not save you in front of ( THE LAW FIRM of WE SUE'EM AND HOW )!
What's gonna save your ass is a OJT - on the job training, and a little luck - better known as a good partner.
MY 2 CENTS
I heard they canceled psych week. Maybe this is what replaced it.
Whiney little bitches. It's meant to mimic the Marine Corps boot camp crucible...of course it's not even close. I'm glad to see it is bringing out the whiney bitches out of the woodwork.
Quit.
I guess it was suppose to mimic the marine corps crucible
Sounds like the academy a lot of us went through. Quit your crying PPO. If you can't take it quit. By the way I would give you a little symathy if you hadn't screwed the recruits that follow you.
This was the way it was with the classes in 95-96. Welcome to the Gym was 2 hours and they would wait for people to literally fall out. One recruit ended up at Rush because he was so dehydrated he was having kidney problems. Rush Pres. St. Lukes was complaining about how many recruits were being injured due to stupidity! I thought that this had all stopped over the years!
This took the place of the Psych/Transitional Workshop. No one really knows why they got rid of it in the first place. Its a shame, it was the best thing we had in the Academy. The instructors were detailed in for the week and brought real life experiences to the classroom. They didn't talk down to us, but made us realize how quickly shit can happen.
Eight years ago it was called "Welcome to the gym" and yes it sucked. Start off by being screamed at for having too many loose threads on your gym uniform and being in front-lean-and-rest for so long that your arms would give out and you bounce your face off the floor. Then a gruling run that never seemed to end then on your back in a baseball infield rolling around in the dirt doing pushups and situps. Then a run back to the academy to crawl through the mud first on your stomach and then a second time on your back. Then over to another baseball infield for more situps with dirt and rocks in your ass crack. Boo-freekin-hoo people. You don't like it LEAVE!!!! I hated my whole academy experience but I wanted this job so I sucked it up. How about those of you who remember doing situps and pushups and being in front-lean-and-rest the first few days of training while still in your suit and tie, before you had a chance to get your uniforms, and rolling around on that nasty carpet that used to be in there. Do they still do that to new classes or did they sign a petition against sweating in their buisness attire. It's called thinning the heard which is what we need more of what with the caliber of recruits coming into the districts.
the only guy at the academy that does any work is the janitor w/1 arm who is never seen without a broom. that place is such a fucking joke.
Designed to build character and create the best possible recruits thorugh strict discipline, very harsh conditions. Most instructors could not complete bridge week. Some of my friends were hurt but told to shut up and be tough. Instructors seemed to enjoy the ritual. And the new black uniforms. They are hot! Almost like the real police.
Who on this job works for four straight days 10 hour days with switching early and late start times?
When I was in the academy back in the 90's we worked 5-10hour days,switched early and late, had 5min showers,and plenty of PT. We survived. And we had the gym "bear crawl"...fun times
The Keesing Bandit says---
"...back in the '90's...we only had 5 minute showers..."
A lot can happen in five minutes. Trust me....then...
Kees me you fool!!!
anonymous said...
Eight years ago it was called "Welcome to the gym" and yes it sucked. Start off by being screamed at for having too many loose threads on your gym uniform and being in front-lean-and-rest for so long that your arms would give out and you bounce your face off the floor. Then a gruling run that never seemed to end then on your back in a baseball infield rolling around in the dirt doing pushups and situps. Then a run back to the academy to crawl through the mud first on your stomach and then a second time on your back. Then over to another baseball infield for more situps with dirt and rocks in your ass crack. Boo-freekin-hoo people. You don't like it LEAVE!!!! I hated my whole academy experience but I wanted this job so I sucked it up. How about those of you who remember doing situps and pushups and being in front-lean-and-rest the first few days of training while still in your suit and tie, before you had a chance to get your uniforms, and rolling around on that nasty carpet that used to be in there. Do they still do that to new classes or did they sign a petition against sweating in their buisness attire. It's called thinning the heard which is what we need more of what with the caliber of recruits coming into the districts.
10/14/2008 03:17:00 AM
Thinning the herd? Oh yes, thinning the herd. So that only the best remain. I get it, yeah sure. And the Supt. has my back and CPD is full of highly motivated officers.
Here is the order of the day: Start off kind of slow and taper off after that. That way I go home safely and with a smile.
You want a real academy - go spend a week with the State Police!!!!!!
how many of us ran up and down that Sun-Times ramp? We did push-ups in the dirt,rain,heat etc. But we survived because we wanted the job and respected our leaders like Gus and Tim. To this day I recall Gus as he lead us while wearing his hood and sweatpants, all in the heat of the day as we wore the cool T-shirts and shorts. Remember his saying, "a day without push-ups, is like a day without sunshine". RIP Gus. They knew how to lead. Surviving the academy is one of the things we all have in common. Back then,if you wanted to wear the uniform, you had to experience and graduate from the academy, unlike today's Department where anyone can get a contract and wear it.
wew 03:17 your a real veteran with your whole 8 years on.
front-lean-and-rest
10/14/2008 03:17:00 AM
It's "front leaning rest" big guy. 10 years of being wrong...good work.
Anonymous said...
Since the deputy and the stupid Lt. R.P decided to cut out the psych workshop this is their answer to replace it. Complete incompetence runs this dept. Psych wkshp was one of the best weeks at the academy and they tossed it out 4 no reason.
10/14/2008 12:32:00 AM
LT R.P. looks really hot in his new black uniform. He lost 100 pounds and takes out his anger on recruits. He also added a new fitness test. RP threw out psych workshop and attention is on physical fitness. RP is a clone of MT. His star is rising.
Anonymous said...
Whiney little bitches. It's meant to mimic the Marine Corps boot camp crucible...of course it's not even close. I'm glad to see it is bringing out the whiney bitches out of the woodwork.
10/14/2008 12:52:00 AM
Marine D.I's run also with recruits. Never compare academy staff with marines. In fact do not compare marines with CPD. Bridge week is but one of 25 weeks of training. Remember, only 115 recruits hired this entire year. They graduate and are assigned to a training district and chances of seeing a FTO are very slim.
I work at the Academy and bridge week is like the crucible for the Marine Corp. I don't work with the recruit side but I saw them running around the place and most seem to be getting idea. If this program makes a few PPO's quit then it works and if it saves one life then it works. Its a stress test you idiot. This individual is in for a big surprise if he ever works a tact team as far as switching your hours around. AND GUESS what PPO they can fuck with you anyway they see fit so grow up and take it like a man or the little bitch that you are. It obvious that you really struggled with this and if thats the case please do us all a favor and quit.
i finished the academy in early '07. we did the same thing called welcome to the gym. getting screamed at 2 inches from your face, non stop running, situps, pushups, lean and rest, jumping jacks etc. many people puked but kept going. i liked it. made you get mentally tough as well as physically. what are you going to do if you are in a life or death fight with some crackhead who is going for your gun? you gonna call timeout cuz you are tired? it don't work that way. you have to dig deep and keep fighting or you are gonna die. stop whining like a baby. everyone in the academy when i was there went through it and from what i've read here everyone from earlier academy classes went through it......and yes the whole first week we were in suits doing pushups, situps, and lean and rest sweating our asses off just like everyone else. if you can't hack it quit.....this whole country is getting pussified!
thats how it was for my class... you get PAID to WORKOUT, deal with it! and if you went into the academy already in decent shape, its not that bad, it builds stamina. that week makes up for the rest of the time when the PT was a joke... welcome to and good bye from the gym was the most difficult. oh, and some of the people on the job look like they could use on of those sessions.
WAAAAAAAAAA WAAAAAAAAA
Every year there is always a group of cry babies...shut your mouth...you applied for this job knowing what would required of you.
The University of Wisconsin band has worse hazing...
Class 96-2 we got the snot beat out of us with PT during welcome to the gym. It bonded many of us because we all helped each other through it. I am glad they did it...made me stronger and gave me the never quit attitude.
Enough of this teddy bear bullshit.
Gus Terro, RIP said:
"YOU’RE ONLY CHEATING YOURSELF, YOU’RE ONLY CHEATING YOURSELF" – Gus Terro, circa 1993/1996
Grow up you little spoiled children, and that is what you are - spoiled children. There have stupid ass complaints about how your hands were on your head during the sit-ups, and now these dumb ass complaints about things being too hard.
If you only knew.... Listen up, children, your Mom and Dad can not help you ALL of your life, at some point you have to grow up and do things on your own. This is why given everyone a trophy in the pee-wee soccer and tee-ball leagues is not a good thing. You go through life thinking you will get things given to you. YOU DON’T! You have to earn things and being the Police is a thing you have to earn.
It is bad enough our leader did not earn it, but then you, the future officers and leaders of this department (and a sad, very sad future it is) complain about how hard things are. It is bad enough that over half of you will not even be considered “the police” by your peers, or that I will never see you at 26th Street in your whole career, but out of that half a lot of you will be promoted, put in spots, and some will never even push a beat car, but you STILL have the audacity to complain that it is too tough.
I got a great idea for all you little children who are still stuck to your mother’s hind tit – how about you quit. Even though we are SO short, we would be a lot better off w/o any of your types on this job. We already have dumbed this job down to the lowest common denominator as it is, it can not get any worse.
Great! We try like hell to get them to hire more police...and all we get are whiners like this!!! Hey, numbnuts...we all did it!!! shut-up or leave.
This is the way of old. Then some of these college kids came on and sued the department for miss treatment. I'm glad to hear that it is changing back because obviously these college kids have been a complete disappointment on this job.
Stop crying ! I was one of the fortunate one's. I was in the academy in a time of transition. Our class was the forgotten ! We had no instructor for the last 3 1/2 month's , we took showers after each class and took as long as we needed. If you ran slow, you ran slow....all the people that ran fast waited for you in the lean and rest. (Finish as a class) The instructor's were pretty cool also, after the first month. except for that STUTTERIN FOOL Majors ! Where is he now? STATEVILLE? I thank my lucky stars everyday that I went through the academy at that time. Made some good friends and had a lot of laugh's.... IRA'S we miss the place. Hope all the new recruites keep their heads up, THIS IS THE BEST JOB EVER ! Everyone who complaines about this job, never had a real one! BE SAFE & BACK EACH OTHER UP!!!!!!!!!!!
what the fuck? 3 years ago we were running in the projects (ABLA) you assholes don't even have that or running in the projects on Taylor St finding an open lot and doing push ups in glass while the citizens belittled us. And what we went through doesn't even compare to what they went through years before us.
QUIT, QUIT, QUIT. If you don't understand why it's good, you shouldn't be the police. If you can't cut it, I don't want you on the street with me. It's about time the CPD academy acted like a real academy again-not just a 20some week long Calumet College class.
This guy sounds like a baby and I hope he never hits the street. Ten hour days and switching early and late start times? Seems very familiar to me. When I was new, I'd fill in whatever vacancies the district had as far as beat cars were concerned. Sometimes my start times would vary 4 hours from one day to the next. Combine that with court in the mornings (when you don't get time and a half as a PPO) and I exceeded my 10 hour days. Some things in life require sacrifice. Grow a pair.
If you don't like it, QUIT!!! You whiney little bitches. The academy is para-military. You have to be broken down (kicked off of your high horse) to be "re-built". I personally think the academy has gotten soft (a lot soft)on the new empolyees. These morons think that since they have college in their background that this job owes them something. "Ooo, I got 60 hours, Ooo I have a degree, Ooo, I have a Masters..." That doesn't mean shit if you can't think on your feet or write a decent report or handle yourself in a decent manner. (yes, I know I said "handle yourself") This department has too many cry babies.
PPO's quit your bitching or just quit. When I went through the academy, we called it "welcome to the gym" when I went through the military we called it "boot camp." That's the problem with this dept. now, to many whinny ass, never had a real job, college educated, street uneducated bitches. Who you gonna to cry to when ray-ray from the hundreds don't want to go back to prison and don't listen to you when you tell him to stop resisting?
I loved the 2 hour gym classes-I was in the best shape of my life-the full situps and pushups on the broken concrete right in front of the academy doors. The front lean and rest on the United Center's parking lot-nothing like asphalt in July...do they even pepper spray the recruits anymore??? toughen up sissy,,we all had to do it!
To all of you pussy ass whiners....You never met Tero...God rest his soul!...You think you have it bad...HA...Fuckin....Ha. Gus Tero would make you puke and then you had defense tactics with Jim Marsh..These guys were the REAL physical instructors...not the pussy ass Bally's boys they have today..Gus Tero would run you till you couldn't feel your legs and then you would do pushups , situps jumping jacks bear crawls, till you literally threw up...The man was simply a machine...he would do one arm pushups while teaching a class and then laugh at you while you struggled to do 10 regular pushups! Jim Marsh was plain crazy but a great defense instructor...he taught you how to defend yourself with non of this "Back sir" bullshit...he would teach you how to break someone's fucking arms / fingers etc...so cry and whine all of you primadonnas....you have no idea what is was like to go to welecome to the gym....renew your Bally's memberships and make sure your hair is perfect...LMFAO!!
pysch workshop was a joke! Just a way to bring in some clout PO's so they could make more overtime "teaching".
suck it up
Who on this job works for four straight days 10 hour days with switching early and late start times?
Sounds like you have it easy. I switch start times all the time and work 6, make late arrests and then have court on my days off!
Who on this job does not speak?
Recruits who bitch when they get home or behind their partners back.
Who on this job works out and gets 5 minutes to shower?
I'd love to still get paid to work out, I might be able to do it more often.
Some of this was so out of line, who on this jobs runs for an hour straight?
If you can do it for an hour whats 5 minutes of running then 10 minutes of fighting a doped up animal?
Who on this job after clearing a room has the offenders go back in that room and hide again?
Why is that so hard to believe? They don't want to be locked up. They will hide wherever they can, and they don't stay in one place waiting for you to find them, they move.
Who on this job when they cannot complete the above or is the slowest one to complete the above gets disciplined by doing more PT?
Once again I'd love to get paid to work out. If my partner can't save my ass or a fellow officer they should get a desk job.
The academy is structured that way to weed out whiney little bitches like you. If you can't handle this from your own, how can you stand up to real police work when a mob of gangbangers and animals are up in your face screaming, antagonizing and getting violent?
all recruits are whining bitches nowadays. the whole college thing fucked everything up. You get all these guys and girls thinking they know everything and hate being told to do anything. Fuck them
Get rid of these whiny bitches NOW, before they become bosses someday. What a bunch of pussy shit this dept has become. Oh poor babies had to run? Oh 5 min showers? Ohhhh WE ALL did it you fucking whining fucks
pussy recruits get over it or quit I cant believe SCC justified this BS with a post You are all lucky Mr Tero (sp) isntthere what a bunch of crybaby pussies!!!
It is meant to weed out the pussies and quitters who will leave a fellow P.O. hanging when the going gets tough. This is meant as a bonding exercise and builds morale in the long run. Want an office job then go apply at a Loop business firm. I heard they are mean to you in basic training too! Go get a facial, Jagoff.
if you can't take a week of stress how will you take 20 years of it?
The problem is that this sort of "training" has nothing whatsoever to do with their actual work experience in the district. We beat them down without any appropriate building up afterwards or alongside the destruction process. Ooooo, we're tough! So what? Train them to prepare a good case report, to talk their way out of a fight (so you don't have to battle in one later), and be responsible adults who don't panic because their sergeant told them "No". Then we'll have a reasonable recruit training experience. Or maybe the Watch Commanders should just scream at them at roll call and make them do push-ups. This isn't the military; these people need to learn a whole different set of skills.
The Psych Workshop was invaluable. This is an inadequate and inappropriate replacement. Police officers don't need to know how to kill without thinking, they need to know how to think without killing. Enough with this absurd military model already. WE'RE NOT SOLDIERS (or Marines or Airmen or Sailors or Coasties). We're urban police officers who are given the keys to a squad car and expected to provide service for 8 (or 8.5 or 9 or 10 or whatever the heck else they come up with) hours and then go home. We can teach self defense and physical strength and - here it comes, boys and girls - mental and physical well-being, in productive ways. This beating them up isn't one of those.
Who on this job works for four straight days 10 hour days with switching early and late start times? Who on this job does not speak? Who on this job works out and gets 5 minutes to shower? Some of this was so out of line, who on this jobs runs for an hour straight? Who on this job after clearing a room has the offenders go back in that room and hide again? Who on this job when they cannot complete the above or is the slowest one to complete the above gets disciplined by doing more PT?
_______________________________
You little bitch!! Quit your fucking crying and do what has to be done!! U think you're the only one who ever got they're ass kicked in the Academy. Ask some of the old timers how they used to demonstrate a proper choke hold technique!! You're bitching about working 10 hour days and then doubling back!! Well get used to it! What are you going to do when you're on midnights and have been sitting at a trial at 26th St. until 7 or 8 pm and then have to be back at work at 11pm? U think the watch commander is going to have sympathy for you and say "It's o.k. little guy, I understand you're tired, you don't have to come to work tonight." NO, we all have done it and it's been going on since the CPD started!! Let this be your first lesson, NO ONE has sympathy for you on this job when it comes working late, cancelled days off, sitting in court all day, or working around the clock. We've all done it and it's part of what comes with this job!!! Welcome to the Chicago Police Department!!!!!!!!
The Academy was a joke when I went through it and it became less psychologically bearable due to the fact that most instructors had never been Actual Police Officers. The real training started when I went to the District and was entrusted to my FTOs who were PHENOMENAL.....The Academy should be designed to weed out the weak, the clout heavy and the ones who are just looking for a paycheck....Usually, they are the same ones that embarass us in the future
As many other posters already said......... WELCOME TO GYM was legendary in the Academy. It was something everyone feared, yet looked forward too. You knew it was going to be hell. And it was, they beat you down all day physically and emotionally. Just like the job does. But you were proud of yourself when you got through it.
Gus Tiro, John Roberts and all the other guys and gal did a great job to toughen us up.
Yes there were ambulances waiting outside for anyone that fell out. And some did. So what!!! We didnt sign up to be a metermaid.. We signed up to be the POLICE.
Someone else mentioned that they changed the PT model in the academy in the early 2000's... Well that was a complete debacle. Stair stepping and aerobics classes??? you gotta be kidding me. Gee why didnt they hire Richards Simmons while they were at it.
So whomever is whining about it, TOUGH!!! Suck it up, get over it. Look at it as a right of passage. This isnt your mothers basement with a nautilus machine in it. Mommy isnt going to bring you milk and cookies and pat you on the head after you finish your reps.
Give them the log of love! -G.T.
Suck it up you little whining, puss bucket. It is designed to put you under stress to see if you can handle it when some 7 foot animal is throwing rounds at you and your partner while you are doing a traffic stop on the westside, you numbnuts. If you can't handle the minimal amount of stress they are throwing at you in the academy, turn in your shit and hit the road, because it only gets worse from here. I don't need you watching my back in the shit if you can't hang with a bunch of overweight instructors who couldn't stress out winnie the pooh. As to the FTO who finds the whole and reads the paper, turn in your stripe and go back to being the dog ass that you are, you piece of shit. I hope you never have to stand next to the casket of one of the kids you allegedly trained and ask yourself if it was your fault the kid is pushing daises. You are the worst kind of piece of shit. At least the dogs in the districts keep it too themselves and aren't taking extra pay to do it. I hope some day some whacked out crack head grabs a hold of your collar and thumps the back of your favorite head off the curb while your no nothing recruit stands there and watches in disbelief because he/she doesn't know what to do because you decided to teach them how to read the sports page instead of how to be the police. Fuck people, suck it up already. Yeah, things are shitty right now, but damnit, show 'em what we are made of. Don't let the city or the department take our pride and dignity. Do your job, do it well, be proud to be the police. You want a contract, go to your union meetings, when was the last time anyone of you went. Last time I was there, there were a handfull of oldtimers geezing around looking for free food and beer and very few uniforms. We will never be able to control the press, so think about what you are doing before you do something that is going to get your name in the news. As for fucked up bosses, they have always been around and will always exist. Don't do your job for them, do it for your own self respect. Eventually he will go away, retire, die whatever, then you might get your turn to be a boss. When it is try and remember all the shitty things about the old boss that you hated and don't do that shit. We, the police, still are the "baddest gang in Chicago" (Leroy Martin). We own the streets, just go out and do it right. Don't take shit from anyone, but don't go out and fuck up either. Do it right. We can and will make this right again. One day one of us will be running this department. Remember these dark days and vow to not let it get this bad ever again.
Quit if you dont like it. I dont need whining little bitches backing me up on man with a gun calls. Leads to PPOs like the ones that ran from the convenience store and left their partner to wrestle one on one with a guy with a gun.
Ok whoever is complaining about being abused in the academy, I have one thing to say, if you dont like it QUIT.
Fucking babies, you know if you were ever in the military everything you complain about would be a walk in the park. The academy is supposed to be hard and it is supposed to suck. It is supposed to weed out the weak ones and obviously by your cry baby bitching you were one of the weak ones.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I work in a training district and I can tell you that the most recent recruits we've had have been a more than a little aggressive than usual.
Maybe something extra in the Kool-Aid?
But my cool, calm demeanor usually classes with these individuals.
I love when they fidget when I pull into a nice spot to read one of my newspapers, periodicals or school books.
There is so much to learn & be entertained about. And none of it has to do with ANYONE or ANYTHING ON THE WEST SIDE!
Sorry bud (or hon), I make this job work for me. Don't get thrown under the Jodi Express Bus!
THIS MUST BE WHAT THE GUYS MEAN WHEN THEY SAY "JUST SIT AND WATCH KID." THANKS FOR THE LESSON ASSHOLE.
Big fucking deal. Shit like this is designed to build cohesion and pride. You go through something tough with your coworkers and bond. The new people need something like this. Too many coppers have no pride in themselves or the department. Some shitfuck will walk up to them spit on the ground say fuck you, and the po po's response is to look straight ahead. Can you believe the fucking Police are no giving shitheads the fish eye??? But it's all in the name of "Fuck This City" right.
If you can't take being yelled at quit dickhead.
Being the police ain't easy. They should force feed them doughnuts and make them run after an offender. Drive really fast to a toilet location and strip down in order to avoid shitting in their pants. Point in the opposite direction of a hand waiver, hit the lights and boogie in the other direction to avoid unnecessary nonsense. Call everyone in the academy "asshole" or "jagoff" cause that's what we do on the street. Have them practice ordering their Starbucks with their hands on their gunbelt, rocking back and forth.
This is real police training. Forget that amped up BS. These recruits need useful training and by golly, I'm going to give it to them.
Larry Snelling
""When I was in the academy back in the 90's we worked 5-10hour days,switched early and late, had 5min showers,and plenty of PT. We survived. And we had the gym "bear crawl"...fun times""
ABSOLUTELY TRUE! and if you were in the breakfast club, you were there even earlier, and if you had trouble studying, you were there later. Probably putting in a 14+ hour day.
I think at the time gym class was about right; civilians bitching it was too hard, those with military experience saying it was too easy. I figured they had it about right since both sides were complaining.
90-1
Anonymous said...
if the academy is testing these new recruits mettle good about time. A good way to weed out the weak and the dumb. Look at the L.A. county sheriffs academy a real academy. If you can't handle the academy too frickin bad its not a guaranteed job once you are in the academy. Go become a tma. Obviously the people going through the academy now and compalaining were never in the military sans Air Force. Grow a fuckin pair.
10/14/2008 12:48:00 AM
L.A. County Academy is a world apart from CPD. They are a motivated, organized department with an effective leader. Their personnel screening is strict. Compare that to CPD, who lack any morale and a will to fight crime. What do recruits have to look forward to after graduation? Possibly 90 FTO's that are disillusioned, unmotivated, bitter? This complete disconnect between academy and the street is very obivious. What other major department lacks a effective FTO program? CPD is in a tail spin. 2 year wonders as acting FTO's? let the academy turn out recruits in perfect shape. A waste of time after one month on the street. By the way, completing a proper case report has low priority. Discipline and physical fitness.
This isn't welcome to the gym. That's in the beginning. This is at the end and took place of psych week. To bad, psych week was a very informative week. They could do this stuff throughout the time at the academy or maybe the first week to weed out the wannabe's. Bring back psych week!
are you kidding me!! This comment just shows the types of soft and whiney people that this department is producing. guess what sweetheart...this is supposed to be a "para milatary" organization. the instructors tell you to jump, you ask how high. quit your crying and welcome to the police department. and another thing, sometimes out in the field, your gonna be tired, worn out and confused and have to act quickly or need a quick boost of energy to save you or your partners life.. this is ensuring that you have the training and will power to react. nothing but a bunch of cry babies. i work in a training district and work with p.p.os often..ill be sure to watch out for your class when you get in the district.. with that little bi*ch attituide these animals on the street are gonna rip you apart... prepare for a short career if you keep that attituide.
When I was in the Academy back in '72...the instructors were hungover and we went out drinking at lunchtime. WTF...they tryin' to kill these kids?
Don't know about bridge week, but I'm spending my furlough at "bridge day." Nothing like watching lunatics jump off a bridge:
http://www.officialbridgeday.com/
I went through USMC boot camp, ARS, and various other schools. One thing about the academy that was way harsh was seeing that hot blonde work out as we all PT.
Now that that tough.
90's we worked 5-10hour days,switched early and late
*Really? What year were you there? I was there in the 90's as well and worked 5 - 8 hour days with a 7:00 start time unless there was a detail. They didn't switch our hours from early to late. 10 minutes to hit the showers, get dressed and get to class.
If you "think" you worked 50 hours in a week you're off your rocker. They would not give overtime to instructors AND recruits for working an extra 10 hours in a week.
PPO quit your bitching, suck it up or quit. What the fuck you think this is? Already crying and you haven't even hit the streets. Thank God I almost have 20 years in. I will leave this job and the city. With cops like you it won't be too long before the savages take over. Crying like bitches
Eight years ago it was called "Welcome to the gym" and yes it sucked
Bridge week is not the same as welcome to the gym. Welcome to the gym is for a few hours on your first gym day. This is 4 - 10 hour days of intense mental/physical tasks with the start hours being switched every day from early to late.
I can't say much about what it consists of other than that. But if they want to thin the herd, do thorough background checks before letting them get to the academy.
This whole academy is a joke. All you military people think your better than the rest of us. Thank you for serving the U.S. but that doesn't make you better. Going to war is way differnt than being a cop.
When I was in the academy back in the 90's we worked 5-10hour days,switched early and late, had 5min showers,and plenty of PT. We survived. And we had the gym "bear crawl"...fun times
10/14/2008 05:22:00 AM
yeah...whatever dude. I was in the academy in the early 90's and we went from 7:45am (or 0745 hours for the serious) till either 3:45 or 4:00, I don't exactly remember. We also had about 90 minutes for lunch because as a class, we took our 3 hour law classes with no breaks in trade for a longer lunch. You my friend are full of shit !
What most of you are describing here is "welcome to the gym", a two hour intense workout designed for new hires.
Bridge Week is designed after the Marine crucible. However, because none of the instructors have been told how to actually "teach" this is where the egos come out and it became more of a hazing experiment on recruits. Example: Domestic Disturbance that became a 10-1 where the situation became unwinable - instructors just kept running into the apartment and litereally jumping on the backs of recruits. Since the recruits did not have the use of asps, batons, pepper spray, the recruits basically got their asses kicked. This is supposed to take the place of the psych workshop that the ADS got rid of because he did not like it or the people that ran it, plain and simple.
In the Marine Corps. there are instructors that have gone through the crucible, they are professional about their jobs, in the academy that is not true. This is nothing more than college hazing at its worst. Someone is going to get hurt and unfortunately that is when this will change.
In the academy the only discipline is severe physical discipline, the staff and superviors do not know how to deal with any other kind of discipline.
Wow! Breaking a sweat and being told to 'suck it up'.....it's about time the recruits grew a pair! Too many new recruits come out of the academy with an attitude that they know it all and the old timer is crazy. Leave that attitude at the door, FNG (fucking new guy/gal).
You wanted this job and you make the same pay as I do, so welcome to the party. See you at the punch bowl!
-Class of '86
Not a lot of mettle in these new recruits and it shows.
Maybe its more of a comment on society as a whole than just the few softies in the CPD Academy.
But in the end, who cares? This job has become one step above social worker anyway. All they want these new officers to do is report on crime and write tickets, so how tough do they really need to be?
when I was in the academy last year we had welcome to the gym and yes it was the same as mentioned above, what i gather is that this is something new seeing that the welcome to the gym is held the first or second week and we all know there has not been a new class to start in over 3 months with none planned, I see this as plan to mess with recruits now because the instructors are going to be hurting trying to find a place to hide in the academy when there arent any classes there.
I read this post and the comments to my brother, who is a Marine, and asked him if boot camp was as tough or tougher. He laughed.
He said join the Marines (if you can stick it out) and then you can complain.
I don't know much about your training (obviously, since I'm a civilian) but just reading the replies here and some of the comments on the Philly site regarding their training, I'd definitely say yours seems to be a bit more aggressive.
Not that my opinion means much, but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. It can only make you stronger.
Good luck to you the new recruits and all of you at the CPD be safe out there.
What a bunch of whiners. Does anyone from around 94-5abcd remember TERO time? You didn't perform well in gym, you went to see Instructor Tero(RIP) Mr. T's brother. I used to hate it but soon realized that it helped when i got on the streets and if you couldn't take it in the Academy you had no business on the streets. Enjoyed the runs downtown and lean/rest on the west side. Thought you were just out for a run and you ended up in some alley in lean/rest until someone could say what alley/street you were near. Until this day, before I turn down a street I always look up at a sign to see where I am. This is what the Academy should be about!
Anonymous said...
90's we worked 5-10hour days,switched early and late
*Really? What year were you there? I was there in the 90's as well and worked 5 - 8 hour days with a 7:00 start time unless there was a detail. They didn't switch our hours from early to late. 10 minutes to hit the showers, get dressed and get to class.
If you "think" you worked 50 hours in a week you're off your rocker. They would not give overtime to instructors AND recruits for working an extra 10 hours in a week.
10/14/2008 04:59:00 PM
..............
Actually it was true of the Mar 90 Class (90-1). We worked 10 hour days for approx 12 weeks. They wanted us out by the middle of July. I left the Academy with over 60 hrs on the books. They had 2 starting times, 6 am and I think 10 am. They had 2 shifts of instructers so they did not have to pay them ot. There were Approx 350 of us, 200+ from the Dec 89 Group, a metro class and a CHA Police class in at the same time. The place was crowded.
Anonymous said...
I went through USMC boot camp, ARS, and various other schools. One thing about the academy that was way harsh was seeing that hot blonde work out as we all PT.
Now that that tough.
10/14/2008 04:32:00 PM
YOU SURE YOU WERE IN THE RIGHT BLDG? I CAN'T RECALL SEEING A HOT BLONDE OR ANY HOT WOMEN. OR WAS THIS HOT BLONDE A MAN...HMM..
Anonymous said...
I work at the Academy and bridge week is like the crucible for the Marine Corp. I don't work with the recruit side but I saw them running around the place and most seem to be getting idea. If this program makes a few PPO's quit then it works and if it saves one life then it works. Its a stress test you idiot. This individual is in for a big surprise if he ever works a tact team as far as switching your hours around. AND GUESS what PPO they can fuck with you anyway they see fit so grow up and take it like a man or the little bitch that you are. It obvious that you really struggled with this and if thats the case please do us all a favor and quit.
10/14/2008 07:36:00 AM
You watched? Afraid to participate and help out? You call yourself a man and watched? Who is the bitch? What is the other side? Hiding in IDQC or inservice? Two do nothing sections. Put the staff through bridge week first then recruits. This is not the military. We are a big city PD. Staff with black uniforms do not make them tough or qualified. After bridge week and state test, academy life returns back to the normal, routine, mundane classes. Nothing is consistent. Next week is another bridge week, so walk over to recruit training and volunteer to help, bitch!
For all of you that are saying suck it up, quit whining, bitches etc., get your fat ass out of the squad and come join us. You wouldn't make it through an hour of the 1st 10 hour day. So unless you do it yourself, STFU!
In the academy the only discipline is severe physical discipline, the staff and superviors do not know how to deal with any other kind of discipline.
10/14/2008 06:19:00 PM
But you have to admit, the black uniforms are hot! Lt. RP, you do look hot after the weight loss! Damm, bend me over honey! beat me!
Quit your whining. CPD's physical fitness requirements are a joke. All designed for future over weight secretaries with guns to be able to handle. The requirements should be more in line with the military so we can weed out the useless pieces of shit who so aptly fit the "racial demographic" of this toilet of a city.
The Keesing Bandit says---
"...back in the '90's...we only had 5 minute showers..."
A lot can happen in five minutes. Trust me....then...
Kees me you fool!!!
10/14/2008 06:22:00 AM
__________________________________
Dude, you're killing me. I can't stop laughing. Thanks for your humor.
Psych workshop was the best week in the academy.
And yes, Larry Snelling is awesome! He made me hurt, but in a good way!
05-2
Whatever....these kids should stop beefing, play the GI Joe game, and get to the 18 month mark and join the club with the rest of us. Its a great job (because you have a contract)! Relax, stay out of trouble, do your job, collect that pension some day!!!!!!
Anonymous said...
I went through USMC boot camp, ARS, and various other schools. One thing about the academy that was way harsh was seeing that hot blonde work out as we all PT.
Now that that tough.
10/14/2008 04:32:00 PM
YOU SURE YOU WERE IN THE RIGHT BLDG? I CAN'T RECALL SEEING A HOT BLONDE OR ANY HOT WOMEN. OR WAS THIS HOT BLONDE A MAN...HMM..
Well, if you ever saw a WM anything that resembled a female was hot.
Bridge Week was nothing difficult. It felt great to be finished with it, but whoever bitched about the long hours, the 5 minute showers, or the extra pushups should quit now. Honestly, the hardest part about it was remaining silent unless spoken to. Sure PTing 5 days a week can be a little annoying but we are getting paid to work out! And we have weekends off! Enjoying it while I can.
-PPO in the Academy now
What a bunch of whiners. Does anyone from around 94-5abcd remember TERO time? You didn't perform well in gym, you went to see Instructor Tero(RIP) Mr. T's brother. I used to hate it but soon realized that it helped when i got on the streets and if you couldn't take it in the Academy you had no business on the streets. Enjoyed the runs downtown and lean/rest on the west side. Thought you were just out for a run and you ended up in some alley in lean/rest until someone could say what alley/street you were near. Until this day, before I turn down a street I always look up at a sign to see where I am. This is what the Academy should be about!
10/14/2008 07:42:00 PM
94-5A amen brother. okay boys and girls...we're gonna do 10 push-ups today. in 30 sets ! yes kids, thats 300 pushups. then, the famous sun-times ramp till a few in the group would puke. then, try to write class notes after that. thats when the academy "was" the academy. 91-95 was a rough go, but if you could make it through, you WERE prepared for the next step which is the street portion of training. Tero was the man. Billy Joel sang it right...only the good die young. seems the shitheads and cockroaches never die.
This whole academy is a joke. All you military people think your better than the rest of us. Thank you for serving the U.S. but that doesn't make you better. Going to war is way differnt than being a cop.
10/14/2008 05:59:00 PM
Yes it does...we're way better. Just ask your girlfriend needle dick.
Jarhead Hammertoe
Welcome to gym back in 93 was way worse than bridge week, we had Gus Tero (RIP) kicking our ass, the man was a machine, nobody beefed, we wanted a job and did what we were told, the new pussy police don't comprehend that, the sense of entitlement is amazing...
"DON'T CHEAT YOURSELF - TREAT YOURSELF !!!! Could be heard in the distance as you were in class and a quick shudder then a smile would come to your face. You would be on your way to the range and the stairs, walls and floors would be soaked from sweat and humidity from the class before you doing sprints and bear crawls. Run to the lake and back with a quick stop off at the Sears Tower for a little p.t. Thanks gus RIP.
There are 12k P/os(or so)around you that went thru it.
Are you being paid and getting benifits? Wait till you hit the street and go to a district or a traffic detail and they bounce you between all three watches. Then dump you to another district before you get off your probation. Or switch your day off group and work 8 or 10 days in a row.
You're not the first and you wont be the last. Suck it up or quit princess !
For all of you that are saying suck it up, quit whining, bitches etc., get your fat ass out of the squad and come join us. You wouldn't make it through an hour of the 1st 10 hour day. So unless you do it yourself, STFU!
10/14/2008 08:47:00 PM
--Been there, done that, in a lot of worse places than 1300 W. Jackson, son. If you had been in the Army or Marines, you wouldn't be so fucking cocky about making it through Bridge Week.
It's "front leaning rest" big guy. 10 years of being wrong...good work.
10/14/2008 07:15:00 AM
No big guy your wrong. Now suck it stroke.
"baddest gang in Chicago" (Leroy Martin). We own the streets,
10/14/2008 12:44:00 PM
Are you out your damn mind?
The only thing we own now is the Archview, Jimmy Dogs and the Golden Nuggets!
We lost or better yet WE GAVE UP the streets because WE HAD TO!
BRIDGE THIS!!!
yeah...whatever dude. I was in the academy in the early 90's and we went from 7:45am (or 0745 hours for the serious) till either 3:45 or 4:00, I don't exactly remember. We also had about 90 minutes for lunch because as a class, we took our 3 hour law classes with no breaks in trade for a longer lunch. You my friend are full of shit !
10/14/2008 06:19:00 PM
dude chill...and check out your facts before you try and tell someone off. As some of us pointed out, we did have 5-10hr days, and did leave with some o.t. on the books. Class 90-1
You my friend should check your facts!
This whole academy is a joke. All you military people think your better than the rest of us. Thank you for serving the U.S. but that doesn't make you better. Going to war is way differnt than being a cop.
10/14/2008 05:59:00 PM
No, not better. Just more experienced. The military teaches you something just like the police teaches you something. We have the benefit of both. You don't and seem bitter for it. The Army will take you up to the age of 42 now, so if you want, go do something about it.
I went through the last difficult academy class. And when I was in the military, I went through all of the last hard schools. Everything got easier after I graduated. The standards all went down. No one who goes through any of those has it as hard as I had it. It was rough then. Now it's easier.
For all of you that are saying suck it up, quit whining, bitches etc., get your fat ass out of the squad and come join us. You wouldn't make it through an hour of the 1st 10 hour day. So unless you do it yourself, STFU!
10/14/2008 08:47:00 PM
Hey tough guy, I've got 14yrs on and will bet you a years salary I can outrun, outlift and outfight you any day of the week. "Fat ass" ha that's funny. Three weeks on and you're already bitter, enjoy the next 29 and a day francis.
SUCK IT UP... there are a lot of people on this job who should not be... if this weeds out one or two of them it is worth it.
Anonymous said...
pysch workshop was a joke! Just a way to bring in some clout PO's so they could make more overtime "teaching".
10/14/2008 10:30:00 AM
Really Fucko?? I taught the workshop for years. I have NO clout & was detailed in the for the week........ no OT.
Just STFU - you have NO idea what you're talking about. You're probably still mad about gettin' your ass handed to you when you picked up the chili for the desk - dumbass...
PP FUCKING O'S....
LISTEN UP.....
DO WHAT YOU ARE FUCKING TOLD OR FUCKING QUIT LIKE THE PANSY ASS BITCHES THAT YOU ARE...
BEING IN SHAPE.... STOP EATING SHIT.... AND SHUT THE FUCK UP.....
SERIOUSLY YOU PANSY ASS PIECES OF FUCKING SHIT....
not hard enough! weed out some of these pussies.
Sounds like a lot of nonsense. This is supposed to make a person mentally tough?
You either are or you aren't.
Mental toughness does not develop after a few rigorous workouts.
The crucible is a problem solving course of instruction. It lets the Marine recruits think for themselves and learn how to depend on one another to survive as a team. It's done in a high stress environment. The end product is supposed to emulate the worst case scenario during combat, giving the recruit the most valuable of valuables, experience.
When I went through Psych Workshop I considered it to be a great concept: learn from the mistakes of others. And learn I did. Too bad it's gone.
Hey 10/14/2008 12:44:00 PM,
Guess what? Going to the meetings does nothing to get a contract. The city will drag it's feet all the way to and through arbitration. But, feel free to attend each and every meeting if it makes you feel as if you'll quicken the process.
I'll try and fit the meetings between work, court, the house, the wife, the cars, and maybe some socializing.
Keep towing the company line.
Academy realized improvements were necessary. Psych workshop was outdated and harold washington role players were lazy and treated recruits poorly. Lt. RP made the right decision and developed bridge week. He also raised the physical standards and improved physical fitness. He lead by example and has support of his staff. It took courage to make the changes to improve recruits. Staff supports bridge week and will make it work. Harold washington and psych workshop were relics from the past and did not fit the current academy standards.
This whole academy is a joke. All you military people think your better than the rest of us. Thank you for serving the U.S. but that doesn't make you better. Going to war is way differnt than being a cop.
10/14/2008 05:59:00 PM
OH yes it does make us better, better trained in mindset and experience. Military bearing is almost non existent on this job. No pride in the uniform, sleeves rolled up, out of uniform, mismatch uniform unshined shoes. You can tell who was in the military just by looking at their uniform.
Bring back the ashtrays and lunches at Ira's! Thats what these kids need!
This was the way it was with the classes in 95-96. Welcome to the Gym was 2 hours and they would wait for people to literally fall out. One recruit ended up at Rush because he was so dehydrated he was having kidney problems. Rush Pres. St. Lukes was complaining about how many recruits were being injured due to stupidity! I thought that this had all stopped over the years!
------------------------
I was in the 95 class, the PT was pussy PT. Give me a break
--Been there, done that, in a lot of worse places than 1300 W. Jackson, son. If you had been in the Army or Marines, you wouldn't be so fucking cocky about making it through Bridge Week.
-------------------------
If you ever competed for a position on a decent football team, you did more physically than the academy ever required
Anonymous Anonymous said...
That seems like exactly what we went through many moons ago. I see nothing wrong with it. We are a paramilitary organization and starting off with a "boot camp" atmosphere seems completely reasonable. As with children, you have no voice until you have learned and been trained and should keep your mouth shut. That is 60-70% of the problem with the new whiners on this job. Shut your mouth, do the job, and learn from those that went before you. You must earn the right to speak up. The job of the academy is to put you through hell early so you can make mistakes and learn from them. Also to get you in shape before you hit the streets. Even though most P.O.s don't keep up on the workouts, most are in great shape when they leave the academy.
Remember how well the "Jane Fonda Feel Good" approach a while back worked out? It didn't.
10/14/2008 12:24:00 AM
With all due respect sir, I am a recruit and I respectfully disagree with you. We don't need to shut up and just go along. We have a brain and the ability to think for ourselves.
If you ever competed for a position on a decent football team, you did more physically than the academy ever required
And if you made it you are off 5 months out of the year and make 100 times what a p.o. makes, big difference.
With all due respect sir, I am a recruit and I respectfully disagree with you. We don't need to shut up and just go along. We have a brain and the ability to think for ourselves.
10/16/2008 01:21:00 AM
No, no you don't. You are a future Police officer. You have people that give you orders. You must follow those orders. That is all. If you are too much of a broad to finish the academy, then quit. Do really think whining on the big boy blog is going to get you any sympathy? I hope Tobias reads this and blows you fucking pussies out of the water. You should of not been hired in the first place, your a giant baby. God damn!!!!! YOU FUCKING DISGUST ME!!!!!!!!!
If you ever competed for a position on a decent football team, you did more physically than the academy ever required
And if you made it you are off 5 months out of the year and make 100 times what a p.o. makes, big difference.
10/16/2008 01:47:00 AM
I think he is talikng and pee wee football guy. The academy is full of weak minded pathetic fucking roaches. Please quit if it is too tough. Nobody wants any more whining people who can't take being "yelled at and being told what to do, i can think for myself." You sniffling fucks!!!
I will do anything that inclues sweating with SNELLING :)
What a bunch of whiners. Does anyone from around 94-5abcd remember TERO time? You didn't perform well in gym, you went to see Instructor Tero(RIP) Mr. T's brother.
Our how about the ever popular "inspirational hour" @ zero dark thirty w/ Tero and Tremaine or Morowski and Collins. Lots of running and push ups with a little DT (hand to hand)for about an hour. All you had to do was not keep up or give one of the instructors a look and it was over! My personal fav...the mother fucker (Sun Times ramp on loomis). UP AND DOWN LADIES! ALL DAY IF WE HAVE TO!
Welcome to the gym should be a yearly class for everyone on this job! And if you can't handle it *SUCK IT*!!!
Relax, stay out of trouble, do your job, collect that pension some day!!!!!!
===============
You must work in LAA-LAA land.
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