SJPD Academy

[usaaman025]

There is a new San Jose PD academy starting in early July 07. Is anyone slated to be in it? If so, shoot me a private message (PM) and I'll give you the scoop on how it's going to go. I'll be happy to answer any of your questions as I went through it not long ago.

Also, if anyone has any general questions about the SJPD or the recruiting process (from the perspective of the applicant) let me know.

It's a great department and a great place to live!

[usndave03]

Currently, im in the hiring process and i think the next step for me is backgrounds? what can i expect? Where do most SJPD officers live? I hear the cost of living in San Jose is very high...is the starting salary enough to live comfortably out there??

[HockeyFan87]

usaaman025,

Regarding SJPD's academy...Until recently San Jose has operated for the most part a low stress academy...with little PT, a fair amount of marching with the majority focus being on academics. In fact most SJ recruits that I've spoken to have described it as being like taking a five day a week college class with a couple days of PE mixed in. However I have heard that with the current recruit class SJ is trying to create a more stress/paramilitary training atmosphere with more strenuous PT, in fact going to a full CrossFit PT regimen. This may be in response to the higher than normal rate of SJ officers failing from the academy, during FTO or being fired for mostly maturity issues that should have been avoided.

Having never been a applicant with SJ I cant contribute much other than to say they have a reputation as being slightly ball busting when it comes to backgrounds and issues involving credit and job history...not that this is a bad thing. However ultimately I think it comes down to the investigator you are assigned and if he/she agrees that you can handle the job.

Best of luck to you...it's a good department with great officers.

[R1pilot]

"This may be in response to the higher than normal rate of SJ officers failing from the academy, during FTO or being fired for mostly maturity issues that should have been avoided."


"they have a reputation as being slightly ball busting when it comes to backgrounds and issues involving credit and job history...not that this is a bad thing."


It's a very interesting situation. You hire a kid with a clean background, good credit, good employment history. Then, at some point, you come to find out that the reason this kid's credit is good is because he/she's never really had to pay for anything yet. They've only had one or two jobs because they still live with their parents, and when mom's still serving up potroast and veggies and doing your laundry for you, you can get by on 10 or 12 an hour. They have a clean background because they haven't experienced the stress of a difficult or dangerous situation where they are forced to make a split second decision, or make the wrong choice and learn from the mistake.

Put this same kid into the academy and/or a FTO program and yes, you will have problems, more often than not.

Bottom line is, life experience builds character. You don't really know what kind of recruit you're getting until they find themselves between a rock and a hard place. You squeeze some people, they will focus; others will fold.

[HockeyFan87]

I don't think it could be have been said much better than that!

[sizmtrz]

Im a sworn officer over here in Detroit looking to mabye head west to the bay area. Any heads up as to where to find housing? LOL

I see SF and SJ have lateral programs, but thats for other POST certified officers. In Michigan we have a different standard... is there any contingency available for us? Thanks

Mark

[judgeposer]

Bump.

There is a new San Jose PD academy starting in early July 07. Is anyone slated to be in it? If so, shoot me a private message (PM) and I'll give you the scoop on how it's going to go. I'll be happy to answer any of your questions as I went through it not long ago.

Also, if anyone has any general questions about the SJPD or the recruiting process (from the perspective of the applicant) let me know.

It's a great department and a great place to live!

If there's anyone out there in the SJPD or has any information on the department, its recruitment, etc., to offer, I'm interested. . .

I'm from NY and am interested in taking the December/January exams for entrance into the academy by July 2009 (unfortunately, I just missed the exams for entrance by January 2009).

[calirc51]

Usndave, I feel the cost of living in San Jose is comparable to New York City. I posted a cost of living link for San Jose on another thread. I'll try to find it and repost. Officers in San Jose live locally or in a neigboring cities. Some commute an hour or so outside the city. Correct me if I'm wrong, officers working for New York City are also commuting an hour or two.
Judgeposer, SJPD was in New York last week testing, oral interview, written and run. Bummer you missed it. SJPD generally test every six months.
Sizmtrz, as for laterals from another State, you can contact California P.O.S.T and they will have infromation on how to take a test and become P.O.S.t certified.
Good luck everyone!!

[usndave03]

Usndave, I feel the cost of living in San Jose is comparable to New York City. I posted a cost of living link for San Jose on another thread. I'll try to find it and repost. Officers in San Jose live locally or in a neigboring cities. Some commute an hour or so outside the city. Correct me if I'm wrong, officers working for New York City are also commuting an hour or two.
Judgeposer, SJPD was in New York last week testing, oral interview, written and run. Bummer you missed it. SJPD generally test every six months.
Sizmtrz, as for laterals from another State, you can contact California P.O.S.T and they will have infromation on how to take a test and become P.O.S.t certified.
Good luck everyone!!

Currently, my commute is 15min...NYPD tries its best to assign people in the borough where they live. Sometimes it does not work out that way...but for the most part, it does. I think i would like to live as close as possible to the the SJPD Academy to off set the high gas prices.

[judgeposer]

If there's anyone out there in the SJPD or has any information on the department, its recruitment, etc., to offer, I'm interested. . .

I'm from NY and am interested in taking the December/January exams for entrance into the academy by July 2009 (unfortunately, I just missed the exams for entrance by January 2009).

Yeah, too bad for sure. That puts me six months "behind," I suppose. I intend on going out to San Jose this coming December/January to test for the July 2009 class though.

Do you - or does anyone - know how many candidates apply and how many of those the SJPD selects? - I suppose, how selective is the department?

[OPD510]

Response edited

[R1pilot]

"The recruiters say that a typical class is 40-45 recruits and the washout rate had been fairly low ... around 4 or 5 per class."



Recruiter = salesman telling you what you want to hear. SJPD washes people out like it's an olympic event.

[OPD510]

Response edited

[7PointStar]

Anyone have any updates on how many applicants actually made it all the way through?

[avalon42]

Don't they make about $100K a year starting? That's a nice retirement.