Indiana Police Academy

[tylbrit5]

Does anyone know of or have heard of the police academy letting a current reserve on a police department join the police academy? Im currently on a pd as a reserve and my full-time job is kind of slow and they are talking about layoffs. I've been trying for a couple of years now to become full time it just hasn't happened yet. Im willing to pay for the academy myself as long as my current pd would be willing to sponser me. Due to the economy I'm wanting to make myself more marketable by being academy certified, that way whomever I get hired full-time by wouldn't have to worry about that cost. What are you're guy's thoughts about this idea? Have you ever heard of the academy allowing that or do you have to be a full-time paid police officer? Thanks!

[K9krazy21]

I had 2 people in my academy class that paid themselves to attend. Usually it pays off in the long run. I however do not believe it is the way I would have went about it.

Police dept's do not pay for an officer to attend the academy, so the only thing they are out, is the time the officer must spend there. I have been through a couple hirings and there are usually 2 or more academy trained applicants.

It took me 1 1/2 years after I was a reserve to get hired at my first Dept.. So patience is a good thing to have..

Will it help, absolutely!!! Will it be the answer to you getting Hired, I don't know!!

[GGreen8]

Its called the tuition program. You can call Mrs. Hardwick at the ILEA. She will give you all the info you need. (317)837-3258

[towncop]

If the Executive Director finds out a reserve is in the Basic class, they will be immediately dismissed. Watched 2 get the boot when I was in. K9crazy is somewhat right in the department does not pay to send an officer to the Basic course. They do, however, pay the officer's salary while they are there, so they would be out that money if the officer graduated and decided to lateral somewhere else.

[K9krazy21]

Town is right, if a dept sends a reserve there and tries to buck the system without the reserve paying tuition there done!! The dept will get a slap by the ILETB..

I believe that a Dept. must sponsor any tuition student.. NCIC/IDACS and all that stuff is done prior to anyone going to the academy..

[GGreen8]

Now, why cant a reserve officer go through the tuition program? If your paying your own way, wouldn't they want your money up front? This is the first time I've read anything regarding this topic. Can any one explain more?

[K9krazy21]

They can, I believe what town is saying is, that if a dept signs a reserve up through the webiste (all Dept's have access) and tries to pass them off as a full time officer, then there is problems..

I have known 3 reserves who went as a tuition students, but paid for themselves..

Again, I'm not speaking for town but am sure that's what he means..

[PtlCop]

Town is right, if a dept sends a reserve there and tries to buck the system without the reserve paying tuition there done!! The dept will get a slap by the ILETB..

I believe that a Dept. must sponsor any tuition student.. NCIC/IDACS and all that stuff is done prior to anyone going to the academy..

I didn't go through any NCIC/IDACS until after the academy, and our new guy don't either. I don't even remember anything being taught about NCIC or IDACS while at the academy other than the basics of what they were, where they also went over ILEEN and IHERN and stuff like that.

Colleges may also sponsor a student I believe, I had a tuition student in my class who said he was sponsored by the University of Indianapolis. He may have been sponsored by their PD though, he just said it was the college.

[PtlCop]

Now, why cant a reserve officer go through the tuition program? If your paying your own way, wouldn't they want your money up front? This is the first time I've read anything regarding this topic. Can any one explain more?

Yes, reserves MAY go through the tuition program and may even be sponsored by the department they work for.

What MAY NOT happen is a reserve being sent through by their department, and not paying the tuition.

[K9krazy21]

Ptlcop, me and you are really on a different page!!!

I guarantee you that NCIC and IDACS was done, prior to you even being sworn in as an officer, reserve or full time..

When say that, It means a NCIC/IDACS check on you.. I guarantee you 1000% that no one will ever enter the halls of the police academy until NCIC and IDACS checks have been completed!!!!!

[IndySoldier1983]

I went through the sponsorship process in Indiana. I had to do an interview, full application and personal history, followed by a background investigation, fingerprints and NCIC/IDACS check, and the PAT.

The roughly $7000 price tag not being covered even 50% by the GI Bill killed it for me and I ended up moving out of state where my GI Bill pays for everything.

[PtlCop]

Ptlcop, me and you are really on a different page!!!

I guarantee you that NCIC and IDACS was done, prior to you even being sworn in as an officer, reserve or full time..

When say that, It means a NCIC/IDACS check on you.. I guarantee you 1000% that no one will ever enter the halls of the police academy until NCIC and IDACS checks have been completed!!!!!

Ahhhh yes, I figured you were talking about the actual courses on NCIC and IDACS and the certifications and quizzes that are taken bi-annually.

[PtlCop]

Ptlcop, me and you are really on a different page!!!

I guarantee you that NCIC and IDACS was done, prior to you even being sworn in as an officer, reserve or full time..

When say that, It means a NCIC/IDACS check on you.. I guarantee you 1000% that no one will ever enter the halls of the police academy until NCIC and IDACS checks have been completed!!!!!

I dunno, there were officers from Merrillville (i believe that was the department) several years ago who were hired, sworn in, and sent to the academy. Later on it was determined that they had long criminal histories, were neo-nazi's and were stealing guns from the property room.

[K9krazy21]

I heard of some of those type of things as well. In every case I have heard of, the crimes they were commiting weren't on there record because they hadn't been caught or commited yet..

Isn't it a state law that a background check has to be completed to be employed as a full time or reserve officer?

[PtlCop]

I heard of some of those type of things as well. In every case I have heard of, the crimes they were commiting weren't on there record because they hadn't been caught or commited yet..

Isn't it a state law that a background check has to be completed to be employed as a full time or reserve officer?

I'm sure it is, we run all of our applicants backgrounds before they even show up for the PAT and written test. If I remember correctly, the chief or assistant chief was in on that one too though, I just can't remember exactly if it ws Merillville or not.