Thread: NYPD Academy

I'm waiting to go into the July Academy class. Is it anything like USMC boot camp? I figure if I can do that, I can get through this. I just don't know what to expect. Is there any old posts here that have some info on it?
Thanks for the info!

most of the "jar heads" in my company did just fine in gym....and if u do even minimal studying...youll be just fine...

Thanks for the reply. I did some searches on this forum and found a bunch of your posts which are helpful.

NYPD Academy anything like the USMC Boot Camp? yeah, just like little league baseball is the same thing as a world series game at Yankee Stadium. If you survived Paris Island, the NYPD Academy will be a non issue.

Thaks for the reply. Not knowing what is ahead/ waiting seems to be the worst part of this process.
I got in touch with a friend that is in the academy right now, he said that the next class (July) is going to be big. I guess that I will see when I get there.

Being former military you may be asked/compelled/forced into becoming a company sgt. If you can, avoid it. There is nothing to be gained other than a gold braid around your shoulder at graduation. There is no extra pay, but there is extra responsibility. Remember this, once you are sworn in you become a mercenary. Everything has a monetary value. Certain things are in your job description and are expected of you. You do them. Those things beyond your job description which are performed must be compensated for in some manner. As a police officer you are responsible for only yourself. Supervisors (Sgts's Lt's Capt's etc) are responsible for police offcers and as such compensated at a higer rate of pay. Union delegates who represent their peers are compensated with an extra $1 per man per month. So if you are responible for more you should be compensated for more, if you are not, you don't. This should not be confused with doing above standards work, and going above and beyond the call for personal satisfaction. It is about the scope of employment and description of duties in each rank. But I digress, again....

from everything that i have read / heard the July class should be a large class. If that is the case, do they split up the class into two different tours ( 8-4 and 4-12)? or something close to that. Would they stick with the monday - friday or would you be going on the weekends as well? how does that work?

I'm not 100% sure but I believe the max the PA can handle is 1600 people and still have weekends off. Over that they go to 3 squads with a real rotational chart 5 on 2 off, 5 on 3 off 8x4, 4x12. This hasn't been done in a while. I'll believe it when I see it. First they have to find the bodies, then they have to find the money for the bodies. If the city admits they have the money for 2500 person class, then it will be hard to fend off the unions looking to negotiate raises for the now past due contracts. Only time will tell.

can anyone provide any thoughts/ experiences or advice in going from working a "normal" schedule 9-5 & no weekends to working a 4X12 or any other midnights ect.. with rotating days off. how has it affect your life (social, family). what are the advantages or disadvantages?

I drive a truck now, so I have a odd schedule. I find some the benefits are being able to take care of business during the day, when most businesses are open.
Your body has to get used to it. I sometimes go in at 0830 one day, then 0300 the next, depending on the load schedule.
It takes a while to get used to it.

USMC: I can't say for sure, because I never had the boot camp experience, but I will say I always thought of my time in the NYPD academy as getting paid(albeit not very well) to go back to high school.

nwohsy: The gold braid is for the top 10 percent of the class, no? And you're right about the co. sgt....Both my co sgt and the asst took crap from both ends. Although I will say, they both got their first choice on their dream sheets, and we did all chip in and buy the co sgt's off duty gun for him. As far as the PA schedules go, that sounds about right....My class was a split squad(700 started 2 months before my 1300) and we did the 5-2 5-3 scooter chart.

SubwayfiveO if you had to do it all over again would you? does it get better after the academy? i guess i am just looking for someone to give me a positive answer.... is the academy pay in the ballpark of $1K every two weeks??

pattyo:

Absolutely. Yes. I'm not certain it's at 1k, but it's probably in that ballpark.

Make the job work for you...Best career advice I ever got.

SubwayfiveO

you are one of the few that say that. Everytime i talk to someone who says they like the job it is always followed by you have to make it work for you and that it is a boss's job. thanks for the info!
the only thing that holds me back is the $ (the lack of) at least initially. that and the hours, not the amount off hours, but the different tours. i have never worked anything other than a regualr work week so i am not sure how i will deal with that. but i couldnt think of anything else i would want to do.

If you are very concerned about the odd hrs then you might consider another career. It is just the way the job goes. It wasn't much of a sacrifice for me but it is for others.

The odd hours do not bother me. It is the "Notifications."

If you work in Manhattan South like me, you will get ordered OT every "weekend" (we call it a swing) when the weather is nice. Sometimes you will not even get 24hrs notice. It's a killer if you have a family. Let's just say you wont be making plans anymore.

The only time that is yours will be vacation. Otherwise you are a slave to the "needs of the Department." I do not write this to dissuade you. I love the job and, indeed, I make it Work for Me. You just need to know what you are getting into.