The idea was hatched by a group of University of Nebraska advertising students, in the spring of 2008. One of the two teams who took us on as their customer suggested, as part of their marketing plan, a blog about police academy training. It was one of many ideas developed by the class, several of which are now reflected in our recruitment materials and our web site.
Team BallyHoo gets the credit for the concept, Officer Katie Flood for the technical/artistic work on the web page, and Police Trainee Jeff Schwartz for being the first recruit out of the chute with his account of week two. Other bloggers from the current class will continue giving us a glimpse into the academy over the next 17 weeks leading up to graduation day.
21 comments:
An Officer from another state had a duty blog. The Chief told him to remove it because he did not like the content. Too much opinion was posted by the twenty some year vet and the brass got a bit of back splash on them. The blog was stopped because the officer did not want to get fired. What is the potential of a blogger being censored and what are the posting conditions, if any. This "officer" blog idea has failed time and time again because of censoring by managers.
Jim J -
Thousands of police officers world wide (self included) blog. Some do so anonymously, but most are quite proud of their career and enjoy letting the public into their world.
Mature adults carefully selected can be trusted to use good judgement about what is and is not appropriate to share with others. For police officers, you must avoid:
1. Confidential information;
2. That which reflects unfavorably upon you as a member of the department;
3. That which impairs the efficient opertion of the department;
4. Anything that would embarass you if your mom and dad read it;
5. Stuff that an enterprising defense attorney or plaintiff's attorny could use to impeach you on the stand.
I started a blog the other day.
ARRRRG!!!! :
Carefully read number 4, above. Depending on where you work, you might want to carefully read #2 and #5, too. I've protected you from your own folly on a few prior occasions, but I can't to that if you are freelancing--you're on your own.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading what the newest LPD recruits had to say about their academy training. It will be interesting to see their entries as time goes on.
I never miss the LSCO Bullsheet, blogged weekly by the PIO of Larimer CO sheriff's office. Sheriff Alderban has his own, as well. That's where the balloon boy mess occurred. and it's always interesting.
I like the idea of this blog, but I found the presentation completely distracting. Perhaps a different font would make it easier to read...
As somebody in interested in a criminal justice profession, I found the recruits blog really interesting and hopefully helpful when I pursue my own career. Great idea and well done.
We love stuff like this! Posted a link to it for our Twitter and Facebook followers.
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Enjoyed reading the Recruit Blog, thank you for sharing it. Good Luck to all Recruits!
Go LPD!
Chief-Based on the numbers, there have been 1400 LPD officers that have come through training since you and I went through it. That's kind of mind boggling.It will be fun to see how things have changed or stayed the same. Best wishes to the new training class. Here are a few things to share with them if you choose that have served me well:
1. Treat everyone you contact with respect and they will for the most part reciprocate.
2. Maintain your composure or outer calmness even when your rapidly beating heart tells you otherwise. You are sometimes the only thing preventing total chaos.
3. Be honest and open in everything you do. There are video cameras in the possession of everyone with a cell-phone. Don't become the latest video on the news by being stupid.
4.Maintain a sense of humor. It will get you out of more trouble than you can believe.
5. Keep a very high standard to your appearence. Sloppy cops do sloppy work, and also get less respect from the public. I'd bet they have to defend themselves more often as well.
6. The drunk guy with the mullet and no shirt is always in the wrong. (I learned this from COPS on TV.)
These folks are entering an interesting time for themselves. Wish I was around to help bring them along.
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Chief:
I'm guessing that a good share of pirates have long since stopped worrying about what their moms and dads might think.
The font is a perfect representation of some of the handwriting we see! Interesting idea, it will be fun to read how it plays out.
It's a good looking notebook there, Chief!
Mr Larry
Chief,
Was LFA B0-011091 parked in the driveway or on the street? You've blogged before about parking in the driveway to discourage vandalism and LFA, when possible, so I was wondering if this one was the rule or the exception.
Mr. Larry-
Yes, an heirloom, I'd say. A man or woman would be lucky to have one of those.
10:23 -
"Victim reports he left his vehicle parked facing WB on the north side of the 2700 block of Woodsdale Blvd. "
Chief,
Whenever I see a LFA or other larceny involving a blackberry, iphone, or other smartphone, I have to wonder: If the that smartphone's extra features were apparently so critical to your life, causing you to choose it and the added-cost data plan, why would you not just have it in a thin case on your belt or waistband all the time, instead of just leaving it where it can be stolen?
Mr Larry is correct... over 20 years on mine!! The shame is no one is able to find the paper fill the note book any longer... What to do, what to do??
Chief,
Trying to read the font chosen for the entries, is challenging at best. Is it possible to change it?
I bet that were longer reports to be hand written, they would be sent back as un-readable if they looked like the blog.
Just my aged eyes complaining because they are not nearly as good as they were just a few weeks (or decades) ago.
I do enjoy what I have been able to actually read so far, I just wish I didn't have to re-read it to figure out what words I missed the first time around.
Thanks to you AND the recruits for this insight.
A grammar course may be needed in the academy.
This was a great read... I don't understand the negative comments
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