Ashlie: (00:18)
Welcome back to another episode of Tactical Living by LEO Warriors. I'm your host, Ashlie Walton.
Clint: (00:23)
And I'm your co-host Clint Walton.
Ashlie: (00:26)
In today's episode, we're going to talk about surviving the police academy. So just sit back, relax and enjoy today's content. This topic came up for me because there are so many times, at least while we're together, where people will ask you what the process is like Clint, to become a police officer. And they have endless questions about the academy. So if you could just talk the listener through a little bit about the process and maybe some survival techniques for actually accomplishing the academy.
Clint: (01:03)
You know, of course every academy has its differences and its likes. But what it comes down to is, the academy's not easy. And before you even get into this profession, you want to make sure this is something that you really want to do. And that's one thing I tell people all the time.
Ashlie: (01:27)
So what are some ways that you would recommend for somebody to kind of screen themselves that way?
Clint: (01:33)
Are you prepared to take a life? That's the biggest one. I always ask people who come on ride along's with me. Are you ready to kill a person? And of course, in defensive of yourself or someone else. But are you prepared for that? Most people don't even think about that. They just think of the notoriety or they think about, well I get to go out and give people tickets. But what it comes down to, yeah, that's kind of a byproduct of what we do. And the likelihood that you're going to shoot somebody is not the highest, but it's still there. Are you willing to pull the trigger to make sure you go home safe at night? Really think deep on that because if you're not, then this probably isn't the profession for you. Because you probably will be put in a situation where you're going have to make that decision in a split second. So after saying that and someone really deciding that this is something they want to do, they want to help the community that they live in, that they want to work in, whatever it may be. You know, you go through the academy.
Clint: (02:57)
The mindset when you're in academy is huge for anything. You can't have that mindset of 'this is too hard. I can't do it.' As soon as you say 'I can't do something,' you've already given up. So in saying that, you have to have this mindset that you know you're going to do this and remember what empowered you to sign up for this job. Being a police officer isn't just a job, it's a calling. People don't really look at it that way, but it's something that most of us who do this job have been called to do it. And we desire to help other people. We desire to better this world in one way or another. And when you remember that, you remember what a huge impact you can make. You can power through anything. You know, running. That was always a hard one for me because I'm not a runner by far. I hate running. But that's something that I struggled with.
Ashlie: (04:09)
And it's funny as you say that because I look over at this post it note that we have posted here in our studio and it says 'there is no how without a why.' And it's so pivotal with anything that you set out to do in life. To always set your vision…set that goal on the ultimate purpose. You have to have a why, I believe, that's strong enough to allow you to persevere, especially if you're going to become a police officer.
Clint: (04:42)
Absolutely. You know, in the academy I got to a point where I was at my lowest that I was thinking about going back to the prisons. I'm was so fortunate to have you in my life. To empower me, to push me through, to get to the point that I really knew I could do it and what I could be. And that for me was, like I said, the exercise aspect. I ran before the academy but ut I did not know how much we ran an academy. We're running eight minute miles. I think our shortest run was three miles. Our longest was 10 probably four days out of the five of the week. It was a lot of running, but I powered through. I pushed myself to get to the point of where it just became another day. I stopped focusing on that negative and looked at the bigger picture behind things and I was really able to succeed in ended up where I am today. You know when it comes to the scholastic side of the academy, there's a lot of classroom work. You know, you're sitting inside of a classroom, day in, day out listening to other officers, other people within the law enforcement community that are teaching you the ins and outs of the job.
Clint: (06:20)
You have to pay attention to that. You have to listen to what they're really telling you. If you're caught up in your own head with whatever it may be with something that's going on at home or whatever else it is, you're going to miss out on things.
Clint: (06:40)
Time management. I can't even say how important that turns out to be when you come home with 16 four-page memos that you have to write over a two day period and they have to be all turned in on that, that second day. If you don't, you get in a lot of trouble and or you could lose your job. And so it's learning how to balance that with your home life and everything else that's going on and not procrastinating to the point of where you don't get it done or where you're spending all-nighters trying to do it.
Ashlie: (07:24)
Yeah, and I just want to add that your academy was six months long and you talk about balancing your work life with your personal life, but there was legitimately no personal life during that entire time during the academy. We had just gotten married and then the Monday after we got married was when you started the academy. And really, it was like us marrying this, this life of being in law enforcement together because during the weekends, I would help you with things like shining your boots, doing a lot of meal prep, like helping you in any way that I could, you know. Getting your uniforms ready, making sure there wasn't a single thread that was loose on anything. And I think that's important to point out is that you have to show genuine commitment for at least those six months and just know that that's just the start of entering into this profession as a police officer
Clint: (08:25)
You're exactly right because it is a lifestyle. It's not just a career choice. It is a lifestyle. You have to get used to working graveyards, all weekends, missing holidays…not getting to see your family when you want to necessarily or whatever else it may be because you're working or you had that late shooting call that made you stay up all night and you have court the next morning and you had to be back at work three hours later. It happens. That the fatigue. Everything that you do on a daily basis as a police officer is so draining if you're not able to figure out that balance with it. In the academy, like you said there is really not any balance because you're inundated with work. They do that to teach you how to learn that balance for when you're down 12 reports and it's your Friday and you want to go home on time.
Clint: (09:39)
It's to kind of put a fire under your butt so you know how to get that stuff done more efficiently, the right way and how to go home to your family on time with being prompt with what you do. The academy is just a preparation for where the real work really comes into play. You know, every day at work it's so regular for me. I don't even think about it anymore. But there's so many hardships that we go through on a daily basis just based on the early hours, the late nights, the different shift schedules, the overtime, the court appearances…whatever it may be. Pretty much you lose a whole day off if you're off on a day you have to go to court. For me, I had to drive an hour or so to work. If you're in court all day, it is what it is. That's what this profession is. The academy preps you for this profession. There's rules and regulations that you have to pass and you have to pass those tests and everything, but those are just a precursor into the big show so to speak.
Ashlie: (11:03)
That's really excellent advice Clint. I think the main thing is really having the mindset before you even start the academy, incorporating that physical fitness before you even start the academy and one thing we didn't touch on was also having those discussions with your family, your friends, the people that are closest around you. because if you are fortunate enough to make it to the background process, those detectives are going to be contacting almost everybody in your circle and I think that it's important to make sure that those discussions are open and that it doesn't come as striking to anybody in your immediate circle that you are going through the process of becoming an officer and that you also take that into consideration, that it's important to have those healthy relationships. It's important to make sure that the things that you're disclosing during your interview process is truthful because there's not a single thing genuinely that won't be uncovered.
Ashlie: (12:14)
Whether it happens during that process or during your academy, like things will always come to the surface and by knowing that somebody else has done it before, you're not the purse first person to be going through this process. I think that helps to bring a little bit of relief because that should allow somebody to know that they can seek out a mentor during the process and they probably should if that's a possibility. And I know Clint would be completely open to mentoring you if you as you listen or somebody you know is wanting to go through the process of becoming a police officer. If you have any questions you can reach us at LEOWarriors on Instagram, LEOWarriors1 Facebook and either one of us will be more than happy to answer any questions or help in any way that we can.
Ashlie: (13:08)
And I think it's such an honor to be married to you Clint. And knowing how important it is and how you said that this is a calling for you and I completely agree with that. It's not, it's not who you are, but you being a police officer is a great deal of what makes up the attributes of just your everyday actions because there is no split side to it. What you see is what you get, whether you're wearing the uniform or not. And as you sit there listening, if that's something that you have interest in, if you feel like you have that calling, something keeps pinging at you in a way that keeps dragging you closer and closer to it. Just follow it. Just go to it. Stop avoiding it. Lean into it, and at the very least see what happens. And when you're able to do that, regardless of what it is that keeps pushing you closer and closer to just taking that next step and you actually leap and dive into it, and instead of giving yourself all the bullshit excuses about why you shouldn't, then you'll find that you're really able to enjoy your Tactical Living.
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