Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

From what I have heard the California Department of Correctiosn Hiring Process is a 6-9 month affair. I have a high score on the written, have passed my physical agility with ease and I am in an area with a prison in high demand of new employees (WASCO STATE PRISON).

Heres my problem. I would like to get surgery for compartment syndrome which affects my long distance running ability. Would it be a good idea to get it now while they process my background check (full recovery time is about 2 months until being ready to run), or should I wait until I have graduated the CDC academy until I get surgery.

If I get surgery now and they finish my background quickly, would they understand and send me to an academy at a later date or would I be out of luck If I had to miss the medical exam?

-dwcheston

I am gonna need knee surgery, so I am largely in the same boat you are as far as that goes.

I was advised to get it done sooner rather than later, because you can get back on your game earlier.

Were I you I would contact the CDCR's Customer Service Unit, I think you can get the phone number from the website. Pose this question to them and see what happens. I think that your application and written test are good for two years but the rest is only good for one year. They may want you to wait a full year after the surgery to ensure that there are no complications but I do not know this for a fact.

I think its best if you wait. Im also in the CDCR process, actually im on the academy list waiting for a date. CDCR will set you back for any little thing that is wrong with you, especially if its recent. I applyied March 2007. my background started Sept 5,2007 and completed Oct 25, 2007. I had a work injury late October 2007 were i was chasing someone and i triped and fell on both knees in which i needed physical therapy for. i was fully discharge of PT and was cleared to work full duty few weeks before i had my medical for CDCR. i didnot fracture anything, it was just really bad swealling. My medical was conducted late november by CDCR, they set me back because of this injuriry and i needed to get cleared through my personal doctor. I was finally cleared and made eligeble for the academy 3 months later in February 2008. In my personal opinion, if you get surgery done before the academy they will not take you without setting you back because they do not want to be liable if you get injured. But GiREDS is right, you should contact them and ask them. Im just telling you what ive experienced with CDCR.

I agree