NYPD Life as a Rookie?

[Bishop22]

Hi,

Whats it like as a rookie right out of the NYPD Police Acadamy? What are the hours and shifts like? Fellow officers and Supervisors? How long do you have to walk the beat and "pay your dues" until you drive around in a RMP (squad car)? What determines wether you have a partner or your out on patrol alone? What should you know or expect, but no one ever tells you? ;)

I am specifically directing this question to Joeyd6 because he has been great in answering all of my qustions over on the Applicant Process forum. But I would defintly like everyone else's opinion. Thank you all in advance.

[Joeyd6]

Bishop,
Thanks for the compliment.
Hours: They may vary. But for teh most part, some will go to days (0705x1540), some to 1000x1835, some to 1500x2335 and some to 1800x2000 until you complete FTU. Once you are done with that, you will be pt in a squad and go on a standard tour of 0705x1540, 1500x2335 and then midnights off course. That depens on the need of the department.
Fellow Officers and Supervisors
There is no real answer here. Some will be great, others good, and other terrible. You will have to judge for yourself. Rememebr as you are judging everyone, they are judging you. Your bets bet is to keep your mouth shut and ask for help when you need it. You may have graduated the academy, butthings in the street are sometimes different. You telling an officer what to do is the wrong thing to do. Basically you need to remember you know nothing at this point and the real learning is just begining. If you come off like you know what to do all the time and always have comments, you will not be well liked. I tell the guys just coming in to play stupid even if you know it until you have seen it done a few times.
Walking vs. RMP
Most definately you will start out on foot. After FTU when you go to a squad you will be teh odd one out. That means everyone will probably have a partner Thus, you will sit on a lot of DOA's, crime scenes and hospitalized prisoners and go to details a lot. DO NOT COMPLAIN! There is no sympathy. We have all been there and later on you will look back and think how good that crap was sometimes. After a while you may find someone to partner up with. Depending where you are depends on if you get a car or not. You have a better chance of getting a car in the Bronx than in Mid-Town. There are more foot posts there. Same with 19 pct. Lots of fixers so few get into cars.
ROOKIE
You are a rookie until you have completed your 5th year...whihc is when you get top pay!
ASSIGNMENTS
Most are going to Impact. It is basically rookies on a foot post in high crime areas. You will not be "alone." You may have an specified area to cover but your friends have adjoinging area. So be smart and stick together and patrol together if they don't double you up. After that, as I explained you will be in a squad. If there is a 5 or 7 people, you may get lucky and end up with a partner. If not, you will drive a boss or sit on a sick prisoner or a DOA or a crime scene or go to teh barrier shop or other detail. It is a day by day thing.
WHAT TO EXPECT
There is one answer: anything and everything! While I greatly respect every other agency in teh world, the NYPD is like no other. With 37000 officers it is impossible to be the same. We have the United Nations which brings a wide varities of cultures, ethnicites and laws (like Washington D.C.). We have the most exstensive subway system in the world that has its own culture and life you must learn. You must also learn all the routes and stops to direct others. We have tourists from all over the world visiting here and you need to figure out how to communicate with them all. We have 3 major airports which you need to deal with. We have hundreds of landmarks you must deal know their locations and how to get tourists there. We have people with tigers and alligators in their apartments and jumpers from windows daily. Fires occur all the time too. How about car accidents every day. Then add in your summonses. Not to mention the volume of calls you will see in 5 years accounts for more than some officers may see their whole careers. You will be in danger more than you realize. This is the greatest job in thr world and in the greates city in the world. The old phrase "Greatest show on earth" is very fitting.

[Bishop22]

Joeyd6,

Whats FTU?
What are the actual work days schedules like?
Do you work 4 days, off 2, work 4 days (rotating)
Or set days (T,W,TH,F,Sat, Sun)
Other?

Im sure as a rookie weekends are non-existant. It probably makes a personal relationship even harder. Can you comment on that? (dont wanna pry). My G/F is thinking we wont be able to go out on a F and Sat night for a long while...lol.

Great posts man, espcially on the promotion thread, very much appretiative.

[ngcsubutterbar]

great info! thank you.

[Joeyd6]

FTU is field training unit where you are guided by a Sgt in almost everything you do. The schedules will vary by teh need of teh department. You will be more than likely on 0705x1540, 1000x1835, 1500x2335 or 1800x2235 to start. They may give you steady RODS: like monday/tuesday off. That is what I had for 4 months. Or they may go the traditional schedule which is how the squads run: 5 on, 2 off, 5 on 3 off. Thus your days off (RDO's for regular days off) rotate.
You will more than likely have a new g/f after teh academy. The academy changes you so she may not like that. PLus you can forget baout yor Saturdays and Sundays off for a long time! She will love you and resent you at times when you are alwys late coming home. There is alwasy something. That is why cops have teh highest divorce rate. She may be cool with it at first but it may turn bad later. Be careful. ANd rememebr.....be careful who you date and stay with. All they have to do is call and say you threatened them with your gun and BAm....suspended. If you are on probation....FIRED! You are guilty until proven inncoent on this job. Rememebr that. Keep that in mind. If a relationship is going bad...end it quickly! Make it a clean break so you don't lose your job and pension!

[99TAC]

Joey, what's a 3/4? I've only heard it mentioned by NYPD officers.

[Bishop22]

ttt

[Joeyd6]

3/4 is a term for 3/4 of your pay. When you retire you get 1/2 or 50% of you salary for life. If you get injured on teh job, becoming diabled, and unable to fullfill your duties, the department will offer you 3/4 (75%) of you overall salary for teh rest of your life with NO TAXES! Thus, you can see why 3/4 is a huge amount of money!
Example:
$68,000 final average 3 year salary
1/2 pension = $34,000 gross minus taxes = ~$1600 a month
3/4 pension = $51,000 gross (no taxes) = ~4,250 a month