What am I missing?

[proudpop]

My son is in the initial process of hopefully being accepted into the NYPD academy in January. He is focused but I want to make sure that I am steering him in the right direction, can anyone suggest if I am missing anything I should tell him to do or he is doing now other than the following;

Graduated with a 4 year Criminal Justice Degree, Magna *** Laude (excuse my spelling)
Zero drug use in the past and present, including tobacco
No criminal record, one speeding ticket 4 years ago
Had a private medical exam done, all perfect
Passed the written entrance exam already with a great score (lots of studying)
Works out 4 days a week for years, lots of running
Working with a strength trainer 2 days a week
Downloaded the Physical Aptitude Test and has been practicing specific tasks
Short hair, clean shaven, always wears a suit and tie for interviews
Studying the Chain of Command for the NYPD
On the NYPD website looking at advice to potential candidates daily, on the NYPD recruit blogs looking for feedback from other candidates
Polishing his interview skills with current PO's
Making sure he addresses all personnel yes sir (mam), no sir
Clarifying WHY he wants to be a PO in his own head
Shows up on time, where required with all the documents requested
Told him no late nights or associating with ANYONE that might have a criminal record, be involved in criminal activity, be using drugs of any kind or alcohol.
Has an apartment which will meet the residency requirments if hired (he will NOT use it as a mail drop, he will live there)
Told him not to tell anyone that he is being considered until after he is hopefully hired
Speaking to family members currently or retired from the PD
Study every PD manual he can find related to the NYPD
Currently working in the court as a court officer
Is 22 years old
References includes 2 Police Officers, a Judge, College Professor (retired FBI)

Supporting him every way possible but ultimately it is his efforts that will make the difference.

[Joeyd6]

My son is in the initial process of hopefully being accepted into the NYPD academy in January. He is focused but I want to make sure that I am steering him in the right direction, can anyone suggest if I am missing anything I should tell him to do or he is doing now other than the following;

My only concern is your January time line. It is taking 18 months to two years from testing till hiring right now.

Graduated with a 4 year Criminal Justice Degree, Magna *** Laude (excuse my spelling)

Lol...I can't spell it eitherbut I know what you mean. What the degree is in means nothing with the NYPD. The GPA ia great as his psychologist will lay off him.

Zero drug use in the past and present, including tobacco

The psychologist may grill him on that and think he is lying...they did with me. I actually got so pissed after ten minutes of being "mr. Nice Guy"I stated the answer was the trueth, I will take a poly to prove it and if you don't believe e, targuing with me about it will not change my answer." She moved on.

No criminal record, one speeding ticket 4 years ago

Makes the background investigation very easy!

Had a private medical exam done, all perfect

Nice but it depends what the NYPD cos says and sees and finds. A real hearing test in the booth, a real vision exam and a real EKG are parts of the exam that are monitored real close. The rest is a cake walk to pass through.

Passed the written entrance exam already with a great score (lots of studying)

When did he take the exam and did he get a "list number" yet? That number is key and will follow him his whole life and tells when he will get hired.

Works out 4 days a week for years, lots of running
Working with a strength trainer 2 days a week

The academy is 100% old fashion physical activity, aka running, sit-up, push-ups, pull-ups, calestencis, boxing, etc... Fany lifting and weights are nice, but we had guys ripped from teh cover of muscle magazines who had the stamina of a two year old when running stars and did not fair well.

Downloaded the Physical Aptitude Test and has been practicing specific tasks

Hardest part for females is the fence and men fail the trigger pull.

Short hair, clean shaven, always wears a suit and tie for interviews

Perfect...he will end up having himself taken seriously and they will handled his file while he is there or right after he leaves rather than in the wait pile.

Studying the Chain of Command for the NYPD
Don't bother. Won't need it: cop/detective -> Sergeant (stripes) -> Lt. (bar) -> Captain (double bar) -> Deputy Inspector (bird) and called "Inspector" -> Inspector (bird) -> "Chief" (stars from 1 to several)

On the NYPD website looking at advice to potential candidates daily, on the NYPD recruit blogs looking for feedback from other candidates

He will see how many idiots he is going to end up beating out.

Polishing his interview skills with current PO's

Really the only interview is a minor one with the BI where she goes his BI packet and the big one with the psychologist where they go over his whole life. No skills needed if he is honest and articulate.

Making sure he addresses all personnel yes sir (mam), no sir
Clarifying WHY he wants to be a PO in his own head
Shows up on time, where required with all the documents requested

Good!

Told him no late nights or associating with ANYONE that might have a criminal record, be involved in criminal activity, be using drugs of any kind or alcohol.

Only matters if he is follwoing it!

Has an apartment which will meet the residency requirments if hired (he will NOT use it as a mail drop, he will live there)

Good because now they do two unannounced visits and check with the neighbors.

Told him not to tell anyone that he is being considered until after he is hopefully hired
Speaking to family members currently or retired from the PD

All good.

Study every PD manual he can find related to the NYPD

There is only ONE book the NYPD cares about...its called the NYPD Patrol Guie. If he really wants to see how things are done....that is the bible of the job and academy.

Cu

rrently working in the court as a court officer

A NYS Court Officer? Why the hell would he ever want to leave that job? It is much better than teh NYPD on many levels.

Is 22 years old

Won't matter.

References includes 2 Police Officers, a Judge, College Professor (retired FBI)

NYPD will ask for three references. Only ones with any "weight" are current NYPD guys and that weight depends how much time they have on, their background and disciplinary matters within the NYPD.

Supporting him every way possible but ultimately it is his efforts that will make the difference.

You are doing fine dad!

[ChesCopPodz]

I too was grilled when I said I had never used drugs or smoked cigarettes. I told them it was pretty simple. I have never seen the appeal, nor wanted to try, inhaling smoke on purpose. Doesn't matter if it was cigarettes or pot or what have you. Not interested in purposely inhaling smoke.

As far as drug use, I lived in a tiny town in northwest PA. My dad was a cop. My dad knew just about every other cop in the county, and did know all the cops in our part of the county. My dad made it perfectly clear what would happen to me if he found out I got caught with drugs or committing a crime. My dad made it perfectly clear that he WOULD find out if that were to happen.

So I made sure it never happened.

This second part may be not even be an issue in NYC, but I was asked at my first department when I applied out of college. Has he ever been in a fight? Now in my tiny town, everyone knew everyone, so I had only been in one or two playground scruffs. It didn't keep my from getting hired, but departments can be wary with someone who has never been in a physical confrontation, since they don't know how that person will react when they get in one.