Austin PD Recruiting

[jp1tx]

Hey all!

I just wanted to drop a line, I've been a lurker here for weeks now and just wanted to say hi and see if anyone has any encouragement or advice.

Getting to the point, I have my written exam and weapons test this Friday (14th)and my PT Wednesday the 19th. I'm a little nervous, but I know I should do fine. I've just graduated from Southwestern University this past May with a BA in Business in just 4 years (a rare occurrence these days ). Southwestern is very tough academically so it prepared me pretty well for a career and testing. I am only 22 and I used to play soccer, so I am excited about the obstacle course but not as much so about the 1.5 mile run. I should be OK with that though.

LE is something I have thought about for a long time and I really want this so I hope I do well. My back ground is good, I've only had 2 speeding tickets. One I had dismissed through defensive driving, the other I had to pay the fine for (anyone from Houston will appreciate when the city lowered the speed limits to 55, doing 55 on Beltway 8 is a good way to get run over). I've never smoked so much as one cigarette so drugs are not an issue. The only thing "bad" I have done was a college prank involving a 'No Dumping' sign some friends and I stole out in the country, you know where that is going. :rolleyes: We weren't caught and I know that isn't a defense, it was wrong. I am nervous about that, but I hope that isn't enough to DQ me.

Anyways, if you have any thoughts, comments, or advice I'd appreciate it. Sorry for the book.

Jon

[NYPD2005]

Austin is an AWESOME town, I loved it there when I visited in March '04. Austin and San Francisco are the 2 other places where I'd consider working other than NYC. I'm not sure what the hiring process is like, but I'm sure others on the board here can help you out. Good luck!!!!!

[txinvestigator1]

Hey all!



Getting to the point, I have my written exam and weapons test

Weapons test? WTF

[jp1tx]

Weapons test? WTF

I believe its dry firing a handgun through a 6" circle 5 times with both hands and also with a shot gun. Should be a piece of cake. I've shot trap with a Remington 870 before as well as Glocks of 9mm, .40, and .45 ACP. That part should be a piece of cake.

[txinvestigator1]

WHAT? They are going to be handing guns to every applicant? Is this the twilight zone?

Where is Johninaustin?

[jp1tx]

WHAT? They are going to be handing guns to every applicant... Where is Johninaustin?

Better put out an APB :D

[Johninaustin]

I'm right here. What he's talking about is part of the physical agility testing. We give him an UNLOADED revolver on the range and he must dry fire it with the barrel inside a 6" plywood circle without touching. You'd be amazed how many folks don't have the finger strength to do that. Same with the shotgun. Not everyone does this, he has to make it thru the rest of the testing first. I believe it's one of the last stations.

BTW: It's a "BOLO".. We don't use the term "APB", and I hope you like running and wrestling. ;)

[txinvestigator1]

WOW. Thats goofy.

[Johninaustin]

WOW. Thats goofy.

Hey, gotta do something to cut the applicants down. ;) It'll DQ more than a few.

It's really kind of outdated though. Trainees shoot a 5906 in the academy. It's been years since we trained on a revolver.

[Bearcat06]

Weapons test? WTF

TX....Kansas City PD does the same thing but at the beginning of the process. They actually do it inside the recruitment office when you are processing. I was there once watching after I had dropped some paperwork off and was talking to a friend that worked in the office at the time.
The applicants had to dry fire a Glock, pull the slide back, and dry fire it again 15 times in a row. Then they had to dry fire a pump shotgun 6 times in a row as they racked dummy rounds through it.
Not sure if they do it any more....but they were doing it about 3 years ago or so....

[txinvestigator1]

There are other tests that can determine the strength and dexterity needed to manipulate weapons.

That smacks of poor gun safety and a major accident waiting to happen.

[jp1tx]

I'm right here. What he's talking about is part of the physical agility testing. We give him an UNLOADED revolver on the range and he must dry fire it with the barrel inside a 6" plywood circle without touching. You'd be amazed how many folks don't have the finger strength to do that. Same with the shotgun. Not everyone does this, he has to make it thru the rest of the testing first. I believe it's one of the last stations.

BTW: It's a "BOLO".. We don't use the term "APB", and I hope you like running and wrestling. ;)

Wow, revolvers usually have stronger trigger pulls that semi-autos right? Wrestling is fun, I'm not the biggest person but I'm scrappy. Running is becoming more of a friend of mine every day. I didn't put on much weight in college after soccer, but the lung capacity went all to hell. I've beenlifting and running 1-2 miles every day this year and that has brougth me back to where I should be fine for the PT on Wed.

[Bearcat06]

There are other tests that can determine the strength and dexterity needed to manipulate weapons.
That smacks of poor gun safety and a major accident waiting to happen.

That's what I was thinking....especially since they were doing it in a office full of people...

[Johninaustin]

There are other tests that can determine the strength and dexterity needed to manipulate weapons.

That smacks of poor gun safety and a major accident waiting to happen.

On the range? Individually? With two instructors present? Not really.

[txinvestigator1]

On the range? Individually? With two instructors present? Not really.

Maybe, but read bearcats post. :eek: