Background Question

[Kaitlyn001]

I have a few questions about my background and would like to get feedback and advice. I am a 34 year old female hoping to become a police officer. I spent 6 years in the Navy, I was honorably discharged in 2000, applied with a sheriff's department, passed everything was hired and offered a sponsored slot in a police academy. One week before my academy was to start I declined due to the fact that I was newly married and my husband was due to start an academy a month after me. I decided that I wanted to start a family and felt that with both of us starting new careers as police officers it would be too challenging for the obvious reasons of shift work and the lack of seniority when it came to picking assignments. When I do something I like to give 100% so I chose a family over a career at the time. Now my husband has the seniority and is able to get the shifts and days off that he wants which gives us more flexibility and my 2 kids are old enough to be in school. I really want this but fear that I may have screwed up my chances by withdrawing myself from the process in the past. I feel like the department that I am applying to may feel that I wasted the other departments time and money by withdrawing myself from the process at the last minute. I am very early in the hiring process right now, I will be taking the POST entrance exam and PAT next week. I have a pretty clean background, no tickets, I tried marijuana once when I was 17, no arrests, but a couple of 30 day late payments on my credit report that may be a problem. I have 76 college credits and currently continue to go to school on a part time basis. I am physically fit although I am having issues with the 6' wall which I will need to figure out by the end of the week. Any advice anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated.

[realpolice]

You're explanation seems reasonable to me; however, convincing them that you're serious could be an issue now. But anyone who has a family can understand your reasoning. I would just be 100% honest and explain yourself clearly. I go by the old theory that the worse that can happen is they can tell me no. With your military background and currently in school, your explanantion is much more credible then say someone who has no family, turned it down, isn't in school, and done nothing between. It also shows your dedication to family which is a very strong point they consider. Good luck, I think you'll be fine.

[Johninaustin]

Don't see a problem really, just explain it to them as you explained it to us.

BTW: The 6' wall is EASY. Lots of people are frightened of it but it's all technique.

[Kaitlyn001]

Thanks, any special technique you can share with me? My husband has been going out to the wall with me every night to practice but I am still only making it over the wall 50% of the times I try which I know is not good enough I need to get to the point where I can make it over everytime. I am a tall female, 5'9 so I imagine my 50% success rate is due to my upper body strength. He's trying to convince me the wall is a mind game and that with technique it's a piece of cake. I am working with weights and doing push ups to improve my strength, but in all honesty I only have a week before my PAT and any special techniques anyone might have would be helpful. Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

[1depd]

I don't know how yours is, but when I had to do the wall, I placed my hands on top, jumped and pushed with my arms/chest at the same time. It is much easier to push with your arms when your body weight is already going up from your jump. Once I was about waist high I basically laid on the wall and spun around to the other side. As far as exercises that would help with this style, dips are almost an exact duplicate of the motion.

[Creeker]

I have a few questions about my background .... Any advice anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated.

You're explanation seems reasonable to me; however, convincing them that you're serious could be an issue now. ... Good luck, I think you'll be fine.

Kait, you don't realize how anointed you must be, because I've been here a little while now and this is the first one of these type threads I've seen ^that guy^ answer... :D;)

[Kaitlyn001]

I passed my test and made it over the wall, I basically just willed my way over and am now covered in bruises. I am really excited but know that I still have a long way to go. I realize that my biggest weakness is my strength but I am working hard at correcting that weakness and plan on continuing to work out and hit the wall every other day in hopes that I will get picked up and that all of this hard work will land me a spot in the academy. I am on a mission!!