Retreads?

[Jason76blue]

Does anybody know of an individual who quite the CHP academy, then later realized that is was a huge mistake, got re-hired and completed the academy? What is the CHP's policy/attitude towards rehiring cadets who dropped out? Thanks.

[WinnieI05]

The only retreads they will allow is if you failed out and want another try at it. If you quit, I don't think they will let you back, but that's my opinion and not something I know for sure. We had an officer in my class who made it all the way through a previous academy, became an officer, had a crisis and was forced to resign because of the crisis. He did the whole academy over again and graduated with me and now is a successful officer. In addition, my roomate made it to week 8 and failed a driving portion of the EVOC training. He came back 2 classes later and graduated with me. Like I said, if you quit, I would not expect them to let you try again. Other's may know contrary though.

Hope it helps!

WinnieI05

[dw]

Jason76blue is correct. For the most part, reinstatements will only be granted if you fail some portion of training AND can demonstrate that you've secured the skills on your own that are necessary to be successful in another attempt. If you quit for any reason, most likely a request for reinstatement will be denied. You have he option of going through the entire testing process again. Of course, you'll have to explain to the QAP why you deserve another chance and how whatever your problem was has been resolved.

[Jason76blue]

At this point, I would just go through the process again and not ask for reinstatement. I've put myself through a reserve POST academy and have become a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. I'm also a licensed private investigator. However, I still deeply regret quitting the CHP academy seven years ago. I'm trying to figure out if it would just be a waste of time to attempt to get re-hired. What do you think?

[Capsicum]

Hmm, after seven years I would think your only option now would be to fully reapply. Not sure that you would get reinstated with that amount of separation time.

[Darth Choke]

The president of our cadet class quit the CHP after a few weeks on the job (as an officer) 7 years earlier. He had to go through the process from the beginning. He was WELL prepared and was on of the top cadets - academically and physically. BELIEVE IT OR NOT - HE KEPT HIS ORIGINAL BADGE # !!!!! So he graduated with 3000 numbers on everyone else!!!!!!!

[lomotor]

Yes it is true that you can be reinstated but I believe that it only good for three years after seperation. We had a guy in our office come back to the dept. after a year off. He keeps his origional ID# but loses a years senority for the time away. So even though you may have an ID# some 3000 numbers below, you loose all that senority. That's just to keep things fair.

[dw]

At this point, I would just go through the process again and not ask for reinstatement. I've put myself through a reserve POST academy and have become a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. I'm also a licensed private investigator. However, I still deeply regret quitting the CHP academy seven years ago. I'm trying to figure out if it would just be a waste of time to attempt to get re-hired. What do you think?

If the CHP is what you want to do, then go for it. Now is an excellent time to get on. The significant time passed is probably a good thing, just be ready to explain what's changed during that time.

[Jason76blue]

Thank you all so much for the responses.

I'm definitely goint to try to get re-hired. I'm 29 years old and quitting the CHP academy is the one thing in my life that I truly regret. Actually, I think about it all time. Even though I'm in law enforcement now, I still think about what my career would have been like as a CHP Officer. As I was preparing to resign from the academy, one of the senior class cadets pulled me aside and told me that I would always regret quitting - even if I became a cop somewhere else - and he was so right! I can still remember him talking to me near the staff office. I wish I would have given more thought to his advice.

[Your Mentor]

Under the circumstances you describe I can tell you that reinstatement is NOT an option you'll be offered. Your exit package is everything but the time is too great. You'll have to start from scratch. The hardest part will be explaining your actions at the QAP.

We have a reinstatees academy class but it is only for returning officers. Most reinstating officers are mandatory reinstatees returning from medical retirements. Some, however, are returning after resigning. In every case, however, they are journeymen (this title is no longer used but it refers to officers who made it through probation. Probation used to qualify as an apprenticeship and was honored by the Ca. Apprentiship Council. I don't know when they stopped this practice. I received a journeyman certificate along with my POST certificate). Anyhow, if you graduate from the Academy but fail to make it off breakin or probation, you have to start the whole process over again. I taught one cadet in 1999 who was fired on breakin. I taught him a second time when he returned to the Academy in 2003. He related that he had to go through the whole hiring process again.

[Jason76blue]

Under the circumstances you describe I can tell you that reinstatement is NOT an option you'll be offered. Your exit package is everything but the time is too great. You'll have to start from scratch. The hardest part will be explaining your actions at the QAP.

We have a reinstatees academy class but it is only for returning officers. Most reinstating officers are mandatory reinstatees returning from medical retirements. Some, however, are returning after resigning. In every case, however, they are journeymen (this title is no longer used but it refers to officers who made it through probation. Probation used to qualify as an apprenticeship and was honored by the Ca. Apprentiship Council. I don't know when they stopped this practice. I received a journeyman certificate along with my POST certificate). Anyhow, if you graduate from the Academy but fail to make it off breakin or probation, you have to start the whole process over again. I taught one cadet in 1999 who was fired on breakin. I taught him a second time when he returned to the Academy in 2003. He related that he had to go through the whole hiring process again.

[Jason76blue]

Again, thank you all for the response to "Retreads".

Allow me to pose another question regarding this topic:

Given the circumstances I have described and your knowledge of the CHP and its standards, what could a an applicant due to impress a QAP panel in such a fashion that would result in a high enough score to be given a second chance at the academy?

As I stated previously, I have put myself through a reserve POST academy, finished third in my class, and was subsequently hired with a large department as a reserve officer. I have three years of successful service with that department as of next month and I have been an active officer in my unit. In addition, I have become a licensed traffic school instructor and private investigator. I have a excellent overall work record with the exception of my resignation from the CHP academy in early 1999. I also have two years of college coursework completed.

So, if you were serving on a QAP, what other achievements would you look for in a candidate that was requesting a second chance? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[DESERT RAT]

I would start volunteering as much as possible. I think my volunteer work tipped the scales for me during my QAP.

[Your Mentor]

The RAT is dead on! Volunteer work automatically implies service without reward (which is what public safety is all about). Contact the local chapter of MADD in your area and get involved with any of their programs you find interesting. Since our department weighs our enforcement toward DUI detection and traffic safety, focus your volunteer efforts in those areas.

D-RAT; very cool new avatar.

[dw]

Again, thank you all for the response to "Retreads".

Allow me to pose another question regarding this topic:

Given the circumstances I have described and your knowledge of the CHP and its standards, what could a an applicant due to impress a QAP panel in such a fashion that would result in a high enough score to be given a second chance at the academy?

As I stated previously, I have put myself through a reserve POST academy, finished third in my class, and was subsequently hired with a large department as a reserve officer. I have three years of successful service with that department as of next month and I have been an active officer in my unit. In addition, I have become a licensed traffic school instructor and private investigator. I have a excellent overall work record with the exception of my resignation from the CHP academy in early 1999. I also have two years of college coursework completed.

So, if you were serving on a QAP, what other achievements would you look for in a candidate that was requesting a second chance? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds like you're off to a pretty good start.