Advice for the 184 Newest Chippies

[CivvieInNY]

To all the recent graduates:

Always look out for your fellow officer. If you see one on the side of the road (even off duty), slow down and 'have a look' to make sure s/he is OK and the stop isn't going sideways.

Should you stop a fellow MOS, remember, it's a traffic violation. Discretion is a tool in your arsenal. Not everyone you stop gets a summons. :wink:

Know where you are AT ALL TIMES. Things happen quickly and you won't be able to get help if we don't know where you are. I'm not sure of your Department's policy on this, but I recommend giving your location FIRST in a transmission if you think things are going bad. Example, "7 Charlie to Central, on the w/b 405 between Exits xx and xx, can you have one car respond, no emergency."

Don't EVER be afraid to ask for/call for help. If help wasn't really necessary, you may take some razzin in the locker room, but if it is necessary, you'll be glad you thought ahead.

Always treat the public with respect until they give you a reason not to. Sometimes a warn & admonish can be more effective than a summons.

By the same token don't hesitate to be decisive. If a deadly weapon is being used, shoot the son of a b*tch. Don't be so afraid to act that you get yourself, your partner or an innocent bystander killed.

On a related note, satisfying though they may be, overhead swings with a baton look really bad when televised. Go for the perps kneecaps and shins instead.

Go home with the same number of holes you came to work with.

[bcjack]

To all the recent graduates:

Always look out for your fellow officer. If you see one on the side of the road (even off duty), slow down and 'have a look' to make sure s/he is OK and the stop isn't going sideways.

Should you stop a fellow MOS, remember, it's a traffic violation. Discretion is a tool in your arsenal. Not everyone you stop gets a summons. :wink:

Know where you are AT ALL TIMES. Things happen quickly and you won't be able to get help if we don't know where you are. I'm not sure of your Department's policy on this, but I recommend giving your location FIRST in a transmission if you think things are going bad. Example, "7 Charlie to Central, on the w/b 405 between Exits xx and xx, can you have one car respond, no emergency."

Don't EVER be afraid to ask for/call for help. If help wasn't really necessary, you may take some razzin in the locker room, but if it is necessary, you'll be glad you thought ahead.

Always treat the public with respect until they give you a reason not to. Sometimes a warn & admonish can be more effective than a summons.

By the same token don't hesitate to be decisive. If a deadly weapon is being used, shoot the son of a b*tch. Don't be so afraid to act that you get yourself, your partner or an innocent bystander killed.

On a related note, satisfying though they may be, overhead swings with a baton look really bad when televised. Go for the perps kneecaps and shins instead.

Go home with the same number of holes you came to work with.

Great advice...Be safe and have a long and enjoyable career.

Always remember...You and your partners going home safe and secure is the FIRST PRIORITY of every day!!!

[HIPCHIP]

Great advice. Remember to ask questions, and if the situation is still normal, then even your FTO is fairly new, so ask your Sgt, your Lt, even your Capt. Ask allied agencies how they handle stuff, learn by asking. If you're not sure, ask somebody. If it's a minor offense, you can always let the person go, then find out what to do next time. Lots of things you will experience that you've never even thought of, so listen to the "War Stories" of the veterans and LEARN!

Be brave, but don't be stupid. It's going to take awhile to learn this stuff!

When you get involved in nasty situations, stuff you've only seen in horror movies, talk to your fellow officers, the Sgt, talk to a EAP or family counselor. Learn how to handle all the horror you will see over your career. PTSD also happens in our career field, so learn to handle it now! Don't wait until it's a decade or two down the road and it starts to build up to the point it causes problems.

Have a great career, have a great retirement too, so start planning for that NOW. Look at the economy now! How many 401K's have tanked? Make sure you have back-up plans so you can retire and relax. NOW is not too early to start!

Last but not least, DON'T EAT TOO MANY DONUTS! It just perpetuates the stereotype:lol:

[Nesnat]

Thank you all for you great advice. Everyone stay safe and I'll be working the roads with you soon.... Again Thank You!!!

[carcop]

"Go home with the same number of holes you came to work with."

Well put!

[22348(b)]

Good luck guys and gals, one piece of advice.

Never say to your 2nd or 3rd phase FTO, "but that's how my last FTO told me to do it!"

[RAT Power]

DON'T CRASH! I know the stat is that 50% of them will crash within their first year. I think 5 out the last 7 new officers we got in our office have crashed. I just lost my assigned car to a new guy. And before anyone gives me crap, I waited till I had a year and half on.:biggrin: Three years ago and I'm still getting reminded of it.

[emcviper]

All this crash talk has me thinking: do crashes on the job affect your auto insurance rates off the job?

It seems like when you fill out information for a policy, they ask about accidents, and don't allow for any such exclusions.

I tried searching and couldn't find a similar topic.

[cjincognito]

DON'T CRASH! I know the stat is that 50% of them will crash within their first year. I think 5 out the last 7 new officers we got in our office have crashed. I just lost my assigned car to a new guy. And before anyone gives me crap, I waited till I had a year and half on.:biggrin: Three years ago and I'm still getting reminded of it.

I had an assigned car with only 1500 miles on it when a new guy used it and played Tony Hawk... went for a little "grind" along the top of a C/D wall. Car never drove right after that. :cry: I joke because he was okay... except for the verbal abuse he took from everyone afterwards.

[bcjack]

All this crash talk has me thinking: do crashes on the job affect your auto insurance rates off the job?

It seems like when you fill out information for a policy, they ask about accidents, and don't allow for any such exclusions.

I tried searching and couldn't find a similar topic.

California Insurance Code:

669.5. No insurer shall fail to renew any private automobile insurance policy of a peace officer, member of the California Highway Patrol, or firefighter, with respect to his or her operation of a private motor vehicle, for the reason that the insured has been involved in an accident while operating an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 165 of the Vehicle Code or in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b) or (f) of Section 165 of the Vehicle Code, in the performance of his or her duty during the hours of his or her employment. As used in this section, "peace officer" means every person defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 and Section 830.6 of the Penal
Code, and "firefighter" means every person defined in Section 50925 of the Government Code.
In the case of a volunteer firefighter, this section applies to the regular employer of the volunteer firefighter to the extent that the involvement of the volunteer firefighter in the accident shall not be cause for the employer's insurer's decision to renew the employer's insurance policy as it applies to the employee covered by
this section.

[cjincognito]

California Insurance Code:

669.5. No insurer shall fail to renew any private automobile insurance policy of a peace officer, member of the California Highway Patrol, or firefighter, with respect to his or her operation of a private motor vehicle, for the reason that the insured has been involved in an accident while operating an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 165 of the Vehicle Code or in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b) or (f) of Section 165 of the Vehicle Code, in the performance of his or her duty during the hours of his or her employment. As used in this section, "peace officer" means every person defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 and Section 830.6 of the Penal
Code, and "firefighter" means every person defined in Section 50925 of the Government Code.
In the case of a volunteer firefighter, this section applies to the regular employer of the volunteer firefighter to the extent that the involvement of the volunteer firefighter in the accident shall not be cause for the employer's insurer's decision to renew the employer's insurance policy as it applies to the employee covered by
this section.

I can't give you the exact code, but no, that information doesn't even need to be disclosed to them. If they find out about it from other sources (because it is not part of your public record info at the DMV) they are supposed to disregard the info.

[not5150]

Dear god.. I had no idea the crash percentage was so high in the first year. Is there an average number for a career?

[14596]

Good luck guys and gals, one piece of advice.

Never say to your 2nd or 3rd phase FTO, "but that's how my last FTO told me to do it!"

Or, when I was in the academy, my instructor said............

[HIPCHIP]

Never say to your 2nd or 3rd phase FTO, "but that's how my last FTO told me to do it!"

As with many things, there are can be more than one way to do something, and many times you need to pick the way it works for you or the specific situation. If a different FTO or other officer advised you to do something one way, and now you are being told to do something a different way, advise that person that you were also advised that it could be done "This" way and ask about the differences. You will probably need to do it the way your current FTO wants, but now you know the difference and can utilize the best for you, or the situation, later as warranted. If your FTO gets upset that you are asking questions, then they shouldn't be an FTO!

[Bradley]

California Insurance Code:

669.5. ..........

I'm amazed every day how much I learn from reading this forum. Thanks for sharing. :!:

[CivvieInNY]

DON'T CRASH! I know the stat is that 50% of them will crash within their first year. I think 5 out the last 7 new officers we got in our office have crashed. I just lost my assigned car to a new guy. And before anyone gives me crap, I waited till I had a year and half on.:biggrin: Three years ago and I'm still getting reminded of it.

Oh yeah. I seem to remember this. Back in '06 I believe, right? We heard about it all the way out here in New York. Well, whaddayagonnado? I mean, in your defense, RAT, those big red fire engines are kind of hard to see when you're pulling up to an MVA. Eh, they shouldn't have parked 'em in the street. Fuhgeddaboutit. :cool:

[ORI# 1976]

* Eat when you are hungry.

* Use the bathroom every chance you get.

* Put an extra bottle of water in your gear bag.

* Dont forget about your AR-15 (They put it in the car to use it not to just look cool.)

* Take care of your partners.

* Stay off of the radio when your partner has emergency radio traffic.

* Handle the calls for service in YOUR beat, I have my own beat to handle.

[HIPCHIP]

And this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but get a bookcase and put all your manuals from the Academy in it, then pull them out and study them daily. You'll probably want you CIM in the car with you, so maybe get another.

Once you report and get a little settled, contact publications and purchase every manual the department has, and make sure you find out how to get updates. The cost of the manuals isn't cheap, but it will be worth it.

Once you get the manuals, read and hi-lite each one, then keep reviewing them. You should even come up with your own index so you know where to look for a specific thing. It will answer so many questions for you and save your butt on many an occasion. And if you somewhere down the road decide you want to promote, having this knowledge will be very helpful.

Trust me on this one, read all the manuals and know them. Sometimes they can be your best friend. I know it's a lot to learn, but technically you are required to know all the rules, and if you don't, it can come back and haunt you!

[chpbagpiper]

Congrats on making it out of the Academy!
I would give the following advice:
Before reporting to your area, buy a Garmin GPS and find out where everything is. I let my trainee use a GPS or the streets and highways on the CAD. Using all available tools shows you have a brain.
Go to radio shack and buy a digital audio recorder. Tape difficult people and you will protect yourself from false complaints. You will get one within the next five years. Let your FTO know when it is on!
Never let your beat partner work a wreck alone. Ask lots of questions, the good people will take the time to answer them and will respect you for asking. People that make fun of you don't know the answer anyway and arn't worth your time.
When you work a wreck, always treat it as if it was your family involved. You will put more effort into your investigations and produce a better product. There is a huge difference between documenting a traffic collision and investigating a traffic collision. The physical evidence never lies but people do! Trust the evidence. It is what it is!
Last of all, treat everyone like family but always have a plan as to how you are going to take them out. We train for the battle we hope never comes.

[Clutch-n-Throttle]

Here's one that is invaluable:

When in doubt, TAKE PAPER!!!!

[PTR-Jason]

To add to the others:

-I love taking paper, after 11 years in law enforcement ( I am only 25, but have been in explorers, security, corrections, and sworn) I love reports. I do not mind taking reports. It gives me something to do when the hours seem to drag and I also know I will not have to be questioned on things later, I can pull the report.

-The Badge - We are all on the same team, no matter if you are state, city or county, heck even security, do not let your deparment (we are better then you) beefs go to YOUR head. Back up the badge, if you are driving down the city streets and a local is on a t/stop, roll by and see if you can help. Who knows, maybe the occupants were just planning something until another until pulled up and now they are thinking twice. BACK YOUR FELLOW OFFICERS

Security handels a LOT of bs calls city and county officers do not have the be tied up with. If you happen to see security questioning someone at a gas station or something or maybe a housing tract or a park or anywhere else, maybe take the time, not to look down your nose at them, but maybe walk up and see what is going on, you dont know what they have, maybe you can run the guy he is questioning and just make sure he is not wanted, who knows. You NEVER know what type of training the security has, maybe he is off duty trying to make ends meat with a second job and you look down your nose, and then when he works his next shift, he sees a CHP unit and is look oh looks its them no good for nothing guys. You never know.

-Location - KNOW IT, simple enough KNOW IT. I use a GPS in my car, and I love it because in city areas, I can pretty much see an over head of what the housing tracts look like, and dead end streets, as well as road name. It helps as a GUIDELINE only, but I can tell two streets in front of me is a dead end on the right so if I am following a vehicle and they rabbit on me, I can pass them, if they turn down there, I can park and wait for them to come back out, kinda suspicious right? See now I know they are up to no good.

-Radio traffic - LISTEN TO IT. Everytime that radio keys up I listen to it, I may hear something dispatch may not and if they keep 10-09ing and do not get a reply I can key up and go he just said he was out with ...................then start heading that way. Like others said stuff happens FAST, I have been on DUI stops that turned to fights where after 1 min I was finally able to get my radio keyed up, then it lasted another 2 min. If you are involved in something and can only get out the first few seconds, you are not going to key up when dispatch tells you to 10-09 cuz you were 10-01. Do not talk fast on the radio, normal and clear, like a telephone, do not be afraid of it, it does not always bite.

If you hear an officer out on something do not be afraid to head that way if it is a sister beat or something. You dont have to pull up with him, but at least you will be in the area so if something does happen you are not responding from across the county.

- Backup - NEVER NEVER NEVER bea afraid of asking for help or backup, follow your gut, if it tells you something is just not right NO MATTER HOW SMALL, follow it. It is there for a reason. I have not always followed it, and things turned out fine, but other times, I wish I did. GO HOME AT THE END OF YOUR SHIFT.

When I was a firefighter (yes did that as well) we were told it is better to have the whole city rolling for you and NOT need them and turn them around or have them stand around, then NEED them and have to wait while someone is burning or getting hurt or trapped. If they are already coming for you, they are already that much closer, and not about to go out on a traffic stop of their own.

Just be safe, have fun and DO NOT have a power trip!! Been there done that, and did not get me anywhere at the time.

Treat people, now matter how bad they are treaing you, with respect, you have no idea how bad their day as been or who they are, or who is around you, or what cameras are on you, or maybe your mic stuck, and everyone listening to tan, blue, or green can hear you. Use your brain, a lot of times getting verbal with them will solve nothing other times you may piss them off more because they want to get a rise out of you, and you are still being nice. Majority of the time still being calm will calm them down and you can go a lot further with them.

I was recently called a liar and I was still nice to them as I escorted them from an area because I did not want to do the arrest, but I said "Have a nice night, thanks for hopping the fence and SORRY TO INCONVIENCE YOU!" Pretty loudly when a lady was walking by them walking her dog, she looked at them, looked at me, and started smiling, they just looked back pissed and walked away.

Have fun while you do your job, it is what makes the job a career, just be safe, good luck, and go home every 10-10.