Thanks

[TEJ1956]

TO ALL and T.COTE

I realize it has been over a month since my original posting, MORE ORAL BOARD QUESTIONS (20 Feb),  T. COTE you did reply and I suppose I answered the question okay.  

I had my Chief's interview right after that and on 22 March I signed a conditional offer of employment for the Clarksville, TN PD.

They did the background check, I passed the psych, the polygraph, the physical, a lifting test, and the drug test and on 16 April at 46 years of age I start training for something that I have wanted since I was 18 (I spent the last 20+ years in the military).  

I go to the Tennessee Law Enforcement academy on 28 April.  I am ecstatic about how things worked out and I can't wait to get started.

I want to wish everyone here the best and thanks to anyone who posted a message, just reading about some of the problems and questions we all have, put my mind at ease and helped me to perform better when it counted.  A special thanks to all that run this web site.  Thanks, I know you don't hear it enough.  Keep it alive and I will check back often.

Best Wishes and good luck    TJ   ;D

[JimCMR]

Hey TEJ;

Congratulations, you make us old guys feel good.  While I am a bit older than you, and have my career, it still is good to know someone over 35 can gat hired.

Please keep us posted on your progress.  After 20 years in the military, I don't need to tell you how to act in the Academy, you have been there, done that, and got the TEE shirt.

Give it Hell, Officer TEJ.

Good luck  JimCMR

[TEJ1956]

To All:

8 weeks have come and gone. I graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy yesterday, 21 June 2002. It seemed like a long 2 months but I am here to tell you that every minute was worth it. I learned so much about being a law enforcement officer I can't wait to get out and start my FTO program.

At 46 I survived, lost weight and I am in the best shape of my life. The only thing I can say to anyone about it is don't ever give up on yourself. The satisfaction and personal gratification that you receive when they call your name and present you your certificates is worth every ache, pain, long duty days and long, late study hours.

The only sad note about the whole experience was that my department, Clarksville, TN PD, lost two officers in the line of duty while I was at the academy. The true nature of this profession was thrust home to all. Officer David Scott had been an officer since 1995 and was the FTO for Officer Yamil Baez-Santiago who had graduated from the academy two days before I started. They were killed when they crashed while on a high speed case of a armed robbery suspect. May they rest in peace.

To everyone who reads this and is interested please feel free to ask any questions about the academy and being a 46 year old recruit. I may not answer immediately but I learned alot from this site just reading other emails and I will be more than willing to reply to all.

To T. COTE hey I made it.

Best of luck to all

TEJ