Please welcome Recruit DeRosa. Every recruit comes face to face with adversity during the Academy experience. Sometimes it is critical training meant to preserve life. More often, it is the simple things that can be most stressful.
My name is Recruit
DeRosa with the Lakewood Police Department. I am honored to share my
experiences after two weeks in the 2018-2 Combined Regional Academy.
I lived
almost my whole life in Castle Rock, Colorado and attended the University of
Northern Colorado in Greeley. I graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in
Criminal Justice and minored in sociology. After graduation, I spent a year
applying for law enforcement positions all across Colorado. I applied to a
total of nine law enforcement agencies before I was fortunate enough to land a
recruit position with Lakewood Police Department. My journey in the academy
began on Monday, July 16th.
I’ve been impressed
at how fast my classmates and I have begun to bond, and become closer every
day. Although we met each other only a few weeks ago, everyone treats each
other like we have been friends for years. From cracking inside jokes when the
instructors leave the room to supporting one another during PT, we are already
turning into a family. Nobody is ever alone in this experience. We practice
formation together, we work out together, we eat together, and we learn
together.
There have
been numerous opportunities to learn lessons so far. One of those
sticks out the most to me. After orientation we were expected to break in our
new boots and begin to learn how to shine them. I was under the impression that
shinning boots was simple, a five minute task. I mean, how hard can it be? Just
“wax on, wax off.” Right?
After an
hour of rubbing a boot I quickly realized even the simplest tasks are going to
take some work. I was beyond stressed that I couldn’t get a shine on my boots,
and thought I was going to be the only idiot that couldn’t figure it out. The
next day at the academy, I learned I was not alone. The majority of us were struggling
and it seemed everyone had different theories on how to get a good shine going.
I realized I
am not alone in this academy. I have many resources around me and people who
will struggle along with me. I asked people who knew what they were doing, and
went home that night encouraged. The next week during formation I received a
complement from one of the Sergeants about the shine on my boots. After a
couple of weeks I have learned during times of frustration I am not alone. I
can carry this lesson throughout my career as an Agent with Lakewood Police
Department.
