Gonna be a Police Officer!

Maxx · 12-15-2003, 02:58 PM

I thought that I would post this here as I consider many of you here friends even though I've only met a few of you in person...
I will be going to the St Louis County Police Academy in February!
To give everyone a little background info about me, I'm 30 years old and spent 4 years in the Marine Corps infantry. I joined in Jan 93, (scored a 96 on the Armed Services Vocational Appititude Battery, ASVAB for short...basically tells the military what your strong points are and gives them an indication of what job you'd be best suited for. Top score is a 99), and actually waited 10 months to go in the infantry. you should have seen the look on the recruiters face I told him I was going infantry or not at all....
At any rate, I really enjoyed my stint in the Corps, it taught me alot about myself, and I got to see the world, and work w/ fantastic people, (and some incredibly dumb ones too. Pretty sure I met the guy who's the reason we still have instructions on shampoo...

). I decided to get out when my enlistment was up after 4 years because I knew that an education was going to be important. The intent at that time was to go to school, get a degree, go back in the Corps as an officer, and be a pilot. While in college, I enrolled in the Platoon Leaders Course which is basically boot camp for officers. That was fun, but made realize that what I was looking for in a career, (constant challenges, variation of daily activities, physical effort, strong mental challenge and satisfaction, working in a variety of environments, not just indoors) I could find elsewhere and wouldnt have me traipsing all over the globe for indeterminant periods of time, ( I would like to have a family, and thats really tough when you can get sent to the gulf for 9 months to a year w/o a whole lot o notice. Been there , done that w/ girlfriends and that didnt really work well.) I did really well in OCS, (#3 out of 500 candidates...would've been #2 if I hadnt had an infected foot), but decided to resign from the program, and look elsewhere. I ran into a friend of mine who is a firefighter/paramedic and he knew I also enjoyed helping people, but needed something challenging, and rewarding. So he started talking about the fire dept. I liked what I heard, (good pay in some districts...75-80 K a year for working 10 days a month...not a bad part time job! Keep in mind that those 10 days a month are 24 hour days so firefighter/paramedics are actually pulling 240 hours a month as opposed to 160 hours a month that an 8 hour day/40 hour a week worker pulls...), and your helping people, while doing something challenging and rewarding. So I went about trying to get a job in a fire dept. Well...thats pretty tough, alot of who knows who and nepotism going on there, so I needed to get my Paramedic license to make myself more marketable. I worked hard and got accepted into the Paramedic program at a local community college that actually has one of the best Paramedic courses in the entire state. There were 56 people applying for 25 slots, I made the cut and started my classes last August. Its a lengthy intensive course that starts in August and ends the following year around September depending on how your clinicals go and if you pass the national registry examinations. I enjoyed the classes, and I enjoyed the detective aspect of finding out what was really happening to people when they were hurt, but the downtime at the firehouses was horrible! On many field clinicals that I was on (riding along w/ an ambulance for the purposes of applying learned skills in the field on real patients, while being supervised by trained medics w/ many years of experiance) we would get maybe 3 or 4 calls in a 14 hour period. Keep in mind that the ambulance runs more calls the then firetrucks do on average. And alot of those calls were for crap like the patient stepped on a nail an wanted an ambulance to take them to the hospital. Or the person calling the ambulance had a fever....of 100....
Just an FYI...If its not a life threatening situation, meaning someone is going to die w/o medical care, an ambulance isnt necessary. If you can take yourself to the hospital, you should. Leave the ambulance for car crashes, heart attacks, shootings, etc.....just my two cents...
Anyway, I wanted to help people, but in more of a proactive way than a reactive manner. Besides I caught myself hoping that the calls we were going on were gonna be good, meaning somebody would be seriously hurt. And thats a crappy feeling....
So I submitted an application to the police dept, and I got accepted. I feel that this will actually fit my personality and attitude much better than a career in Emergency Medical Services would. There are many other positive aspects of this decisions, but this post is already wayyy to long, so I'll stop there. I just wanted to tell everyone the good news. Wit wont be the only comedian w/ a badge here soon!
Nick

Curtswearing · 12-15-2003, 03:06 PM

Maxx I'm so happy for you I could explode. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. I'm glad you are going to get some more free time to build your tank and just enjoy life instead of constantly working or studying.

CONGRATS!!!

mwrager · 12-15-2003, 03:07 PM

Congrats, now you be able to get that Squirrel

sharks · 12-15-2003, 03:32 PM

WOW congrats Maxx congrats!

SZHTTM · 12-15-2003, 03:34 PM

Sounds like you already lived a pretty interesting life, even before the Police Academy!!!!

My oldest brother is a cop and has had some interesting jobs (ex.: SWAT, Motors, etc...) and is now a sargeant working (mostly) behind a desk. He would like to be back out on the street with more action, but being married with two kids, this jobs allows him to be home during regular hours with the family.

I wish you nothing but the best in your new endeavors!!

Study as hard as you can while in the acedamy!!

Good Luck;

TDEVIL · 12-15-2003, 03:41 PM

congrats, Nick

im very happy for you

looks like you will have to change your sig now

keep us posted

TD

Craig Manoukian · 12-15-2003, 03:48 PM

Good job, bud. Vanquish that evil!

ScottT1980 · 12-15-2003, 03:49 PM

Great news Nick!

Take care of yourself on those streets...

Take er easy
Scott T.

reefrunner · 12-15-2003, 04:03 PM

Welcome to the largest street gang on the planet!!!

Reef Geek · 12-15-2003, 04:05 PM

How did I know you were a Marine .. GO ARMY!!

jks1 · 12-15-2003, 04:06 PM

i wish you the best nick, sounds like you will do well at whatever you do. Congrats.

Spooda420 · 12-15-2003, 04:08 PM

So next time I get pulled over I can say I know Officer Nick and you can get me out of a jam... Right?????

Good Job and Congrats!

Maxx · 12-15-2003, 04:28 PM

Wow...thanks for the overwhelming support everybody! Not at all what I expected! Thank you very much!!! I'm really excited about the change too....can quit spending all my free time studying grotesque pictures in a book, and actually be w/ my girlfriend, my dog , oh yeah and that tank I've talking about for the last 6 months!

Quote:

How did I know you were a Marine

Might have been the witty repartee, or maybe the dashingly good looks ....

Quote:

GO ARMY!!

Not everyone's destined for greatness....somebodies gotta be inn the Army after all.....

JK!!!!!

Quote:

next time I get pulled over I can say I know Officer Nick and you can get me out of a jam... Right?????

Gotta graduate first Chris....your gonna have to be a law abiding citizen just a little bit longer...or just don't get caught.

Thanks again everybody, I'm touched....(and not in the head either Reef Geek!

)
Nick

Playa · 12-15-2003, 04:31 PM

Bad boys! Bad boys! bad boys!

what ya gona do, what ya gona do...when they come fer ya...bad boys bad boys....what ya gona do....when they come fer yaaaaa

Congrats Officer!

I feel safe here with wit and ya!

Maxx · 12-15-2003, 04:33 PM

Thanks Luis.....BTW I'm gonna have to see the import permit for that Elegence coral, if its not in order I'll have to confiscate it

Nick

12-15-2003, 02:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Maxx Manta Ray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 3,079 View Gallery Karma Komment	Gonna be a Police Officer! I thought that I would post this here as I consider many of you here friends even though I've only met a few of you in person... I will be going to the St Louis County Police Academy in February! To give everyone a little background info about me, I'm 30 years old and spent 4 years in the Marine Corps infantry. I joined in Jan 93, (scored a 96 on the Armed Services Vocational Appititude Battery, ASVAB for short...basically tells the military what your strong points are and gives them an indication of what job you'd be best suited for. Top score is a 99), and actually waited 10 months to go in the infantry. you should have seen the look on the recruiters face I told him I was going infantry or not at all.... At any rate, I really enjoyed my stint in the Corps, it taught me alot about myself, and I got to see the world, and work w/ fantastic people, (and some incredibly dumb ones too. Pretty sure I met the guy who's the reason we still have instructions on shampoo... ). I decided to get out when my enlistment was up after 4 years because I knew that an education was going to be important. The intent at that time was to go to school, get a degree, go back in the Corps as an officer, and be a pilot. While in college, I enrolled in the Platoon Leaders Course which is basically boot camp for officers. That was fun, but made realize that what I was looking for in a career, (constant challenges, variation of daily activities, physical effort, strong mental challenge and satisfaction, working in a variety of environments, not just indoors) I could find elsewhere and wouldnt have me traipsing all over the globe for indeterminant periods of time, ( I would like to have a family, and thats really tough when you can get sent to the gulf for 9 months to a year w/o a whole lot o notice. Been there , done that w/ girlfriends and that didnt really work well.) I did really well in OCS, (#3 out of 500 candidates...would've been #2 if I hadnt had an infected foot), but decided to resign from the program, and look elsewhere. I ran into a friend of mine who is a firefighter/paramedic and he knew I also enjoyed helping people, but needed something challenging, and rewarding. So he started talking about the fire dept. I liked what I heard, (good pay in some districts...75-80 K a year for working 10 days a month...not a bad part time job! Keep in mind that those 10 days a month are 24 hour days so firefighter/paramedics are actually pulling 240 hours a month as opposed to 160 hours a month that an 8 hour day/40 hour a week worker pulls...), and your helping people, while doing something challenging and rewarding. So I went about trying to get a job in a fire dept. Well...thats pretty tough, alot of who knows who and nepotism going on there, so I needed to get my Paramedic license to make myself more marketable. I worked hard and got accepted into the Paramedic program at a local community college that actually has one of the best Paramedic courses in the entire state. There were 56 people applying for 25 slots, I made the cut and started my classes last August. Its a lengthy intensive course that starts in August and ends the following year around September depending on how your clinicals go and if you pass the national registry examinations. I enjoyed the classes, and I enjoyed the detective aspect of finding out what was really happening to people when they were hurt, but the downtime at the firehouses was horrible! On many field clinicals that I was on (riding along w/ an ambulance for the purposes of applying learned skills in the field on real patients, while being supervised by trained medics w/ many years of experiance) we would get maybe 3 or 4 calls in a 14 hour period. Keep in mind that the ambulance runs more calls the then firetrucks do on average. And alot of those calls were for crap like the patient stepped on a nail an wanted an ambulance to take them to the hospital. Or the person calling the ambulance had a fever....of 100.... Just an FYI...If its not a life threatening situation, meaning someone is going to die w/o medical care, an ambulance isnt necessary. If you can take yourself to the hospital, you should. Leave the ambulance for car crashes, heart attacks, shootings, etc.....just my two cents... Anyway, I wanted to help people, but in more of a proactive way than a reactive manner. Besides I caught myself hoping that the calls we were going on were gonna be good, meaning somebody would be seriously hurt. And thats a crappy feeling.... So I submitted an application to the police dept, and I got accepted. I feel that this will actually fit my personality and attitude much better than a career in Emergency Medical Services would. There are many other positive aspects of this decisions, but this post is already wayyy to long, so I'll stop there. I just wanted to tell everyone the good news. Wit wont be the only comedian w/ a badge here soon! Nick __________________ "Chaos, confusion, despair...my work is done here." ...Some guy named Murphy.... A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!" Reef Sanctuary Knowledgebase (Answers to all your questions and then some!)

12-15-2003, 03:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Curtswearing Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,596 View Gallery Karma Komment	Maxx I'm so happy for you I could explode. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. I'm glad you are going to get some more free time to build your tank and just enjoy life instead of constantly working or studying. CONGRATS!!! __________________ In memory of Fluffy, please pause before hitting enter---being nice is free. Click for ReefKeeping FAQ'S Click for Product Reviews Click for Photo ID Gallery http://curtcpapfs.com/downloads/1Curt.jpg

12-15-2003, 03:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
mwrager Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert AZ Posts: 1,068 View Gallery Karma Komment	Congrats, now you be able to get that Squirrel __________________ Mark Some days I realy feel old! http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner3.gif

12-15-2003, 03:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
sharks Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 843 View Gallery Karma Komment	WOW congrats Maxx congrats! __________________ The sea monkey has my money 220G fish only tank ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120G Reef 2 250W 65K MH’s. 2 VHO Actinics LifeReef filter/skimmer/20G REF 200LB Kaelini Rock . 2-3” DSB. Various, LPS, SPS, clams, leathers, and others Numerous fish ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> View my Photo Gallery><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>

12-15-2003, 03:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
TDEVIL Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marion, INDIANA Posts: 1,170 View Gallery Karma Komment	congrats, Nick im very happy for you looks like you will have to change your sig now keep us posted TD __________________ my web site <-- needs updated

12-15-2003, 03:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
SZHTTM Serpent Star Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Davie, FL. (South Florida) Posts: 203 View Gallery Karma Komment	Sounds like you already lived a pretty interesting life, even before the Police Academy!!!! My oldest brother is a cop and has had some interesting jobs (ex.: SWAT, Motors, etc...) and is now a sargeant working (mostly) behind a desk. He would like to be back out on the street with more action, but being married with two kids, this jobs allows him to be home during regular hours with the family. I wish you nothing but the best in your new endeavors!! Study as hard as you can while in the acedamy!! Good Luck;

12-15-2003, 03:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 15,732 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Good job, bud. Vanquish that evil! __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

12-15-2003, 03:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,484 View Gallery Karma Komment	Great news Nick! Take care of yourself on those streets... Take er easy Scott T. __________________ My Tank

12-15-2003, 04:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
reefrunner Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Cedar Key, FL Posts: 1,069 View Gallery Karma Komment	Welcome to the largest street gang on the planet!!! __________________ Kevin Check out my gallery!

12-15-2003, 04:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
Reef Geek Reefus Geekus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fountain, CO Posts: 325 View Gallery Karma Komment	How did I know you were a Marine .. GO ARMY!! __________________ Justin Stealth Reefer

12-15-2003, 04:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
jks1 Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 876 View Gallery Karma Komment	i wish you the best nick, sounds like you will do well at whatever you do. Congrats. __________________ John Tank: 29g glass Pumps: Mag5.0 return - (3) rio 100 PHs Lighting: (1) 150w XM 10K/(2) 30W actinics Equipment: Aqua C Urchin skimmer- CPR Fuge, Titanium Heater -Red Sea wavemaster Pro Tank: 210g 1/2" Acrylic, dual overflows, 75g glass sump w/ 20g fuge. Pumps: Mag24 return - (2) MAG24s running 2 closed loop systems. Lighting: (3) 400w XM 10K/(2) Custom Sealife 96w PC - 25w dimmable incandescent Moonlight Equipment: Aqua C EV180 skimmer - CR500 calc reactor - Titanium Heater - AquaLogic single Stage Temp Controller - Aquanetics 1/5Hp Chiller - Neptune sys aquacontroller

12-15-2003, 04:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
Spooda420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 483 View Gallery Karma Komment	So next time I get pulled over I can say I know Officer Nick and you can get me out of a jam... Right????? Good Job and Congrats! __________________ 120 gallon, 100 gallon sump, GEO Calcium Reactor, Aqua C EV-400 Skimmer, 300 pounds of LR, Bare Bottom, 2 Tetra UV2 Sterilizers, 2 Tunze 6080 streams, 2 - 400 watt DE Metal Halides

12-15-2003, 04:31 PM	#14 (permalink)
Playa Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, FL Posts: 1,451 View Gallery Karma Komment	Bad boys! Bad boys! bad boys! what ya gona do, what ya gona do...when they come fer ya...bad boys bad boys....what ya gona do....when they come fer yaaaaa Congrats Officer! I feel safe here with wit and ya!

12-15-2003, 04:33 PM	#15 (permalink)
Maxx Manta Ray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 3,079 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks Luis.....BTW I'm gonna have to see the import permit for that Elegence coral, if its not in order I'll have to confiscate it Nick __________________ "Chaos, confusion, despair...my work is done here." ...Some guy named Murphy.... A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!" Reef Sanctuary Knowledgebase (Answers to all your questions and then some!)

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