I knew before this project started that what I was asking of these folks to do was going to be a lot of added stress and pressure.

Anyone who has ever started any new job knows what it's like to have that new-person paranoia where you don't know anybody and you're not sure if you're doing anything right. Even if you are very proficient at your profession, there's still workplace culture stuff to learn when you start a new job. Maybe you're not sure where the extra pens are kept and who is allowed to drink the coffee in the break room. Is the boss going to flip out if you're 5 minutes late from lunch? Are you going to remember all the names of the 17 secretaries who look exactly alike? Starting a new job is at the top of the stress list next to getting married and moving to a new home.

Now imagine that someone is literally screaming in your face telling you that you clearly are not cut out for this, you're waking up at 4:30 in the morning and you're pushing your body harder than you probably ever had in your life in 110 degree heat.

Not bad enough? Well, do all of that with a reporter constantly pointing a video camera at you, then asking you how you feel about things, knowing that everything you say will be read very carefully by your new boss and co-workers, not mention the rest of the community.

The people who agreed to participate in this project took a big risk. I've spoken with them throughout this process about questions and concerns that have come up, but a couple of weeks ago I officially asked all of the new officers what it's been like participating in the Becoming A Cop series and what their thoughts are on it. I warned them that I may publish their answers, so while they may say something different to their families in their privacy of their own homes, here's what they had to say on the record.

Officer Jeremy Piper
"It kind of includes the community. The community knows what we go through now to become a police officer. They see the good things and the bad things," Piper said. "It's not just you put the badge on. You've actually earned it."

Officer Nicolas Gospich
"I think some of us know from being in the paper we got a little more attention when we weren't doing things right from instructors," Gospich said. He said that they will be constantly watched by the community once they are on the streets, so they should get used to it.  "I think it's helped us dealing with it a little more, dealing with the added pressure of constantly being watched."

Officer Jason Felgenhauer
"For the six that did this project, it put an extreme amount of pressure on us. The rest of the class didn't have to deal with anything like this," Felgenhauer said. "We were always under the microscope, but you're always going to be under the microscope for the rest of your career."

Officer Ryan Kroeker
"There's a lot of pressure that comes with it because the six of us are representing the 28 others in the academy, the training staff and a lot of officers as well," Kroeker said. He added that most of the cadets weren't really looking for a lot of recognition, but that it allowed the community to see what they went through.

Officer Felipe Juarez
"I don't think it's affected me at all. I'm just acting the way I would act if nobody was watching, so it really didn't change anything for me," Juarez said.

Officer Cathy Hinzo
"I kind of like it just because it's a record of it," Hinzo said. "But I've been more concerned with the academy itself."