http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361 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 &quot;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,&quot; Piper said. &quot;It's not just you put the badge on. You've actually earned it.&quot; Officer Nicolas Gospich &quot;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,&quot; 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.&nbsp; &quot;I think it's helped us dealing with it a little more, dealing with the added pressure of constantly being watched.&quot; Officer Jason Felgenhauer &quot;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,&quot; Felgenhauer said. &quot;We were always under the microscope, but you're always going to be under the microscope for the rest of your career.&quot; Officer Ryan Kroeker &quot;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,&quot; 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 &quot;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,&quot; Juarez said. Officer Cathy Hinzo &quot;I kind of like it just because it's a record of it,&quot; Hinzo said. &quot;But I've been more concerned with the academy itself.&quot; 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 &quot;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,&quot; Piper said. &quot;It's not just you put the badge on. You've actually earned it.&quot; Officer Nicolas Gospich &quot;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,&quot; 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.&nbsp; &quot;I think it's helped us dealing with it a little more, dealing with the added pressure of constantly being watched.&quot; Officer Jason Felgenhauer &quot;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,&quot; Felgenhauer said. &quot;We were always under the microscope, but you're always going to be under the microscope for the rest of your career.&quot; Officer Ryan Kroeker &quot;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,&quot; 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 &quot;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,&quot; Juarez said. Officer Cathy Hinzo &quot;I kind of like it just because it's a record of it,&quot; Hinzo said. &quot;But I've been more concerned with the academy itself.&quot; en-us Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:43:39 PST Now how many of you will become overweight now that you are full fledged BPD officers?&nbsp; It would be interesting to see some stats on how many of our officers need to go on a diet. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_46984 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_46984 Now how many of you will become overweight now that you are full fledged BPD officers?&nbsp; It would be interesting to see some stats on how many of our officers need to go on a diet. <p>Being a life-long resident of Bakersfield, I would say there is a higher % of over weight people in the Sheriff's Dept.</p> <p>It has been a long time since I have seen an obese BPD.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47041 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47041 <p>Being a life-long resident of Bakersfield, I would say there is a higher % of over weight people in the Sheriff's Dept.</p> <p>It has been a long time since I have seen an obese BPD.</p> I think that both of you need to step back and look at who comes to help you when you dial 9-1-1.  I know a lot of deputies and B.P.D. officers, and personally I don't think either of you are worthy to polish their boots, much less make comments like that! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47308 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47308 I think that both of you need to step back and look at who comes to help you when you dial 9-1-1.  I know a lot of deputies and B.P.D. officers, and personally I don't think either of you are worthy to polish their boots, much less make comments like that! <p>Hey now,</p> <p>Before you throw up the 911 thing, take a look at the record in Bakersfield. How long does it actually take for someone to actually show up, when a 911 call is placed? Do you really think that the tax payers are getting acceptable service?...................Be honest here.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47309 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47309 <p>Hey now,</p> <p>Before you throw up the 911 thing, take a look at the record in Bakersfield. How long does it actually take for someone to actually show up, when a 911 call is placed? Do you really think that the tax payers are getting acceptable service?...................Be honest here.</p> <p>ok, first of all  to tonyh, when was the last time you dialed 911? And yeah, let me guess, it was for a neighbors dog barking, right? Because it nimrods like that, who call 911 because theyre too lazy to look up the number for the "non-emergency" line at the BPD who cause delays in the 911 system.</p> <p>I have a pretty good feeling if you called 911 and said youre having a heart attack that the cavalry would be there post haste. And they'd probably save your life. If you have a story that suggests otherwise, I would love to hear it.</p> <p>And to the first anonymous, what are YOU tipping the scales at these days? My suggestion is, the next time you see a fat BPD officer, approach them and tell them you arent paying them to be fat. But Im guessing that wont happen, since youre at home posting this instead of taking action against that which you despise.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47328 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47328 <p>ok, first of all  to tonyh, when was the last time you dialed 911? And yeah, let me guess, it was for a neighbors dog barking, right? Because it nimrods like that, who call 911 because theyre too lazy to look up the number for the "non-emergency" line at the BPD who cause delays in the 911 system.</p> <p>I have a pretty good feeling if you called 911 and said youre having a heart attack that the cavalry would be there post haste. And they'd probably save your life. If you have a story that suggests otherwise, I would love to hear it.</p> <p>And to the first anonymous, what are YOU tipping the scales at these days? My suggestion is, the next time you see a fat BPD officer, approach them and tell them you arent paying them to be fat. But Im guessing that wont happen, since youre at home posting this instead of taking action against that which you despise.</p> <p>You might ask motopoet about the last time he called 911 whan a gang was in his front yard threatening him.&nbsp; The cops never did come but they did call hours later to ask if he still needed them.</p> <p>I've never called 911 but I never got any response when I called the non emergency number about unbearably loud music coming from the tweakers house two doors down.&nbsp; </p> <p>Anny..you don't know the situation Tony might have found himself in.&nbsp; Why would you assume he is a &quot;nimrod&quot; who would have called 911 about a barking dog?&nbsp; As level headed as he is, I doubt seriously that he would ever call it for a non emergency.</p> <p>What does a possibly overweight civilian have to do with overweight officers?&nbsp; After all, it's not likely a civilian would be chasing down bad guys.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47329 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47329 <p>You might ask motopoet about the last time he called 911 whan a gang was in his front yard threatening him.&nbsp; The cops never did come but they did call hours later to ask if he still needed them.</p> <p>I've never called 911 but I never got any response when I called the non emergency number about unbearably loud music coming from the tweakers house two doors down.&nbsp; </p> <p>Anny..you don't know the situation Tony might have found himself in.&nbsp; Why would you assume he is a &quot;nimrod&quot; who would have called 911 about a barking dog?&nbsp; As level headed as he is, I doubt seriously that he would ever call it for a non emergency.</p> <p>What does a possibly overweight civilian have to do with overweight officers?&nbsp; After all, it's not likely a civilian would be chasing down bad guys.</p> <p>I've never made the 911 call personally, but I did stop to assist at a car accident, where a car went off the Hwy into an irrigation canal. It took 56 minutes for the first responder to arrive. The driver would have drowned if I hadn't gone swimming with the hook from a tow chain. Another person who had stopped was in a 3/4 ton 4X4 and was able to pull the car out far enough to get the driver's head and chest out of the water. Another lady got the guy breathing again, but he was caught in the wreckage and we couoldn't get him out of the car..........................56 minutes to respond to a 911 call is unacceptable. The guy in the 4X4 assumed the role of On-Scene Commander and we all went to work. The County Sheriff Deputy finally showed up and called for a Rescue Unit.</p> <p>911 for barking dogs?.............................nah, if needed, I can fix that with Pink Floyd and 1000watts of Cerwin Vega (LoL).</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47352 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47352 <p>I've never made the 911 call personally, but I did stop to assist at a car accident, where a car went off the Hwy into an irrigation canal. It took 56 minutes for the first responder to arrive. The driver would have drowned if I hadn't gone swimming with the hook from a tow chain. Another person who had stopped was in a 3/4 ton 4X4 and was able to pull the car out far enough to get the driver's head and chest out of the water. Another lady got the guy breathing again, but he was caught in the wreckage and we couoldn't get him out of the car..........................56 minutes to respond to a 911 call is unacceptable. The guy in the 4X4 assumed the role of On-Scene Commander and we all went to work. The County Sheriff Deputy finally showed up and called for a Rescue Unit.</p> <p>911 for barking dogs?.............................nah, if needed, I can fix that with Pink Floyd and 1000watts of Cerwin Vega (LoL).</p> <p> </p> <p>9-11, Palmdale style: "please remain on the line, a law-enforcement telecommunication specialist  will be with you shortly......"</p> <p>or</p> <p>"Thank you. Do not panic. Your complaint has been entered into the database and police officers should be arriving at your incident-residence sometime within the next 24 hours.""</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47576 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_47576 <p> </p> <p>9-11, Palmdale style: "please remain on the line, a law-enforcement telecommunication specialist  will be with you shortly......"</p> <p>or</p> <p>"Thank you. Do not panic. Your complaint has been entered into the database and police officers should be arriving at your incident-residence sometime within the next 24 hours.""</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> It's funny your commenting on BPD but making reference to highway patrol.&nbsp; Call me crazy but I think they are from different departments....hmmm.&nbsp; http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_51472 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/BecomingACop/4361/#c_51472 It's funny your commenting on BPD but making reference to highway patrol.&nbsp; Call me crazy but I think they are from different departments....hmmm.&nbsp;