2008 Woodie Awards
This is not Your Traditional Police Academy
The Administration of Justice Department does more than train cadets.
Kristen Brownell
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Local
|
Individuals who choose to follow a career in law enforcement must be motivated, self-disciplined and possess a strong work ethic in order to be successful, not to mention willing to risk their lives for the greater good.
It is a tall order, and fortunately there are people out there willing to fill it. In fact, some of those people are doing so at Fullerton College.
FC's Administration of Justice Department has been going strong longer than the 16 years that the police academy has been on campus, and many of the program's graduates go on to serve the very neighborhoods that they live and work in. The majority of FC Police Academy recruits secure employment with police departments in the Orange County area after they graduate from the program.
The Administration of Justice department's introductory statement claims that it is "committed to the philosophy of community-oriented policing" and "developing peace officers who will be able to forge ongoing partnerships with their communities which facilitate the ability to identify and solve problems together."
Based on the success of the program, recruits are indeed being well-prepared for the obstacles they will face once they become officers. Department director E.J. Pellegrino claims that every recruit's success is in the training that the program provides.
"Every recruit is required to complete at least 1,011 hours of training, and this is one of the many factors that has secured the Police Academy program at FC as one of the top three in the surrounding area."
Pellegrino has been the head of FC's Administration of Justice Department since 1991. Prior to that, he was a detective with the Los Angeles County Police Department. Pellegrino said that his experience with the LAPD has come in handy in his supervision and training of young recruits here at FC.
In regard to the aforementioned training, the objective of the Administration of Justice Department's Basic Police Academy training is to provide recruits with all of the physical, mental and psychological tools that they will need once released into the field. The Department's justification for this rigorous training says it all:
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Steven Mendoza, Ph.D.,M.S.C.Pharm
posted 7/13/08 @ 10:19 PM PST
Class 8 Fullerton Police Academy
"Pain is temporary pride is forever"
Mr. Pellegrino,
It is good to see you again, and to know that you are successfully leading the cadet corps. (Continued…)
Eric J. Trevino
posted 11/10/08 @ 5:29 AM PST
Class 3 Fullerton College Police Academy
"Pride In The Badge"
Mr. Pellegrino,
It's been 14 years down the road, but thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with class 3. (Continued…)
Post a Comment