Video: Day Two Of Police Academy Focuses On Schedule, Routine

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Day two of classes at the North Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center begins with drill instruction.

Cadets learn the proper way to march and turn, in formation.

After a very chaotic and nerve wracking first day, cadets in class B 54 are getting adjusted to a new normal.

Bre Lucas is one of two females in the class. She is self sponsored and has wanted to be a police officer for a long time.

“Right now is a bad time for law enforcement and I feel like they need more people on their side so I am willing and ready to step up and make that move,” said Cadet Lucas.

Timothy Stolz will work as a deputy for the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department after he graduates. He says day one was not what he expected, but he is ready for the rest of the academy.

“I had no clue how bad it was going to be sir. I got my mind right, this is where I want to be and this is where I am going to stay,” said Cadet Stolz.

Blake Love is another self sponsored cadet. That means he pays the fee himself, hoping to land a position with a law enforcement agency after the academy.

“I’m looking forward to maintaining good physical and mental health, it’s mental, if I can maintain that hopefully I will be ok,” said Cadet Love.

After drills, it’s time to learn how to properly make a bed.

Cadets will call the barracks home while they are  at the academy, they quickly learn there is a rigid schedule and a certain way to do everything.

Instructors will choose a platoon leader. The class will be divided into four squads, each with a squad leader. It’s meant to get them ready life after police academy, what they will face with on the job,

“It’s a big thing with departments, the chain of command, they want you to follow your chain of command,” said Brian Brown, director of NMLETC.

And on the street.

“I told them I admire them, for getting into it, I told the last couple of classes, I’ve never seen it like this, never seen it like this for law enforcement, my heart goes out to them for having to do another 30 years,” Brown said.

But before they can plan on a future in law enforcement, these cadets, like their instructors, have to make it through the academy.

In part three of “True Blue” Allie shows us how cadets are trained to use pepper spray and we see if any have called it quits.