Bad Luck Cadet (13 page)

We kept track of Rocco’s score as we went
along so we all knew the outcome before the official posting. Rocco
didn’t just pass, he killed it. He came through with a great score.
I was so proud of him. We headed to lunch and had a mini
celebration.

After lunch we went back to the classroom.
Sgt. Dickens called five names. Mine was on the list. The five of
us exited the classroom and then waited outside his office as each
cadet was called in. I was the last to enter his office.

It didn’t matter what he was going to say, I
told myself I would not cry. I knew I could make it as an officer.
If he was throwing me out, I would come back to the academy and do
it all again. I was willing to go through this hell again if that’s
what it took to become certified. I had prepared all my speeches. I
was ready for Sgt. Dickens.

I entered the office and sat in the only chair
available when he gave the command to sit. Sgt. Dickens then asked
if I knew why I was there. I told him no.

I looked him straight in the eye and waited to
have my world shattered. I would not cry. I would not
cry!

Sgt. Dickens' face was stern.

“Cadet Ivy, “He said, "Rarely am I surprised
by a cadet. I’ve followed you and your intent to become an officer
closely. I’ve been very hard on you. Quite frankly I did not see
the mindset required to become a cop. This job takes absolute
conviction that you will never give up and you will fight with
everything you have. I hadn’t seen that in you and I didn’t feel
you had what it takes. I was wrong. You failed the scenario
yesterday but one thing came through. You physically fought with
everything you had. You continued fighting and you refused to give
up. You should have gone for your gun and ended the scenario but I
needed to see that even without a gun you could and would protect
yourself. You showed me you could. I’m damned proud of you and I
think you will make a great officer.”

I sat there for a moment in shock and then I
did what I swore I wouldn't do. I broke down and cried. And once I
started, I couldn’t seem to stop. Sgt. Dickens handed me his
Kleenex box and, looking very uncomfortable, waited for me to
regain control before dismissing me from his office. I gave Sgt.
Dickens a huge hug and then headed back to my classroom.

I wonder to this day if I am the only cadet
who loves this alcoholic father. Sgt. Dickens changed my life. He
put me through hell but it was what I needed. He understood what I
would face on the streets. He understood this job is not for
everyone. I entered the academy on a lark. I didn’t have a clue
what I was getting myself into. I didn’t have the mental toughness
or physical toughness to be a cop. But I had changed and I’d become
police officer material.

Maybe no other cadet needed Sgt. Dickens to be
an asshole but I did. During my career, the lessons I learned from
him have saved my life again and again. I will never forget those
lessons or the man that bludgeoned them into me. The mental
toughness he gave me would get me through rough times and in
particularly a highly publicized case I worked that required
everything I learned from Sgt. Dickens to keep me going.

When I entered the classroom everyone looked
at me. They could tell I’d been crying. But I didn't dare speak and
tell them the good news. I knew I would start crying all over
again. It wasn’t until after class that I was able to share my
fate.

The majority of us stayed at the academy that
weekend and studied. I was not really worried about passing the
final but I wanted to help the cadets needing extra attention. We
hit the books hard.

Monday morning the final began. AZPOST testers
showed up and we could feel the importance of what we were about to
undertake. It lasted hours and was given in three segments. We
would not get our results until that evening. We all walked over to
our classroom when we were told the results were in.

Cadet Clark gave us the news. Three people did
not pass. The three names were given out. Two had failed one unit
and one person had failed two. Cadet Rodriguez had passed with the
rest of us. We were relieved but upset about the three. They would
be given another chance the next day. They only had to pass the
unit(s) they failed.

On retakes the next day, two passed but a
third Cadet did not. Unlike the previous tests, the final could be
taken three times. But if you failed the third attempt, you did not
pass the academy. The department representing the Cadet, that still
needed to pass, decided to not have him graduate with our class and
instead send him to a tutor. We all felt bad for our classmate but
it was hard not to contain our excitement over our personal
accomplishments.

Our class party was Wednesday night and we all
headed to Chili’s. We basically took over the bar and drank
ourselves under the table. Like good police officers, we made sure
we had non-drinking cadets that could get us back to the
dorms.

Hung over, but still riding high on our
collective success we spent the day getting our individual and
class photos taken. Then we practiced for our
graduation.

We reserved the dorm lobby television and
watched movies that night. First up, Super Troopers. I was turned
on to this movie at the academy and it was probably the tenth time
we’d watched it. Even now several years into my career in law
enforcement, this movie is quoted again and again. If you want a
good dose of cop humor, it’s a must see. We drew names for the next
movie. To the groans of all the cadets, my movie won. It was The
Princess Bride. The guys had a good time making sarcastic remarks
in the beginning, but by the middle they were laughing and
cheering. I knew they would love it.

I barely slept that night. It was almost over.
I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to be home again. I
missed my husband and I was looking forward to the empty nest I had
once dreaded. I would begin the following week working as a police
officer. Thirty-five Cadets started down this long road. Only
twenty-five cadets would be graduating.

All I had left was the ceremony the following
day and then my true dream would begin.

Chapter 23 Endings and
Beginnings

Waking on that last
morning at the police academy was great, even without sleep. We
attended a breakfast put on by the 100 Club. It is an awesome
organization (
www.100club.org
) that comes to
the aide of families of Fire and Law Enforcement when a loved one
is killed in the line of duty.

After breakfast, we went back to our
rooms to begin the process of dressing in our Class A uniforms.
These are the uniforms set aside for special occasions. Our boots
were shined to a high gloss and our uniforms were cleaned and
pressed.

Final inspection took place on the
school campus by the college flagpole and was carried out by all
Police Chiefs and Sheriffs in attendance. It was long and grueling
but exciting just the same. Our “Guide On” was retired and we
shouted our class motto for the last time.

My family and friends were in
attendance, all except for my son. He had called the night before
to explain he couldn't get the day off from his new job.

“
I know I haven’t supported
you mom and I’m sorry." He said, "I didn’t agree with your decision
to attend the academy but I am proud of you.”

I was impressed. He was in his early
twenties, and to be fair he was a spoiled kid. I had made him that
way. I think as a parent you want to give your children everything
you didn’t get as a child. For me it was tangible objects. My
family did not have much money growing up and I tried to make up
for it with my children. My son had tried to bridge the gap created
by his age and my midlife crisis. I was proud of him.

Class 95 marched to the auditorium to
begin our graduation ceremony with heads high. It was wonderful to
show off the drilling techniques that we had practiced so
diligently.

Speeches were made and cadets were
given awards for shooting, academics, and outstanding performance.
I didn't receive any but was so incredibly proud of the cadets that
did.

Before our swearing in, we left the
stage and went to the front seats in the auditorium to watch our
class video. It was funny at times, and sad at times, but most of
all it was inspiring. When a clip of me going over the wall was
shown, my youngest daughter called out, “That’s my mom.” We all
laughed.

After the video, Class 95 again took
the stage and we were officially sworn in as Peace Officers for the
State of Arizona. Next was the badge presentation. Every Police
Chief and Sheriff took the stage to hand our graduation
certificates to us. Spouses, mothers and fathers actually pinned on
our badges. My husband represented the one and only male spouse to
do the honors and pin on my badge.

We left the auditorium and tearfully
said our goodbyes to one another. Class leader Clark told me he
would never forget my incredible journey through the academy. I
felt the same way about him. We all promised to stay in touch but I
knew as our careers began it would slowly fade away, although
Deputy Clark is one of the guys I’ve managed to tay in touch
with.

My husband and daughters helped me
carry out the accumulation of items and luggage I’d amassed during
my eighteen weeks at the academy. The small, bare, quarters of my
dorm room offended my daughters’ standards of living. They should
have seen what it was like when there had been four of us crammed
in.

We had reserved hotel rooms for my
family to stay at during my last evening in the city. My son came
to dinner with us and I had a great time. In the morning we would
head back to Small Town and on Monday morning I would begin my
first shift as a police officer at 0800 hours.

I was nervous and excited at the same
time. I would be in training for the next few months as an officer,
but I was up to the challenge and ready to take my next step. This
would also be an entirely new way of life for me and my family. And
I hoped they were ready for the challenge too.

My journey as an officer was about to
begin. But becoming an officer was only the first leg of the road I
had mapped out for myself. I would soon realize law enforcement was
in my blood. I would make new friends and become part of a larger
family. One month shy of my two year anniversary as an officer, I
would become the first female detective in Small Town’s history.
Although my career path hasn’t been without a few bumps, I love my
job and will forever remember that ad on the drug store bulletin as
being my fate.

During that first year as an officer,
my knack for sex crimes would become apparent. I would attend
training sessions around the country perfecting my ability to help
the victims of this violent crime. In every annual review, I am
chastised for getting too involved in my cases and taking them too
personally. The day I change is the day I will turn in my
badge.

One day after being promoted to
detective, Small Town was faced with a double homicide. It would be
my first case as a detective. Nine months later with the support of
my Sergeant we would solve the murder of a teenager and discover
the killer had struck twice before in another town. We would solve
those murders as well.

Along the way I got tagged as the Bad
Luck Detective by a fellow officer. I've enjoyed a good bit of
teasing over his comment, so I couldn’t pass up using it to write
about my adventures in law enforcement.

Statistically one-third of officers
graduating from the academy will not be in law enforcement five
years later. Unfortunately Class 95 is following those
statistics.

Three officers failed to pass their
field training programs directly after graduation. For two of them
it ended their career in law enforcement. Class leader Clark left
law enforcement and is now working in corporate America. He keeps
his finger in the pie and volunteers as a reserve officer. Rocco
has remained a firefighter and even with pressure from friends like
me, he feels firefighters have it better. Cadet Rodriguez died in
an accident, while on duty, four months after receiving his
badge.

The economy is hitting small rural law
enforcement departments especially hard. With current local budget
cuts, the officers in my department have not received a pay raise
in three years and I fear more good officers will look to other
careers and turn in their badges. There are plenty of more
lucrative and less dangerous jobs available to raise a family, but
I have never regretted my decision.

Sgt. Dickens continues to train new
cadets at the academy. I often want to visit and hear his voice
beating obedience into his class, but my job has kept me busy. I
will get there someday and I will doubly appreciate being on the
outside looking in.

Thank you for sharing in my academy
adventures.

During those eighteen-weeks at the
police academy, I sent a weekly email to my friends and family
telling of my daily tortures. This online journal offered the
remembrances I needed to write this story. I ended each of those
emails with, “Cadet Ivy signing off.” I proudly leave you with the
signature from my last email:

Officer Ivy signing off.