I have a real problem giving that much authority, and a gun to boot, to a 19 year old. Hell they don't even have the experience of a good reaction in a car accident let alone a situation involving a domestic violence call! I don't care how many Psych test they past!
*****Why is it that a long time Berkeley resident, CRHS grad, who pasted the police academy, had to go out of town to get on a police force yet they continually hire more(males) overlooking her each and every time?

None of you know what your talking about....The reason why he is 19 and offered a job is because the state only requires you to be 18 years old to take the Civil Service Test. Redonred...The reason why she had to go to a different town to get a job is not the PD's fault. They hire off of the Civil Service Test. If the applicant doesnt score high enough on the test, the they basically have no shot in getting hired. Its has NNOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEPARTMENT. That is why the 19 year old got hired. He must have scored high on the test. Now, im not saying that all 19 year olds are ready to be officers. I actually kind of disagree with it. I do not think they should carry a gun. Hell, at 19, I dont think I was mature enough to hold that position. But thats the rules.
The Civil Service Comission puts out a test that ANYONE can take and depending on your score, you get put on a certified list with a number. The number is based on top scores on the test. for example, if someone scored a 99 on the test, they would be number 1, someone who scored a 98.5 is number 2 etc etc.
However, Veterans of war are put on the top of the list regardless of what their score is. They have a list for the most part of JUST veterans. After they have been through all the vets, they then move to the civilian numbers.
Its not berkeleys fault how the numbers came out and it certainly isnt their fault the your female friend didnt get hired. To say its sexist is ludacris. Anything else?

How do you know one is 19?

That's terrific. Now let's hope they can patrol all of south seaside park which is customary for all towns with a police presence rather than sitting in their patrol cars staring westward at the bay or sitting in the parking lot at berkeley seafood behind the bushes.

The question isn't complete. The real question is why would they hire such young and inexperienced cops, when there are so many experienced laid-off cops that have families and live locally? This includes decorated officers whose homes are in foreclosure, their credit is ruined, they are losing their training certificates, getting older and the like. There is no guarantee these new hires will be able to graduate the academy, let alone perform their duties. We pay salary while in academy for six months, pay for their training, pay to keep academy running and then they ride along with a FTO for 6 months to a year, who is usually a top pay employee or supervisor. Lastly, they take lets say seven steps to top pay and then remain there for 18-25 years depending on when they want to retire, but a trained and experienced officer with lets say 6 years of experience and takes seven steps to top pay will only be at top pay for 12-17 years, thus another cost savings. This is another department that shows no loyalty to the men and women that have already paid their dues, completed requirements over and over and risked their lives to save others. WELL, WELL, WELL Shame on you Chief, Town Council and others involved with these hirings and costing the hardworking taxpayers money. No Excuse for this.PERIOD>>>>>

And you forget Oscar, they put their lives on the line everyday...To protect us..Yes, I am a policofficers wife, who at 20 when he started...Not much difference..He will have 30 yrs. on his department when he retires..No, he doesn't work in Berkeley..And when they retire shouldnt' they be replaced? I think it was a good thing. Some police departments I feel don't have enough officers, like my husbands...

Yes smrh it is great that you are geting more police officers.
Joining the army and being given a gun to fight is a whole different ball game then giving a 19 yr old a gun and putting them on the street to protect and serve.
Lacey has a few young cops and let me tell you they are the most cockiest few, you ever wanted to meet. There are more complaints against them yet they continue to serve. I truly don't believe a 19 yr old has enough 'life' experience to do the job. Knowing whats in a book isn't going to help you when you have a stand down sitiation. Knowing how to apply it to a situation is the key and at 19 I just don't think they have what it takes.
Egos need time to mature.. alot of time. This is just my opinion and don't expect anyone to agree with me... just stating it.

And most wouldn't risk their lives for others..my husband is almost 50, no retirment for him yet. He has another 2 years and 2 mos to go..My calculations, he will be 52 not 44?????

Thanks for the info Berkeley Guy.
Why if numbers play such a role in hiring then, did she get a position in another township ? Her situation may have been exactly that, with the numbers, but you are not going to tell me that some hirings are not along the 'sexist' lines!
Not sure I agree with the List of Vets getting hired first. I appreciate all they do for our country but thats what they chose to do. They weren't drafted. So now if my son wanted to be on the police force he has a better chance of getting on(even if he has a low score) just by serving his country for a 2 year stint. And if they were over seas and faught and are now back, thrown into regular civilian life its good to give them this type of job after all they've been thru in the war? Yeah... I don't care if they passed the psych test of not... They have alot of stuff going on in their head for a long time after they come back.
But thanks for the heads up on how the hiring is done.... Maybe they should post that on here as well so people know the whole story.!

I believe Eagleguy said one was 19. Maybe he knows one of them.?

My husband being a police officer has had many encounters with his 28 yrs. on the force. Even helping others in situations that aren't safe for even them. Not even involving guns or anything..How about house fires, car accidents, weather conditions, rain, snow, ice etc. No one thinks of that. I wish they would see what police officers do when they aren't writing tickets. They put their lives on the line every single day. You don't know what will happen or if they will come home from one day to the next..Glad BERKELEY GUY IS ON THEIR SIDE!!! I'm the wife of a police officer..and it isn't all pretty in pink..there have been many tears shed, many not knowings...

Talk about learning somtheing new every day ! LOL

LMAO...See what I mean Berkeley Guy?
@ Sherry I am sure that 30 years ago when your husband was hire he had a much different 'mind set' then some of the 19-20 year olds do today. The mentality of a 19-20 yr old is much much different today then it was 25 years ago...and I attribute it to the different up bringing and home life or there lack of. Times change and its a shame its not always changing for the good.
I appreciate all that the police officers do. I have a few friends who are police officers working up north in inner cities. Its tough and they are very brave men.
I just don't think that newer officers have the same work ethetics that say a vetern officer, like your husband, have. Another sign of the times.

A typing error now what is your point? azzwipe

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blah blah blah.....running out of things to say ?