Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
of
buses to enforce this law and
that is spreading across t
>>
hello, and welcome to another
edition of "mosaic
," and
african-american perspective.
County commissioners appointed
six counselors to be known as
the montgomery county police.
Today, 1100 sworn officers
provide full service to our
large suburban county with a
population of over 1 million
people.
My guess is a montgomery county
police department, who is
joining us to talk about the
improvement efforts.
Welcome and thank you so much
for coming.
Let'
s talk about the recruitment
process that is ongoing for the
county.
There are specific
qualifications and those types
of things that involved becoming
a county police officer.
>> there are basic requirements.
You must be 20 years of academy.
You must have a minimal --
minimum of 60 college credits.
There are
later processes that
will eliminate people, such as a
medical, psychological, and
polygraph process.
There are different requirements
each step of the way.
>> as that process continues,
can you shed a little bit about
how that impacts certain members
of the community or how it
impacts in a positive way.
>> it is a positive thing
because you do not want people
who did -- who are not
physically or mentally ready for
the job.
The job is demanding physically
and mentally and emotionally.
After taking the test, you go
through a background phase.
Integrity is number
one in a job
like this.
If people have done things that
are not characteristic of a
police officer -- once you pass
that face, you go through the
polygraph.
Then you go on to your medical
and your psychological exam.
In the medical, that is a
similar things such as, you do a
a treadmill test.
There is a blood and urine tests
and there is a physical agility
test.
Push ups, the treadmill test,
which is the stress
tests,
pushups, said ups -- sit-
ups,
sit and reach.
A lot of times, we lose a lot of
people there and people think,
17 pushups, I can do that.
We lose a lot of people in that
phase and in the psychological
exam.
That is the end.
Either you pass or you fail.
The captain makes the
determination if it is someone
he wants to hire or not.
>> the first part about the
treadmill test would probably
stop me then and there.
What are some of the challenges
you have faced in recruiting in
montgomery county for office as?
>> it is --
recruiting in
montgomery county for officers.
?
>> we do lots of african-
american recruiting.
We go to hbcu'
s and do a lot of
community service things
throughout the community.
It gets our name out there.
What happens is people do not
think the police have the same
prestige that they used to have.
As time goes on, we have lost
our prestige, especially with
the things that have happened in
the media, negative incidents
with the police.
It is almost like reverting back
to getting to remember how great
this job truly is.
That is one of the biggest
challenges.
People do not want to do it
because they do not think about
the responsibility and the
glamour that comes with it.
>> wait a second.
Glamour.
Talk about that a little bit.
>> it is important to think
importantglamou not -- important
to think about glamour not in
the physical aspect.
There are a lot of great things
about this job.
We wear really nice uniforms.
We have all the amenities paid
for in terms of police things.
When I say
glamour, have a nice
chargers and nice suv'
s.
It is nice to be driving around
in a nice car.
>> it is an issue of pride.
It is something to be proud of.
By the way, you look great in
your uniform.
Can you talk about why it is
important for the county forced
to reflect the diversity of the
residents of montgomery county?
>> it is important to reflect
your community because it gives
people comfort.
When I have been on calls and
people see me coming, a female,
and possibly even an african-
american female walking up,
their guard is lowered and they
are not so resistant to what I
have to say.
Maybe men do not want to have
a
woman helping them.
If they see a man that looks
like them, they are more likely
to take the help.
I think it is really important
because people make the world go
round.
When you have a lot of different
people look like the people of
the police, it is going to be
helpful.
I have the perspective of being
an african-american female.
Maybe someone who does not look
like that person will not
understand the background or the
culture they come from.
It is important to be reflective
of the community in policing.
>> there is a question that has
been in the back of my mind I
wanted to ask you.
What kind of challenges you
face in recruiting african-
americans?
>> the history to an african
americans and the police --
between african-americans and
police.
We try to make sure we show that
there is a positive
relationship between african-
americans and police in general
with the african-american
community.
A lot of times, people do not
think this is a prestigious job.
It is a blue-collar job.
They do not see the other side.
When you are going to the
university, people think, I am
getting my four here degree.
I do not need to do that job.
This is a rewarding job.
You make a lot of nice money.
I make great benefits and I am
respectively the clinton because
I am doing an honest day'
s work.
-- I am respected in the
community because I am doing an
honest today'
s work.
It is there an
important to try
to build relationships with
certain african-american
communities.
Wherever you go, there is going
to be an african-american
community.
It is important for african-
american officers to be a part
of those grass roots community
organizations when they are
small and work their way up.
When you have these programs
--
office and stevens works with
these young kids and gives them
pause and feelings working with
the police.
>> it comes back to the pride
and integrity piece.
Share with us what
are the three
more -- most rewarding aspects
of police work.
>> I am recruiter in the
department.
it is not just recruiting.
It allows me to reach an
audience.
There are grass-roots
organizations.
Some
times I go out and speak
to
young their children.
It is helpful to do that
because it balances the negative
perception that helps them to
see that somebody is with the
police, they are here to help
us they want to see us do well.
For me, that is one of the most
rewarding parts of my job.
Even when I was a patrolwoman,
I
did not know what I was going to
do until I got here.
Someone came to me at the mall
and said I remember when you
came to my house.
Everybody has their
rewards in
their jobs.
Helping that person, seeing it
through to the end and say, I
remember you, I remember when
you help me out.
That changed my life.
>>
that has got to be rewarding
for you.
It has that to help you feel
pride for the entire police
force.
You have done something.
You are able to continue to work
in this process to make people'
s
lives that much better.
Talk
about the recruitment
efforts and the personal
experiences.
You have been to
colleges and
universities.
can you talk a little bit about
that.
>>
myself and my sergeant have
been to a lot of the african
american universities, hbcu'
s,
howard university, we have
been
to virginia union, virginia
state university, places like
that.
There are other agencies that
come there as well.
It is always nice to talk to the
students and get them interested
in law enforcement.
A lot of people have expressed
interest in going into the fbi.
It is great to have law
enforcement experience because
it puts you above the rest.
I do not try to sell the apart
-- the department.
If they are not interested in
law enforcement, they become
interested because of what I am
is saying.
I tell them, I know what it is
that you love it if it is not
being with the police.
That is part of my reward
system.
If I can direct a young student
to where they need to go, I
think my job is done.
Being a police officer is being
a leader
.
He did not have to be in this
little box.
There are other places you can
go.
>> talk about what it is like to
be an african-american.
You have some good and not so
constant stories to tell.
Can you share a story that you
have personally as a woman in
the police force.
this is not the shade of blue or
black for me.
>> you have a belt on.
You have a gun and a radio and
all of these objects.
It is heavy.
I will
never forget the time my
partner and I work on midnights.
We went into a dark alley.
My partner had been in the
military.
He took off running.
I took off running with him.
I could not keep up as much.
I tried, but I could not keep up
as much.
Being a woman, you have things
that people do not have.
That is why it is important to
be in shape.
I realize how important it is to
be in shape.
There are so many
incidents that
have happened.
I have been challenged by a
man, especially bitter man who
expect you to back down.
The less fear you show, the
less
-- the more respect people will
give you.
I never show any fear and I try
never to back down from anybody.
There are many incidents that
have happened.
Being a woman, you automatically
are assumed to be an emotional
creature.
You have to check your emotions
at the door.
There are times where I have not
been able to do that.
You want to remember, I have
this uniform on.
As was supposed to be the
example.
Sometimes, it does not always
work out like that.
>> what is your mechanism where
you come into a situation where
some of your emotions will come
to the top.
What is your mechanism other
than reminding yourself I am a
lady in blue?
How do you pull yourself
together internally at that
moment?
>> I
have got into a place where
I know why I am doing this job.
I want to go home to my family
and my kids.
I want to make sure I am doing
with I am is supposed to do.
I am constantly reminding myself
that the minute I breakdown, I
am out of control.
Losing control can be deadly.
I do not want to be in the
position where I have lost
control because I have allowed
my emotions to take over.
It is a moment in time in my
life where I will not get back.
I have to push through it and
move full war.
>> I can understand that.
It is good to hear you say that
because you have the personality
to be able to pull that in.
You probably can say that.
When you do the recruitment
process, that is another tidbit
that you probably share with
young recruits when you are out
there trying to talk about this,
about the police force.
We are going to come back and
talk a little more.
For those who have just tune in,
you are watching "mosaic,
an
african-american perspective."
we are talking about police
opportunities in montgomery
county.
We will be right back with more
conversation about county police
recruitment.
>> didn'
t children to school
safely is a priority.
Do you know the rules for
driving near a school bus?
Drive slowly in neighborhoods
and schools zones, especially in
the morning when schools let
out.
Be alert.
Kids can be unpredictable and
run out into the streets.
Learn the flashing lights system
that school buses use.
Yellow means the bus is
preparing to stop.
A red flashing light and an
extended arm means children are
loading and unloading.
Motorists are required to come
to a complete stop.
You May begin when the bus
continues on its journey.
For more if a machine
on school
bus safety, please go to
montgomerycountymd.Gov/walk.
>> drivers are important.
Give them room to operate.
Use your turn signal and always
look twice before changing
lanes.
Think of the impact you can
make.
>> welcome back to
"mosaic, an
african-american perspective?
."
earlier, we were talking about
some of the interesting
experiences you had working on
the police force.
Let'
s talk about the application
process and what incoming
recruits would need to know.
Can you share with me a little
bit about the pay differential
for having the skills to be able
to be bilingual?
Talk a little bit about that.
>> once a person graduates from
the academy and they go through
probation, they have the
opportunity to be certified in
whatever land within -- language
they speak.
They can be satisfied with that
language.
They get a pay differential of
up to $3,000 a year.
It pays to speak multiple
languages.
>> do you emphasize that in the
recruitment process?
Do you emphasize
how beneficial
it would be to be able to speak
multiple languages?
>> we have a flyer that we put
out at job fairs to talk about
bilingual pay.
We have officers who speaks
several languages.
It is something we do benefit
from.
>> that is really wonderful.
I have always wondered about
this.
Is there a requirement for
police officers to reside here
in the county.
In some counties and states, it
is necessary for police officers
to live within that respective
county.
Is that true for montgomery
county?
>> no, it is not.
We have people who live as far
as west virginia.
In order to take a
car home
front -- with you, you have to
live within montgomery county.
>> I see.
Talk a little about the
application process.
i know we have touched on it.
The application process itself.
I know it takes a while for the
application to be processed.
Talk about the time line and
with the applicant can expect.
>> generally, the process takes
up to 4-6 months, reasonably
speaking.
When we open up the application
process, we will broadcast this
fall that we are accepting
applications.
We leave that open three months.
We are getting ready to close
applications.
From that
point, we have
applicants from wherever.
We accept applications
and there
is every viewer who goes to the
application to make sure they
have the 60 college credits,
that they have a driver'
s
license and U.S. Citizenship.
They are invited to a testing
dates and they take a written
test.
As time allows, they will do and
we view.
From there, they
move onto the
background face.
The background investigator is a
sign their case and goes to the
background file to look for
qualifiers and things of that
nature.
Once they are passed on, they go
to the polygraph phase and the
medical and psychological face.
>> I know some of these
questions May seem redundant.
I want to make sure we get the
word out so that listeners in
the audience and people have a
chance to watch the program will
understand and be encouraged and
empowered to make the
application process.
Share a little bit about your
experiences with then the actual
office setting of the police
force.
Tell me about a day, tell me
about a typical day for you.
>> a typical day starts at
about 6:00 A.M. For me.
I go in, e-mails, people call
me.
I try to encourage people to we
apply.
Sometimes there are better
qualified -- I encourage people
to re-apply.
Sometimes there are better
qualified candidates.
I enzi e-mails and initiate
calls with people.
A lot of -- I initiate e-
mails
and calls with people.
Of the recruiters have their own
assignments.
We are coming out with a new
recruitment video soon.
It is coming together.
Hopefully, you will be seen that
soon.
There are statistics we
have to
work on, and getting people
altogether.
There is a lot of work that
people do not see behind the
scenes.
When we think
of recruiting, we
think it is all about the
talking and going places and the
travel.
It is a lot of work and it is
very rewarding where you have
that one person who comes and
they do well on the test and
they do well on the oral boards
and the next thing you know,
they are being hired.
it is always a great moment when
you are seeing them graduate
from the academy.
>> I would imagine so.
You must feel good about that
because you have seen them from
start to finish.
How did you get through
the
academy?
How did you do when it came to
all of the physical part of it
because that is always a
question.
We live in a society where
physical fitness is important.
Lots of positions we have,
whether it is a part of it --
public opposition or the private
sector, have requirements of
people to be physical fit --
physically fit.
How is it that you are able to
maintain that?
>> I started out working
for the
county as a dispatcher many
years ago.
I was in curvets by officers I
need to apply.
I had graduated.
I was thinking about going to
school.
Being a dispatcher is very
sedentary.
You are sitting and working.
You are not always in the best
of shape.
When I was going to the academy,
I was probably not in the best
shape of my life, the academy
definitely pushed me to be in
the best shape of my life.
It is something you make into a
lifestyle.
You become well versed in
pushups.
Even when I was in college, I
was in rotc.
Once you break away from the
routine, you get out of that.
Right now, we have a program
that once you have passed the
oral board part of the face,
they set out worked out.
It is kind of
they will have a group of
people.
So that you are the best of
shape, these two
recruiters put
on a pt class.
It is basically a
set in the
academy.
It'
s a great program they have
ended a is something we
encourage people to do
especially if you are not ready
,
if I'
m to be able to make it.
A lot of people do really well
in the academy.
Because you'
ll be doing a lot of
push-ups and a lot of running.
>> a lot of push-ups and a lot
of running.
I definitely chose the right
field.
Speaking of
that, when you
recruit, do have a chance to
talk about nutrition? I know
this is a strange question to
ask him about nutrition is such
an integral part of fitness
.
Do you put the two together
because there is always a
concern?
>> yes.
Recently myself and the other
recruiters went to cooper
training and that is like a law
enforcement that focuses on
nutrition and physical fitness
is for law-enforcement.
it is a weeklong class and it is
a lot of information you get.
It'
s a really big book
and a
hundred question exam at the
end.
One portion of the class talks
about nutrition and how to
tailor a person'
s diet and
exercise regimen towards them
specifically.
It'
s a great resource for us to
have because if you see someone
who is coming to the process and
struggling with their weight or
physical fitness, they can refer
back to that manual and say how
much of this are you even?
Maybe should cut down on this
and maybe you should do this and
not do that.
It'
s great that we are
trained
in because it gives us the
ability to help someone out if
they really need it.
>> last question for you.
Talk about the video -- the new
video coming up.
>> the new video that is coming
out is very action filled I
would say.
It is one of those things where
our captain was focused on
making it diverse.
He
emphasized the importance of
diversity and an apartment.
The goal was to make it as
diverse as possible so that when
people are seeing this video for
the first time and coming from
other agencies and other states,
they will see this video and say
there is somebody who looks like
me in this video and somebody
who looks like me was doing his
job.
Ok, you have my attention.
It highlights how the
department
has benefits, cars, firearms and
things like that.
It is kind of action filled and
it is attention grabbing and it
is really technology the
advanced.
I'
m not sure what definition you
would use, but high definition
or hd.
It is very
vivid in color and
everything.
It looks really good and is
something the department will be
very proud of.
>> that sounds wonderful.
I enjoyed talking to you today
and I learned so much about the
requirements and that I do not
fit them.
Which is really ok, but I want
to thank you for coming onto
mosaic and sharing with us.
Because I think it is an
important initiative and I think
it is great you have such a
positive outlook.
Keep that positive
outlook when
you talk to those young people
about the process.
I am sure they will be happy to
meet you and they will be very
empowered to learn more about
the police force.
Unfortunately, that is all we
have time for today.
I want to thank our guest monk
army county police officer for
joining us.
Please join us next month for
another episode of mosaic.