I have now done my 40hours work experience with the Alexandra police and all my paperwork is in with my history, employment etc.. I have to study a 40 page document on the NZ Police as I am getting tested on it at my formal interview. I have to get 20 out of 28 right plus pass a typing test with a speed of 25 wpm or better.
I get to my interview and now its June, I think it goes well but could have been better. I pass my tests with 27/28 and typing of 33 wpm.
I now only have my medical and eyesight clearance to go, and oh yeah, another PAT if I am provisionally accepted for training.
Its now 3rd July 2008 and its my second PAT. There are 2 others doing their finals and 4 doing their initials. I look at them knowing what they still have to go through. None of them pass.
I pass with a 10.13 for run, 51cm jump, 43 press ups and 128kg grip. The other 2 also pass their finals.
The only thing in our way now is not passing medicals. I breeze through mine and am told that I have a placement for August 4th Intake.
There is still some finalising to go but I am in!
That is the winding road to NZ Police College for me, and now the hard work really begins.
Whilst not everyones' road to college this one is mine. It can never show how hard it really was but to give you an idea I have run over 2500km , thats running from Cape Reinga to Bluff and back up to Oamaru, in 9 months and done over 7000 press ups all the time juggling family, work and what little leisure time I might end up with. I have used 2 weeks worth of paid holidays and this with other expenses like travelling has cost me more than $2000, but I feel great. I've never been fitter, I am back and being involved in my community. Will add more as college goes on but hope this gives people a insight in to what it takes to get into the New Zealand Police.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The PCT...
It is now 14th March 2007 and I have my Physical Competency Test or PCT. This is the one where you jump over the walls, drag the dummy and run round the cones etc...
I am doing it with some cops. In NZ, cops get a cash reward for staying fit. If they do the PCT course under a certain age related time every 2 years they get over $1000.
I watch like a hawk as they go through then its me. 400m of hell.
Push a heavy trailer 10m, grab a tyre assembly out of it and run back 10m and place it down, sprint 200m, walk a 5m balance beam, long jump 1.8m, 1m hurdle then zig zag running 30m around cones, dive under two 500mm high hurdles without touching them, jump through a window, jump over a 1.8m solid wall, drag a 74kg dummy 7.5m then scale a 2.3 m high mesh fence and run 25m to the finish. I had 2.34 and did it in 2.08. I almost spewed at the end but I passed and whats more, I enjoyed it.
Next on the list the interview and paperwork. Referees etc...
I am doing it with some cops. In NZ, cops get a cash reward for staying fit. If they do the PCT course under a certain age related time every 2 years they get over $1000.
I watch like a hawk as they go through then its me. 400m of hell.
Push a heavy trailer 10m, grab a tyre assembly out of it and run back 10m and place it down, sprint 200m, walk a 5m balance beam, long jump 1.8m, 1m hurdle then zig zag running 30m around cones, dive under two 500mm high hurdles without touching them, jump through a window, jump over a 1.8m solid wall, drag a 74kg dummy 7.5m then scale a 2.3 m high mesh fence and run 25m to the finish. I had 2.34 and did it in 2.08. I almost spewed at the end but I passed and whats more, I enjoyed it.
Next on the list the interview and paperwork. Referees etc...
Testing Day...
It is now 11th March 2008. I am ready. I have to be. It is Testing Day.
It begins with the written exams, one maths, verbal and one rational thought then a 200 question personality test. All timed to be just done or in many cases not done in a set time.
I think I have done ok. The day is warm but not hot and no wind, perfect for running.
There are 4 of us in this PAT. At 33, I am the second oldest.
A pass on Testing Day for me is : RUN 2.4km in >10:50, 34+ press ups, 48cm+ vertical jump and combined grip of 96kg+ for my hands.
We get to the start of the run to warm up, I feel weak, nervous and excited. I have peeed about 10 times in 3 hours and my mouth is dry, but I keep drinking. The next thing they are waiting for me at the line, I havent really finished stretching but I know I'm ready. The Physical Education Officer ( PEO ) says... GO. It hurts almost straight away but its ok, I am 3rd but its not a race against them. We all have different times to get it in depending on age. I have never run so fast, double breaths and only 400m to go. I dig in, it really hurts now and I cross the line with the PEO saying "10.04". A pass but I am hurting bad. My diaphragm is aching and I can taste blood. The break is only 5 min before the jump, my nemesis, I need to get my breath back in that time.
I am second for the jump. I stand there going through it in my mind and go getting a 53cm for my first and 49cm for the other 2 goes, another pass. Press ups next with another 5 minute break. I set up arms out at 90 degrees to my body, my index finger needs to be in the centre of my elbow pivot and they cannot move. I start and feel good. I am getting to 30 and it hurts but I'm not quitting, I hit the magic 34 and a wave of joy washes over me but I only get 2 more, close, but a pass. I nail the grip with 136kg.
I am the only one to pass their first time for our group, the edge I had was that I went to the practice day where they give you pointers on technique etc... in 3 days I have another test, the PCT.
It begins with the written exams, one maths, verbal and one rational thought then a 200 question personality test. All timed to be just done or in many cases not done in a set time.
I think I have done ok. The day is warm but not hot and no wind, perfect for running.
There are 4 of us in this PAT. At 33, I am the second oldest.
A pass on Testing Day for me is : RUN 2.4km in >10:50, 34+ press ups, 48cm+ vertical jump and combined grip of 96kg+ for my hands.
We get to the start of the run to warm up, I feel weak, nervous and excited. I have peeed about 10 times in 3 hours and my mouth is dry, but I keep drinking. The next thing they are waiting for me at the line, I havent really finished stretching but I know I'm ready. The Physical Education Officer ( PEO ) says... GO. It hurts almost straight away but its ok, I am 3rd but its not a race against them. We all have different times to get it in depending on age. I have never run so fast, double breaths and only 400m to go. I dig in, it really hurts now and I cross the line with the PEO saying "10.04". A pass but I am hurting bad. My diaphragm is aching and I can taste blood. The break is only 5 min before the jump, my nemesis, I need to get my breath back in that time.
I am second for the jump. I stand there going through it in my mind and go getting a 53cm for my first and 49cm for the other 2 goes, another pass. Press ups next with another 5 minute break. I set up arms out at 90 degrees to my body, my index finger needs to be in the centre of my elbow pivot and they cannot move. I start and feel good. I am getting to 30 and it hurts but I'm not quitting, I hit the magic 34 and a wave of joy washes over me but I only get 2 more, close, but a pass. I nail the grip with 136kg.
I am the only one to pass their first time for our group, the edge I had was that I went to the practice day where they give you pointers on technique etc... in 3 days I have another test, the PCT.
And it goes on...
By now it was the height of summer. My training routine was now running every second day with press ups all the days in between and plyometrics on press up days. I was working 55 hours a week and trying to juggle work, family and training. Often I couldnt go out running until after 9pm as it was still 30 degreesC+.
My press ups had taken over. The range of movement was now chest touching the ground and back up to straight arms, my shoulders were killing me, my knees and ankles also sore all the time.
They say in NZ that it is now easy to get into the police... its not that easy. It takes drive, determination, self discipline and above all self sacrifice and pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. It is the beginning of your physical transformation and above all else your mental preparation for the job ahead. Self doubt is your enemy, positivity your friend. No-one else really understands what you're going through unless they are also doing it. For me in a small town there is no one else doing this, no trainer, no pacemaker just me versus the clock and the goal at hand. Self reliance is learned and earned, at the end of it all there is only you on the day.
My press ups had taken over. The range of movement was now chest touching the ground and back up to straight arms, my shoulders were killing me, my knees and ankles also sore all the time.
They say in NZ that it is now easy to get into the police... its not that easy. It takes drive, determination, self discipline and above all self sacrifice and pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. It is the beginning of your physical transformation and above all else your mental preparation for the job ahead. Self doubt is your enemy, positivity your friend. No-one else really understands what you're going through unless they are also doing it. For me in a small town there is no one else doing this, no trainer, no pacemaker just me versus the clock and the goal at hand. Self reliance is learned and earned, at the end of it all there is only you on the day.
The next bit....
I bought a new pair of running shoes the day of the seminar. The next night after work ( I work 6.30am - 6.00pm ) I went on the first run I had been on in 12 years. I am an ex representative triathlete, cyclist etc... so it was nostalgic. I had already driven the 2.4km track and needed to know how far I was off the pace. I did it in 12.02 and needed a 10.50 for a pass. On top of that I had to do 34 press ups , with the correct set up meaning my palms were 92 cm apart, hard work. I could do about 7. A vertical jump of 48cm and I could do about 40cm was also in the mix.
I set up a training programme, running one day, press ups the next and plyometrics for jumping the next and so on.
By December I had the run down to about 10.55 and could do 30 press ups on a good day, my jump was crap and I needed help with that. I went to a practice PAT ( Physical Appraisal Test )
and managed to run a 10.34, do 35 press ups but only 18 counted, jumped 45 cm and grip tested 120kg needing 96kg so that was ok.
I needed to blitz it though. You only really get 2 chances to pass the actual PAT so when I got home I really dug it in.
I set up a training programme, running one day, press ups the next and plyometrics for jumping the next and so on.
By December I had the run down to about 10.55 and could do 30 press ups on a good day, my jump was crap and I needed help with that. I went to a practice PAT ( Physical Appraisal Test )
and managed to run a 10.34, do 35 press ups but only 18 counted, jumped 45 cm and grip tested 120kg needing 96kg so that was ok.
I needed to blitz it though. You only really get 2 chances to pass the actual PAT so when I got home I really dug it in.
The start...
I was working in Queenstown last year ( 2007) and was freezing my butt off building a new subdivision at Athurs Point. I was disgruntled with my job as a drainlayer and started contemplating my future. Every now and then a patrol car would go up past us to the house on the hill above. A cop lived up there with his family and as time went by we all got to know each other a bit better. He seemed to have everything I was looking for ; more time with his family each week, job satisfaction etc... Thats where it started I guess. Plus the fact that deep down I had always wanted to be a police officer. I had tried to apply in 1994 but at 19 was told that I needed to get some life experience. To be honest I think very few 19 year olds would be up to the challenge in terms of mental agility and toughness. Now I was 32 and had life experience coming out my ears.The cops were doing a recruiting drive at the time as well which helped, so that night I asked my wife if I could do it. I knew if I was successful it would be a huge challenge for her also to be alone for 5 months with 2 young boys ( that fight a lot ! ). She said if thats what I really wanted then to go for it. I booked in for a seminar the next day. That was in October 2007.
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