Recruit Andrew Peahota doubled over after finishing the mileand-half run the first day of Week 2 and charged,“ If you’ re going to puke, don’ t puke on this road.”
We will get to know Peahota and other recruits very well throughout this journey as part of understanding the do-whatever-it-takes grit that makes for the best NJ Cops. And they will reveal why they are willing to put up with no cell phones, no internet, no contact with wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends, family members or any of the outside world for 22 weeks.
“ We instill the purpose to protect people,” accentuates Matt Schaffer, the lead Physical Training Instructor and 11-year member of Ocean City Local 61.
Who is going to make it?
From the time the shout down hits through the first few days, recruits confirm their heads are spinning. The drilling ceremony and the demand to listen to commands is a system adjustment for those recruits who haven’ t been in the military.
From these subtle indicators, Nagel has an early appraisal of how much work is cut out for him.
“ I have some idea already about who is not going to make it,” he confides as the second week begins.“ They did not properly prepare themselves. They are not as physically fit as I would like, but we will get them there.”
Physical training will push them to be able to reach 50 pushups in one minute, withstand two minutes of curl-ups and take two minutes of punches in a boxing ring. Aerobic training with 12 stations will pick up after the first couple of weeks, and weight training will kick in about week eight, all to make physical fitness part of a lifestyle that will last for the next 20-to-25 years.
There are other mechanisms to toughen up the recruits, especially mentally. In the break room, they are allowed only one Styrofoam cup per day for coffee or water. Using the vending machines is not allowed. There is a refrigerator in the dorm where only healthy foods are allowed.
Andrew Peahota says that the physical training and other challenges will give him the mental toughness he needs to be a law enforcement officer.
Brooke Labell has paid her own way to be in the class, and she is here because she wants to be with the best.
Ah yes, the dorm. Summer camp cabins are almost as luxurious. The men’ s section has rows of bunk-beds that are as big as those in summer camp, and a few cubbies to store the minimal toiletries. There are rooms of two, four and six beds in bunks for the overflow of men and the women.
There is a computer room for working on the reports recruits have to write each night to file with their agencies recapping the day’ s learning events. Free time comes from 6-to-10 p. m., when the high point of recreation might be gathering to shine shoes for the next day, iron uniforms and take turns using the washer and dryer.
They march to the mess hall three times a day. When waiting in line to be served, they stand at attention and have to wait until all four recruits at a table have their food before they can sit down to eat. It’ s a formula, for, well, you know...“ It’ s the discipline to make you focus,” explains Jose Gomez, an officer with the Cape May County Sheriff’ s Department who works as a drill instructor and supervises chow time.“ If something happens on the job, you have to make sure you are the one who goes home. So we put this pressure on them every day because it takes a lot of work to be ready for the street, physically and mentally.”
Nagel calls it all the Cape May Academy lifestyle, one with no distractions. And one that offers the bonding that creates the ability to follow orders, promotes assertiveness, demands the ability to take charge and inspires the hunger to learn. What agency wouldn’ t want that? But at what cost for the recruits?“ Look, there are thousands of men and women who would give their left arm or leg to be in my position, so there is no giving up,” declares Peahota who is on with the Avalon Police Department.“ I took a spot that might have gone to one of them. That’ s part of my motivation.”
Maybe a woman’ s perspective would be helpful now, and here is one from Brooke Labell, who has come to Police Academy Cape May County as part of the Alternate Route Program. The Stanhope resident has no job promised; she is doing this to
CONTINUED ON PAGE 52 www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ SEPTEMBER 2016 51