Porterville College Police Academy

I am Tim Brown, and I oversee the Administration of Justice Program at Porterville College. I teach all the Administration of Justice courses, and am the Coordinator for the Police Academy. The students, when they attend this program as far as the Police Academy is concerned, will learn the basics of police work, at which time, once they get hired on, they'll go through a field-training program and learn even more. I heard a lot of great recommendations from other officers that work with us. They say that Porterville is a great college and also Captain Brown, Captain Mu–oz that they held a great academy here, so I decided to go through Porterville College. The instructors are very knowledgeable; their experience alone is something that really would draw people. They're a little rough but, I mean, I think they know the job and they don't want anybody to get hurt out there. So their knowledge, and the instructors that they bring into our course are just great. I think they've all taught us clearly what the job expectations are. You know, any other program, I couldn't say what other programs are like but I know Porterville law enforcement really, the training center really gets you to where you're supposed to be. The basic academy, we're taught the fundamentals of law enforcement, as well as firearm safety, and how to apply those laws in the field. Students that are successful in the Administration of Justice Program and attain their degree can get hired on with the police department, and if they go on for their Bachelors Degree, it also helps them get promoted within the organization that they're working at. When I sit and talk with new cadets, that want to join the police academy, I really stress a commitment to the program. Law enforcement is something that I've wanted to pursue ever since I was a kid. The ability to help others, whenever I'm doing my job, it's very gratifying; it's a camaraderie that we have in the departments that we work. I like the range, the range is really fun, learning the different laws is pretty good, the instructions are fun, but I would say my best part is probably coming out to the range, and also weaponless defense, handcuffing, you know, ground fighting stuff like that, its just fun. This program is giving me the tools necessary to help my community.