Reentry to Police Academy at 53
It was much easier the first time around, but not for the reasons one would expect.
I was 28-years old the first time I went to the police academy. I thought I was pretty hot stuff forty-one years ago. I guess I was. My decent figure and long lion’s mane of big hair attracted men like flies. I had many boyfriends but what I loved most was my job as a police officer.
I wanted to be a cop since I was a kid, and finally, I had managed to get promoted from my dispatcher job to patrol officer. I had to threaten to sue, but that’s another story. My promotion made me the first female patrol officer at my department.
In January of 1979, I went to the state’s police academy for basic training. I loved it. The time flew by, and although I was glad to finish after eight weeks away from my daughter and home, I knew I would miss it. I had sailed through with little effort. There were four other females in the class, so I wasn’t alone in the women’s dorm. The officers attending were from all over the state.
I was single at the time. There were four more women in the class, and one woman was considerably older. She was probably in her mid-fifties. I remember the guys making fun of her. And God help me, I went along with them. Oh, I wish I didn’t remember that, but I do.
