thank you all who put your butt on the line for us !!! Hundreds of applicants apply to become Austin police officer
by STEVE ALBERTS / KVUE News
Bio | Email| Follow: @SteveA_KVUE
kvue.com
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:11 PM
Under the cover of darkness early Friday morning, Brittany Henry and 200 hundred other men and women showed up at a Northeast Austin Police Recruiting Center off Rutherford Lane and Cameron Road. The lined formed at 5 a.m. There were so many applicants, the doors opened half an hour early at 6:30.
"I didn't expect the line to be this long," said Henry.
The line stretched from the doorway across the front of building and snaked around the side.
For Henry, having a career in law enforcement is a lifelong dream.
“There's always going to be a competitive atmosphere in jobs like this,” said Henry. “I hope that my application is at least on par with a lot of the people here or better.”
It's a dream shared by Jean Claude Moughanni.
“It's been a life ambition. I think it's something you really feel inside of you to be part of this kind of community,” he said.
Austin police officers are among the highest paid in the state. Cadets earn $21,344, plus benefits for the first eight months on the job. Once they graduate and become probationary officers, their salary jumps to a little more $52,000. After a year, an APD officer will earn $60,536. That doesn't include overtime.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo doesn't apologize for the high salaries. He says the community understands the cost associated with keeping people safe.
“I think the people of this city understand we want quality. We want excellence,” said Acevedo. “I think what they get in return is a police department, despite the growth of the city and the challenges, we continue to see crime being controlled.”
Acevedo was not surprised by the number of applicants. He admits being a cop is not easy.
“We are very selective,” he said.
APD will have from 80 to 120 openings for the 2012 cadet class. In all more than 300 people applied.
“I've always been interested in law enforcement,” said Daniel Haley.
“I do think that there are a lot of eligible candidates here,” said Henry.
Both Henry and Moughanni believe they have what it takes to be an Austin cop.
“It's about protecting people, giving back to the community,” explained Moughanni. “I just want to serve a community I fell in love with.”
A community they are willing to protect with their lives.
The next step for those who get selected is testing. APD says that will take place in June. Those who get accepted into a cadet class should begin next spring.
by STEVE ALBERTS / KVUE News
Bio | Email| Follow: @SteveA_KVUE
kvue.com
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 5:11 PM
Under the cover of darkness early Friday morning, Brittany Henry and 200 hundred other men and women showed up at a Northeast Austin Police Recruiting Center off Rutherford Lane and Cameron Road. The lined formed at 5 a.m. There were so many applicants, the doors opened half an hour early at 6:30.
"I didn't expect the line to be this long," said Henry.
The line stretched from the doorway across the front of building and snaked around the side.
For Henry, having a career in law enforcement is a lifelong dream.
“There's always going to be a competitive atmosphere in jobs like this,” said Henry. “I hope that my application is at least on par with a lot of the people here or better.”
It's a dream shared by Jean Claude Moughanni.
“It's been a life ambition. I think it's something you really feel inside of you to be part of this kind of community,” he said.
Austin police officers are among the highest paid in the state. Cadets earn $21,344, plus benefits for the first eight months on the job. Once they graduate and become probationary officers, their salary jumps to a little more $52,000. After a year, an APD officer will earn $60,536. That doesn't include overtime.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo doesn't apologize for the high salaries. He says the community understands the cost associated with keeping people safe.
“I think the people of this city understand we want quality. We want excellence,” said Acevedo. “I think what they get in return is a police department, despite the growth of the city and the challenges, we continue to see crime being controlled.”
Acevedo was not surprised by the number of applicants. He admits being a cop is not easy.
“We are very selective,” he said.
APD will have from 80 to 120 openings for the 2012 cadet class. In all more than 300 people applied.
“I've always been interested in law enforcement,” said Daniel Haley.
“I do think that there are a lot of eligible candidates here,” said Henry.
Both Henry and Moughanni believe they have what it takes to be an Austin cop.
“It's about protecting people, giving back to the community,” explained Moughanni. “I just want to serve a community I fell in love with.”
A community they are willing to protect with their lives.
The next step for those who get selected is testing. APD says that will take place in June. Those who get accepted into a cadet class should begin next spring.
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