The Allstate Campus is excited to announce that we’ll be hosting a Boot Camp next week! Now I know you’re probably thinking drills and sprints, but this camp in particular doesn’t require much physical activity. In fact, it’s strictly designed to take the necessary steps toward your future. It’s what we would like to call “The workout for career success”. We’ve extended an invitation to the College of Public Safety students who are pursuing an A.S degree and have completed 75% of the program’s plan requirements. We would like for those students, as well as the Corrections, Law, or Fire Academy students to come on out and join us this upcoming Tuesday, on April 12^th from 4:30-6:30 pm.

Each student will be given the opportunity to undergo several steps that are essential to preparing for a career. We’ll start with taking a professional picture at our photo booth which can then be used as the profile pic on their LinkedIn account. At this point of the boot camp, the student will also be given an USB drive for their personal access. From there they’ll participate in a mock interview, which allows students to practice with interview questions and acquire some helpful tips. The next two stations will serve as guide for completing the background check process through PASS (Police Applicant Screening Service) and then a resume review, with resume tips from one of our advisors. Following that we’ll have the Burning Glass table, which is a job search tool that aids with finding jobs and/or career within the area of your choice.

Last but not least, we have the final station which is where you’ll find the recruiters we’ve scheduled to be a part of our career boot camp. Each table will have a different recruiter, giving each student a chance to network and ask any questions they may have in regards to a specific career field. Here you can find the list of recruiters who have volunteered to attend this special event:

• Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
• Winter Garden Police Department
• Gulfport Police Department
• St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue
• McRoberts Protective Agency

After visiting each station and completing a short survey, there will be dinner for the students and additional time to visit with any of our staff and the recruiters listed above. Our sole purpose for the career boot camp is to provide students with a learning experience catered to professional and career services. So we encourage students to come out ready to interact and professionally dressed! Also, it would be helpful is students who already have a resume, bring a copy with them for advisors to review on the spot.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Career Outreach Specialist, Dee Mortellaro at (727) 614 -7019.

Save the date and we look forward to seeing you there! 🙂 

Last week the St. Petersburg Allstate campus hosted all of our academy students and instructors for Spring Fling 2016. Currently we have 3 academies in session, Police Recruit Class #200, Corrections Academy #89, and Fire Academy #46. Attendees enjoyed southern style cuisine from Heavy’s Food Truck. Attendees had the option of pulled pork, fried chicken, smothered chicken, fried pork chop, or a smothered pork chop, two sides including, french fries, mac and cheese, collard greens, and baked beans, and a soda. This was the first time the Allstate campus has used Heavy’s Food Truck and was thrilled with the quality.

Students had the option of playing pick-up volleyball, football toss, horseshoes, or corn hole. We also had 2 planned events. The first was the Tug-O-War. Given the odd number of teams, team captains drew straws to determine who would play first. Fire Academy vs. Corrections was the first session. Fire Academy quickly overtook Corrections. Fire Academy vs. Police Recruit Class lasted a bit longer. The Police Recruits almost overtook Fire because of a foot slipping, but Fire came back and bested the Police Recruits after only a minute or two.

Next, students went to the Obstacle Course we have on campus. In teams of 2, academy students would complete the course with another team of 2 trailing right behind them. Fire Academy had 3 teams, Police Recruit Class had 2 teams, a nd Corrections submitted 1 team. Police and Corrections practice regularly on this course. This was the first attempt for the Fire Academy. The results were as follows:

1^st Place: PRC #200 Mandakis/Scott 1:29:90
2^nd Place: PRC #200 Jones/Zimmerman 1:32:00
3^rd Place: CRC #89 Bennett/Kirkley 1:33:47
1^st Honorable Mention: FA #46 Ennis/Law 1:37:43
2^nd Honorable Mention: FA #46 Johnson/Behrman 1:38:56
3^rd Honorable Mention: FA #46 Theo/Behrman 1:56:29

Thanks to all who came out to make this a great event! For more information about joining one of the academies at St. Petersburg College, please visit our website. To see more photos from this event and others, please visit our Facebook Page.

While there are only a few police agencies that set strict higher educational standards and requirements, evidence and research suggests that higher education is actually a means to better professional policing. As with all careers, especially Public Safety, having a higher education background opens up greater advancement opportunities for police officers. There is no real substitute for authentic street experience. But this is where higher education experience comes in handy. Research conducted by Michigan State University shows that having a college degree dramatically reduces the chance that police officers will use force as their first option for compliance needs. Police Officers who have a college degree are overall more likely to make better decisions when dealing with confrontations.

When continuing your education as an experienced, working police officer you may find that it is not the easiest thing to do. Attending traditional classes are not the best option when having to work a rotating schedule while having to have to attend trainings and court appearances. But most college and universities have online courses and also ways to shorten the length of time of your four year degree. When looking for a degree program you have two options you can look into:

1. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) – Show prior learning through a portfolio process that will in return give you college credit(s)
2. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) –  Receive college credit through a 90-minute examination on a wide range of topics such as Computer, Foreign Language, Math, Science, Composition and electives

As technology is changing and police departments are becoming more modernized, a college degree is what will make you stand out from fellow officers. You won’t understand how forensic science can strengthen a case if you do not know the science behind it. You won’t be able to fight cyber crime without the necessary technical skills. By continuing their education, police officers are able to reassure the public that they are highly capable to take on any task-whether on the street or working on an investigation. With a college degree, as a police officer you are bound to be a force to be reckoned with.

For more information about the ways in which education impacts police officers, please see this article by the American Military University. For more information about joining one of the academies at St. Petersburg College, please visit our website.

This post was written by Katy Simpson, B.A.S. Student at St. Petersburg College. 

As one considers attending the Police Academy here at SPC, he or she also considers obtaining one of the most stressful careers in the U.S. According to the Washington Times, police officers are likely to experience depression, insomnia and common physical complications throughout the human body, especially in these areas:

• Upper and Lower back
• Shoulders
• Wrists and ankles

Unfortunately, officers often put themselves at risk with constant wear and tear while on duty. But with some simple yoga training, it is easier for future police officers to protect and serve our country, and also build muscle strength and restore their physical health through the specific body postures.

I’m sure when you hear the word “yoga”, words like relaxation and meditation come to mind and you picture yourself in what most would call the “downward-facing dog” position. Or perhaps you just see yourself laying there motionless. Such positions and movements are key to gaining mental strength and finding a place of peace and serenity. When encountering stressful events on a daily basis, you must be aware of your emotions and also have the ability to control them.  So yoga can be very beneficial when there’s a need to be put at ease or possibly repair one’s mind, body and spirit.

Yoga not only benefits current and future law enforcement, but it can be very rewarding for veterans too. I’m sure most of us are familiar with the negative side effects that come with PTSD or have even heard some personal experiences from veterans. But the right yoga training can help those coping with stress and add comfort when dealing with post-traumatic stress disorders.

So how could you gain access to these programs or training, you ask? Some companies invite yoga teachers into their workplace. There are also affordable studios within your community. Overall, yoga can have a great impact on physical and emotional health and has proven to work for many officers today. Here you can read about the positive experiences officers have had thus far and see how it has made a major influence on their everyday lives.

For more information about joining one of the academies at St. Petersburg College, please visit our website.

This post was written by Breanna Bass, Student Support Assistant. 

Are you ready for the fitness test to join the Law Enforcement Academy? If you are considering joining the academy, it’s important to be prepared. Below is an advised training schedule for you to get started!

If you’re not ready, let’s get you ready. Warm up by walking for 5 minutes, and do a 30 minutes work out three times a week.

• Week one: run one minute, walk 9 minutes X 3.
• Week two: run two minutes, walk 8 minutes X 3.
• Week three: run three minutes, walk 7 minutes X 3.
• Week four: run four minutes, walk 6 minutes X 3.
• Week five: run five minutes, walk 5 minutes X 3.
• Week six: run six minutes, walk 4 minutes X 3.
• Week seven: run one seven minute, walk 3 minutes X 3.
• Week eight: run eight minutes, walk 8 minutes X 3.
• Week nine: run nine minutes, walk 9 minutes X 3.
• Week ten: run ten minutes, walk 9 minutes X 3.

Follow this ten-week plan to get you running 30 minutes straight.  If you need motivation to run, there are also free running groups.

Now, let’s get ready for the push-ups.

• Day one: five push-ups.
• Day two: eight push-ups.
• Day three: eleven push-ups.
• Day four: fourteen push-ups.
• Day five: take the day off/rest.
• Day six: fifteen push-ups.
• Day seven: eighteen push-ups.
• Day eight: twenty-one push-ups.
• Day nine: twenty-four push-ups.
• Day ten: take the day off/rest.
• Day eleven: twenty-five push-ups.
• Day twelve: twenty-eight push-ups.
• Day thirteen: thirty-one push-ups.
• Day fourteen: thirty-four push-ups.
• Day fifteen: take the day off/rest.
• Day sixteen: thirty-five push-ups.
• Day seventeen: thirty-eight push-ups.
• Day eighteen: forty-one push-ups.
• Day nineteen: forty-four push-ups.
• Day twenty: take the day off/rest.
• Day twenty-one: forty-five push-ups.
• Day twenty-two: forty-eight push-ups.
• Day twenty-three: fifty-one push-ups.
• Day twenty-four: fifty-four push-ups.
• Day twenty-five: take the day off/rest.
• Day twenty-six: fifty-five push-ups.
• Day twenty-seven: fifty-seven push-ups.
• Day twenty-eight: sixty-one push-ups.
• Day thirty: take the day off/rest.
• Day thirty-one: seventy-five.

Please visit this site to see what’s expected for push-ups and running times based on your age and gender.

St. Petersburg College Allstate Campus hosted its’ 199th graduation for their Police Academy. On the evening of March 3^rd, 2016 at 6pm in the Florida Room, 19 cadets graduated. A huge success for the class: the number of graduates was the same as the number who began the course! It takes a lot of diligence, dedication, and teamwork to graduate 100% of your class – and PRC#199 had it!

The ceremony, led by coordinator Paul Andrews, recognized the esteemed members from local police agencies in attendance, the junior police recruit class (PRC) #200, the corrections recruit class (CRC) #89, and supportive family and friends – without whom, graduation for many cadets would have been unlikely. 

Pledge of Allegiance was led by 3 PRC students. Invocation was given by Ashley Burge. Evan Huston, chosen by his classmates for this honor, delivered a heartwarming class address outlining some of the best times the class had, some of the hardest, and the camaraderie that held them together through it all.

Many students received awards for their physical and intellectual achievements throughout the 21-week academy. Including Jonathan Boozy (pictured right) for high scholarly achievement. 2 students, Vassil Raytchev and Christopher Zak, were recognized for their contribution to Student Government Association, and another 10 recognized for giving their time to assist on campus during a Martin Luther King event. After the conferment of degrees, Coordinator Andrews explained to the audience that each day of the academy, cadets would recite the code of ethics and invited several cadets to the stage to lead their class in the recitation, followed by a benediction by one cadet. After being guided by their Instructor for a final fall-out, the class and crowd erupted in joyful yells, hugs, and tears by some.

The Allstate campus wishes the graduates well as they prepare for their state exams and eventual careers as officers of the law. If you are interested in learning more about the Police Academy, please see our website or contact one of knowledgeable advisors.

For more information on events happening on the Allstate Campus, please see our Student Activities webpage or our Facebook page.

The Allstate Center is unique. You’ll notice a different atmosphere as soon as you walk through our doors. When you pass academy cadets in the hall, they line up for you as a sign of respect. Donation bins are often scattered around the campus for the recruits’ latest service project. And wherever you go, you’ll likely be addressed as “sir” or “ma’am.”

This respectful and service-oriented mindset is something we try to foster here at the Allstate Center. The students in our College of Public Safety are public servants, after all, and that service begins the moment they step through these doors. That’s why we are so proud of our latest recruits. Not only have they launched local service projects, but they are even engaging with communities across the sea.

For Valentine’s Day, recruits and academic students joined forces to create cards for a community in Benin, West Africa. Armed with glitter glue, pink-and-red construction paper, and holiday stickers, they wrote messages of friendship and encouragement—all in French, the official language of Benin. Over 40 cards were filled with warm wishes, such as Je vous souhaite une vie merveilleuse (I wish you a wonderful life). 

Rebecca Sarver, the Allstate Student Life and Leadership Coordinator, mailed the cards to her friends in Benin, who will be distributing them throughout their community. The global aspect of the event appealed to the recruits. “I thought it was interesting that it was to people [overseas],” said Nicole Comiskey, a recruit from CRC 89.

This event will be the first in a series of service projects. On March 3, drop by the Allstate Library from 12-7pm for “Postcards for Peeps.” We’ll be making Easter cards for patients recovering in a local hospital.

Fast Facts About Benin:

• Voodoo originated from Benin.
• Benin is the home to the real Amazons, the only recent-history all-female military regiment (lasting until the end of the 19^th century). As the rumor goes, these women used to cut off a breast as young girls to become more proficient in using a bow and arrow
• The Fon word for foreigner is “Yovo”. Children sing a song to foreigners when they see them: “Yovo yovo bon soir. Ca va bien? Merci.” Which means “White person, white person. Good Evening. Are you doing well? Thank you.” In the time of Europeans coming to colonize Benin, the children would sing them this song to show they were learning French and would receive candy as a reward.
• The colors of the flag are green, red and yellow. Green symbolizes hope for renewal, red denotes the ancestors’ courage, and yellow represents the country’s richest treasures.
• The coast of Benin was a central point of the slave trade for 3 centuries; nearly 1 million individuals were boarded onto ships at the beach of Ouidah and transported across the Atlantic. (Side note: THIS is how Voodoo got to Haiti!).

— Facts courtesy of Rebecca Sarver, Student Life and Leadership Coordinator

Feeling overwhelmed with homework? We’re here to help! Check out our ten study tips below and get ready to ace those next exams.

1. Find a study group. Meeting with (studious) classmates will not only help you prepare for that next test, it’ll boost your morale and make studying way more fun.

2. Choose a quiet place to study. If you need to get out of the house and away from distractions, the Allstate Library has two private study rooms, plenty of comfy chairs, and 12 brand-new Dell computers. Check it out!

3. Don’t cram. It can be tempting to postpone studying until the night before, but it won’t get you good results. If you study more gradually, it will actually help you remember the material better. In an article for The New York Times, journalist Benedict Carey explains, “An hour of study tonight, an hour on the weekend, another session a week from now: such so-called spacing improves later recall, without requiring students to put in more overall study effort or pay more attention, dozens of studies have found.”

4. Sometimes it feels impossible to find time to study. One solution is to break up study time into small increments throughout your day. The Berkeley Student Learning Center suggests you turn wait time into study time: “Five minutes waiting time for the bus, 20 minutes waiting for the dentist, 10 minutes between classes — waiting time adds up fast. Have short study tasks ready to do during these times. For example, carry 3X5 cards with equations, formulas, or definitions and pull them out anywhere.” (For more great tips, check out the entire article.)

5. Try listening to music. Classical music may help you feel less anxious and focus on the materials, studies find.

6. Use online resources. As an SPC student, you have access to many online articles and videos through our library catalogue. Here are some of the most helpful databases that focus on public safety and criminal justice. Click on the links below to check them out. To sign into the library databases, your borrow ID is your student ID number and your PIN is the last four digits of your social security number

• CQ Researcher Plus Archives
• Criminal Justice Periodicals Index (ProQuest)
• Issues and Controversies
• Military & Government Collection (EBSCO)
• NewsBank
• Opposing Viewpoints
• Legal Periodicals & Books (Wilson)

If you get stuck searching the databases, just remember that your local librarian will be happy to help you! Call 727-341-4486 with any questions.

7. Take care of yourself mentally. Check out BayCare’s Student Assistance Program, which offers you free mental and emotional care, including a toll-free confidential helpline and many online resources. To access some of these online resources, log into MySPC, click on Resources, and you’ll find their website under Student Assistance Counseling. Next, navigate to Students, and choose Emotional Health. You can call their toll-free, confidential helpline at (800) 878-5470. They can help with problems such as:

• Adjustment difficulties
• Anxiety
• Building successful relationships
• Conflict resolution
• Identifying and handling stress
• Overcoming procrastination
• Post-traumatic stress
• Sharpening study skills
• Substance abuse
• Time management

8. Take care of yourself physically. SPC offers free chiropractic and acupuncture care through the National University of Health Sciences Clinic/Caruth Health Education Center. You can schedule an appointment by calling 727-341-3760. Their services are free not only to SPC students, but also to immediate family.

9. Get help. When you’re feeling stuck, remember that you’re surrounded by people who are here for you. Stop by an SPC tutoring center: “Students who visit our Learning Centers more than four times in a term have better than an 80% chance at success.” Those are pretty great odds. If you don’t feel like leaving the house (we’ve all been there), you can use our Smarthinking online tutoring website. Click the link below, and scroll down for a tutorial video that shows you how to access it: http://www.spcollege.edu/tutoring/#tab=3

10. Reward yourself. After you’ve finished that exam, do something to celebrate. Remember, you’re one step closer to reaching your goal!

Are you wanting to serve as a “Law Enforcement/Correction Officer”? Are you looking to go through the Police Academy? Are you wanting to know if you qualify?

If want answers to these questions and you are wondering “where do, I start?’ First step would be to read the A.I.P. (Applicant Information Packet). http://www.policestandards.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/PASS-Applicant-Information-Package-AIP-March-2012-2.pdf/

P.A.S.S. will help you get your background finalized so you can be a “Cadet”.

What Is PASS?

1. The Police Applicant Screening Service (PASS) is a regional selection center created to serve the law enforcement agencies of Pinellas County by maintaining a pool of qualified law enforcement officer candidates. The Sheriff, the State Attorney, the

   

   Police Academy Director, and the Police Chiefs operate PASS as a unit of local government.

• Registration hours are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• To expedite the registration process, we recommend applicants call ahead to schedule an appointment date/time to reduce possible waiting time.
• Please contact by phone at727-864-3822 Ext. 1 or email chen.jennifer@spcollege.edu  with Jennifer Chen to confirm an appointment. Please read the AIP before scheduling an appointment.

How long does the Academy take?

Law Enforcement Academy takes 22 weeks to fulfill. You would be in attendance Monday-Friday from 7:45 am to 4:45 pm. Please visit the site below for more information. http://www.spcollege.edu/leacademy/

The Corrections Academy takes 12-14 weeks to fulfill. Required hours are 444; please visit the site for more details. http://www.spcollege.edu/CorrectionsAcademy/

St. Petersburg College partners with PASS to provide the background screening service for all open enrollment applicants. If you are wishing to attend the corrections academy; all interested applicants must meet the collegiate requirements. Please visit the site for more details. http://www.spcollege.edu/correctionsacademy/  The corrections PASS Process  is similar to the law enforcement process, with some minor exceptions (listed within the Applicant Information Package).

What if I am already a “Cadet”, and all I need to do is take the C.J.B.A.T. (Criminal Justice Basic Ability Test)?

The P.A.S.S. office can help you with that service too.

Article authored by Jennifer Chen, PASS Secretary.

Heroin is back. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), between 2013 and 2014, the number of current heroin users went up 51%. Why the increase? People often begin using heroin when they need to find a cheaper alternative to the prescription painkillers they’re already addicted to.

The addictions can kill. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently reported drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of injury death in the United States. That means drug overdoses kill more people than car crashes or guns. In 2013, more than 46,000 Americans died of a drug overdose and more than half of those people died because of heroin and prescription painkillers.

People often become addicted to painkillers after an injury. Doctors prescribe them and soon, many people rely on them to function. Often that reliance turns to addiction when people ignore the risks associated with seeking and taking the drug. They will do anything to get it, but it is sometimes too difficult and expensive to get pills. Heroin is becoming the easier alternative.

The DEA says the availability of heroin is increasing around the country, including here in Florida. According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, heroin arrests more than doubled between 2014 and 2015 and heroin seizures more than tripled.

A key to fighting the heroin problem is keeping people from using it in the first place. “It’s an issue of public safety and we want people in our community to learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heroin use and how it can impact families,” said Eileen LaHaie, director of the Center for Public Safety Innovation (CPSI) at St. Petersburg College. “That’s why we’re hosting a community presentation so people can learn about how easily prescription drug use can lead to heroin abuse and what we can do about it.”

The forum will be the evening of February 5 at the Allstate Center of St. Petersburg College and is co-sponsored by CPSI and the St. Petersburg Police Department.

“As a response to the re-emergence of heroin in our community, this event would play a key role in the education of our community about this critical issue,” said SPPD Chief Anthony Holloway.

Police Captain Chris Martin will present information and take questions from 7pm-9pm. Registration is free but required. To register, email or call LeeAnn Bowen at 727-344-8002.

Free childcare for children ages 5-11 is available thanks to a partnership with R’Club Child Care, Inc. Parents must arrive by 6:30 to register their children. “Because of the severity of the heroin issue in our community, we wanted to make sure childcare issues didn’t keep people from coming to this important community event,” LaHaie said. “We want people to know this growing drug epidemic could have an impact on their families.”

Heroin is Back Community Presentation

• Friday, February 5
• 7-9 pm
• SPC Allstate Campus 3200 34^th S. St. Petersburg 33711
• Free childcare available
• Register by email or call LeeAnn Bowen at 727-344-8002.
• You can also register by filling out this short survey.
• Learn heroin history, trends, signs of use, impact on families, cost to society