Protests, Holiday Party and Welcomes

The last few weeks have been hectic and trying to say the least.  CHP officers from far and near have been activated to protests across the state.  You hope to get the phone call or text saying, "I'm on my way home." Instead, the text reads,"I've been activated, I'm going to be late."  Being late usually means midnight for my swing shift officer, but late has been 3:00 AM.  It's hard to go to sleep knowing that they are in harms way.  Just last night several CHP vehicles were severely damaged by objects thrown by protesters.  These same objects are being thrown at our officers.

Our CHP Holiday party was this past Saturday and it was definitely a welcome change of pace.  It was nice to meet so many of B.'s coworkers.  Both Lieutenants and the Captain came up to introduce themselves.  You hear so much about the CHP Family right before graduation and now I know why.  It really felt like you were part of a family at an event like this.  We were debating where to sit when we arrived and B. mentioned as a new officer, you always sit near the front during briefing.  Of course, there was an empty table at the front, so the newbies all sat together.  This also meant they were an easy target.  The four of them (two from CTC II-13 and two from CTC II-14) had to sing in front of everyone.  They didn't do so well on their own with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, so a Lt. stepped in to help them out with Jingle Bells.  It was a fun night.  I'm looking forward to the next office event.

Welcome to CTC IV-14.  Pick up day was this morning for 135 new cadets.  To the families, stay strong and be supportive of your cadet.  It may be difficult to be at home and not be anxious with all the police activity going on.  The training at the Academy is top notch to prepare them for situations they are facing now.  Don't be afraid to reach out to others for advice or support.  There have been thousands of us who have been in your exact shoes. 

As always, thank you for finding my blog. 

Amynoellemaia@gmail.com

Congratulations CTC II-14

As written by CHP Recruiting:

"October 17, 2014, California Highway Patrol welcomes 59 new officers. Congratulations to CTC II-2014. The newest CHP officers will be reporting to their new assignments around the state. The following areas are expecting our newest officers: Altadena, Arrowhead, Ventura, Santa Cruz, Rancho Cucamonga, Bridgeport/June Lake-Lee Vining Resident Post, Hayward, Monterey, Garberville/Laytonville Resident Post, Baldwin Park, West Los Angeles, Indio, San Jose, South Los Angeles, Redwood City, Ukiah/Fort Bragg Resident Post, Newhall, San Francisco, West Valley, Morongo Basin, Victorville, Santa Barbara, Crescent City, Castro Valley, Marin, Garberville."

Congratulations and welcome to the CHP Family. 

Photo from CHP Recruiting

Graduation Pictures Arrived

We finally received our long awaited graduation pictures. I can't believe it's been six months since graduation and only six months until probation ends.

Break In: Done!

We are DONE with Break In! Phase III and IV are complete.  B. is rolling on his own.  Break In is defnitely difficult and draining on the the officer as well as the family adjusting to the new normal of law enforcement life.  Shift work takes a huge adjusment, especially graveyard shift.  We bought black out blinds to add to our bedroom windows.  It helped for a while, but any little crack would let in light.  We would go 3-4 days without seeing B.  He would leave for work before we got home or we would leave for school before he got off in the morning.  There would be a few days here and there where we would run into each other for a few minutes in the garage.  The girls know their Papa is at work.  They get so excited when they see a patrol car on the freeway.  They always want me to see if it's him.  I get just as excited as they do.  I work in the same city as B. and actually drive by his office on the way home everyday.  One day, he actually pulled out of their lot as I drove by.  I got a glipse of him in his uniform driving the patrol car.  Gotta love a man in uniform.

I've received a few emails in the last few weeks from girlfriends, fiances, and wives of Cadets starting the Academy next Monday, August 25th.  I was in your shoes a year ago.  It's a long journey, but so far it's been totally worth it.  The first four weeks will be the toughest for you and your Cadet.  They will be bombarded with information and you will be adjusting to life apart.  Be their support system and do not let them give up or quit.  You may get the phone call saying, I think I want to come home.  If it's any day but Friday, tell them you'll see them at the end of the week.  Tens of thousands of people want to be in their seats at the Academy.  They made it this far, do not let them quit. 

Thanks for following our journey from Cadet to Officer. 

Please don't hesitate to send any questions to amynoellemaia@gmail.com

Congratulations CTC I-14

Congratulations to CTC I-14! You've made it to graduation day. The six and a half month journey is only the beginning. Soak up the next ten days with your loved ones. Best of luck at your new offices. 

Rolling along in Phase II.

Last week was National Police Week to honor those LEOs who have lost their lives and to thank those who serve us now.  I decided to bring in a basket of Popcornopolis for B.'s office.  I ordered mini cones of popcorn and put labels on them.  "Thank you for all you do.  Enjoy the Cop Corn."  It was a gift from the girls to the office. I was super nervous before dropping them off.  I had never been to B.'s office yet and he wasn't there when I dropped the basket off.  I introduced myself to the Officer at the counter and was on my way.  I guess the Cop Corn was a hit, since B. told me everyone was snacking on them during lineup. 

Since B. started Phase II on weekend graves, I've packed up the girls and head to my parents for the weekend.  For the past two weekends, the girls have been at each other's throats.  Do the terrible threes and fives exist?  If #1 gets in trouble, #2 turns on the perfect little sister mode.  Then if #2 does something, #1 steps it up.  I thought my head was going to explode at dinner on Saturday.  I swear I had to say sit down and eat at least 50 times.  My younger sister says, "That's why you only want two kids."  It's almost back to Academy life, I am the single parent for at least three days a week.  Although, I am staying with my parents the rules at grandma and grandpa's are more lax.  My parents allow me to parent the way I usually do and try not to overstep.

I heard Dream Sheets are out for CTC I-14.  It's such an overwhelming decision to rank where you could possibly live for the next year and possibly beyond.  No one from CTC I-14 will be coming to B.'s office, so his seniority will remain near the bottom. 

I am looking forward to attending a seminar presented by Vickie Newman: Surving Law Enforcement - A Spouses Perspective.  Vickie spoke at the Family Seminar the day before graduation.  She has been a CHP wife for over 25 years and raised four kids.  I'm going to the seminar with one of B.'s roommate's girlfriend.  I was hoping all three of us could go together, but our schedules didn't line up.  So I can't wait to see her too.  She's going through the same experience with her CHP Officer.  I'm crossing my fingers that the roomies make it through Break In and the six of us can celebrate.  I know the three of them miss each other, but there just isn't enough time in the day for them to catch up or even check in.  The girls are trying to keep those connections for them.  I try to text the girls at least once a week to see how things are going.  Graveyard shift has been quite an adjustment.  But it will all be worth it in the end.

I feel like my weekend never started, but here I go into the new week.  Have a great Monday!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day, especially to all the CHP moms. It takes a lot to be a CHP mom. 

Wow, I can't believe it has been nearly a month since I've posted. B. survived Phase I of Break In. There is so much information thrown at them. Learning your area is one of the biggest things during Break In. B. would spend every available moment driving his beats. We had even spent Sunday afternoons as a family driving around. The girls would have a DVD playing and he would tell me where a beat started and where it ended. He had also gone out to drive after the girls and I went to bed. He said driving at night is a totally different beast.

B. downloaded the P. Scanner + app on my phone so I could listen to the CHP scanner in our area. I need a 10 and 11 code cheat sheet to understand all the scanner traffic. It was very cool to listen to. I even heard B. on the scanner one day. 

After learning your area, developing your radio ear was the next big thing. For me listening to the scanner on and off took a lot of concentration, let alone hearing it for 12 hours. I noticed the cadets at the Academy are now wearing radios. It's great that they are getting a jump start on that. 

We are five days into Phase II and said goodbye to day shift. B. went onto weekend graveyard. He leaves the house around 4:15 pm and comes home around 7:30 am. Having a three year old is not condusive to a graveyard schedule. When she is awake everyone is awake. There was a line in the movie, Frozen that describes #2. "The sky's awake, so I'm awake." She will not let her Papa sleep, so we have decided to pack up for the weekend and stay at my parents. It allows B. uninterrupted sleep and the girls get to see their grandparents. 

This weekend was the first of many missed holidays and parties due to the CHP life we live now. B. missed our nephews first birthday. The girls told their Papa all about it. We planned to go out for Mother's Day, but he was beat when he got home. We ended up having McDonald's drive thru for breakfast. It didn't bother me as long as we we're together. 

I think that's all for now. CTC I-14, you're almost there. You're in the homestretch. The last ten weeks are going to fly by. 

As always, please feel free to contact me through my email: amynoellemaia@gmail.com

Thank you for reading!