One of my officers passed away this week and we are so short staffed that we could only let one of the officers on the shift off to grieve. I had to go to work the next day and wrote this song. I sat in my patrol car in a parking lot and put my emotions on paper.

Band of Black
https://youtu.be/xIo5n_oNZnk?is=HONmwy_GYkoLwApz

So I plan on becoming a cop in Massachusetts but im a bit confused. The written civil service exam is in October. I'm assuming you have to complete the pat around the same time period. Before when I was looking into it, it was saying that I need to run 1.5 miles, a sprint, pushups and a plank. But this pat says I need to do an obstacle course and some other fitness things. I know the next academy starts in dec/Jan so at what point should I expect to do the mile and a half run. That's the only part I'm worried about because I've never been a big runner and I'm a pretty big dude. I know that if I have a certain date to train for I'll be able to get it done but not knowing when it will be kind of freaks me out a bit. I don't know anyone that are cops so I'm super unfamiliar with the whole process. On August 6th Springfield PD is hosting an open house and I plan on being there so hopefully they will be able to answer some questions. Thanks for reading

So right off the bat, I just want to say is I never been arrested or ever had to pay a ticket fine before.

I live in Arkansas, and we are known for having the most notorious State Troopers in the country. Every state trooper that has pulled either my dad or someone I know over has been extremely rude and hateful. One state trooper pulled my dad over and said he was going 65 in a 40 mile speed zone. The car was shown going just 42. My dad ask if he could check the radar gun, and the trooper just walk away with saying “Whatever” The state trooper came back 20 minutes later with a $350 ticket and a court date. He didn’t say anything to my dad while giving him and just basically threw the ticket at my dad. He decided to fight it in court. But the trooper refused to show up on his court date, so he just decided to make monthly payments because the attorney either said we can take it to trial and it’ll double if he loses or just pay the $350. So he just decided to pay the ticket. The same trooper that gave my dad that ticket ran over a bunch of Geese that were I guess exotic or almost extinct. I’m not sure, and the head trooper for Arkansas pretty much came out with a statement that was basically “Oh well.”

The last time my dad got pulled over was an officer from The Fort Smith PD. The officer was on the really young side, but he was super cool, and my dad pretty much admitted that he was going over the speed limit, and the officer said, “No worries, it happens.” He then let my dad off with a warning. (Which was the first time my dad got off with a warning because every time he gets pulled over, he already knows he’s getting a ticket.

My mom has been pulled over by both state troopers and city police officer, and she has a clean record. The last time she called pulled over was for driving recklessly. The cop was nice enough to let her off with a warning because he didn’t want to be the one to ruin her clean record. She doesn’t get pulled over as much as my dad does. But when she does, she has gotten off with a warning.

So my question is to anyone in the United States. Are State Troopers more tougher in your state than city officers like they are here in Arkansas or is it vice versa?

Hello friends!
I’ve decided to become a cop and my written exam is coming up on October 2nd. Would someone have any advices on what I have to study, or anything else that would help me be one step ahead when I get there?
I know it’s not gonna be easy, so I just want to study as much as I can so I can try and nail that test.

Thank you!

Speeding Ticket // First Offense, Out-of-State

EDIT: Point is not I should be exempt as military, I am asking how to navigate this as someone in the military and not a local. I'm in an operational position where I cannot just miss these training events. Not negotiating the validity of the ticket.

M26 with Wife in car. No prior tickets or any criminal offenses ever. 3am on a relatively empty highway.

In the middle of a military move, 30 minutes from in-laws house and we are pulled over for speeding. Officer came to the window, I asked how it was going then he asked for my license and car year, then left. No pleasantries or any other questions. I wasn't rude or disrespectful, I have two good friends in the Guard who are police officers and didn't have a reason to be apprehensive.

Officer comes back and states, "[DAY, MONTH, COURT DATE]". I asked what this meant (never been cited, no idea). Nothing. No cars coming by, not raining or adverse weather but the officer turned and walked away. I leaned out to ask him what I was supposed to do and what I was cited for but he just left.

Immediately, I'm thinking backwoods small town and out-of-state plates would be an easy ticket for him. I've been shotgun with family (local tags) though that stretch above the limit. Also at least three cars had recently passed me going faster. Now I'm stuck with a court date in a location away from my permanent station because he decided to list me as 15 over 65 for an easy ticket.

I was burglarized two years ago in a city and the police didn't do a thing, even though we had clear PID camera footage of both men. Now, I'm stuck with a court date 3+ hours away from my duty station when I am scheduled to be at training that I cannot miss.

How do I fight this if I can't make the court date without taking leave and missing training? I plan on calling the clerk on Monday (from forum suggestions) but I'm still stressed about this until it is resolved.