Think You've Got What It Takes to be a Falls Police Officer?

As the journalist at Menomonee Falls Patch, I’ve written a lot of stories about burglars, car accidents, OWI arrests and .

But from a journalist’s perspective, I’ve predominantly seen only one facet of the work the does on a daily basis — and that’s primarily the conclusion of their investigations.

But how do they catch a burglar wreaking havoc on downtown businesses? How do they nab the worst criminals committing Internet crimes against children? What’s it like to shoot an officer’s gun? And why does it take so darn long to get a speeding ticket?

As a journalist, and born with a natural sense of curiosity, I needed to see beyond the veil and truly understand how the MFPD operates and get some answers. That’s why I joined the 13-week Citizen’s Police Academy to understand how the stories you read on the Police Beat come to be.

And for the next 13 weeks I’ll document what roughly 20 other residents do weekly during the third installment academy.

On Tuesday we kicked off our first meeting, which was primarily an introduction to the structure of the MFPD and how to become an officer in the village. It was the first time seeing my fellow classmates — and what a diverse crowd!

Among the those enrolled Principal Gary Kiltz, Village Centre Director Barb Watters, Karen Nelson of the Police and Fire Commission. The group also included longtime residents, a police dispatcher, a former Indians’ basketball star and a former police investigator. Each person possessed a burning curiosity about the department.

I think the major takeaway from Tuesday evening was the exclusivity of the Falls Police Department, and the rigorous standards they hold each officer to before they can officially wear the badge. Their standards are unique to other departments in the area.

Every applicant for the job first gets scored on education, police experience, and other resume items. Then they are brought in for an Assessment Center, which is a day of impromptu speeches, crisis negotiation, skills tests and interviews. For example, all officers must give an impromptu speech about a random law enforcement topic. They have eight minutes to prepare a five-minute speech before a panel of reviewers.

Capt. Mark Waters said sometimes applicants leave the daylong assessment at lunch break never to return.

Then, each candidate is subject to an intensive background check. You remember that kid you knocked down on the playground in fourth grade? Well, they’ll probably talk to him about your character. It’s an in depth search of every job you’ve had, a survey of your family and friends, your personality, financial responsibility and so on.

Your skeletons will be revealed, but Waters said it isn’t always what you did, but what you say you did. The search is to find the most straightforward and honest candidates possible.

Then, if you make it, it’s on to a 80-hour department orientation, 13 weeks of field training, 24 hours of in-service. After all that, you can finally call yourself a member of the MFPD. It’s a lot of work, but the payoff is joining one of the most exclusive forces in the area.

“The process is long, but the prize is that great,” said Waters, who transferred to the MFPD in 1992 after just two weeks with Brookfield’s department.

Since Falls’ first full-time officer Otto Schneider patrolled the streets for $137 a month, there have been just six police chiefs. The average tenure for members of the MFPD is just over 12 years. Waters said it’s a department that people want to stay in.

After our introduction, we got a tour of the entire department. For a journalist, I would love to have constant access to the interrogation room, the Internet crimes division or the sally port. These are the frontlines of the battle against crime, and the work done nightly to secure the safety of Falls residents.

By the way, Waters emphasized that the department belongs to every resident. So, if you'd like your own tour of the department just stop in someday and ask.

So begins the journey, and hopefully I’ll have something new to share about the department next week.