| How to Become an NYPD Detective Posted: 16 Jan 2019 04:00 PM PST If you are an NYC resident with a passion for preventing and investigating crime, a career with the NYPD may be right for you. The NYPD takes pride in the highly trained and specialized members of its Detective Bureau. The decision to promote an officer to the rank of Detective is largely based on the officer's merit and experience, and the discretion of their commanding officers. You may be able to attain your goal of becoming an NYPD Detective if you meet the NYPD's requirements for becoming an officer, complete the necessary training, and gain enough relevant work experience. EditMeeting the Basic Requirements - Meet the age requirements for becoming an officer. Although you can take the NYPD entrance exam once you are at least 17.5 years old, you must be at least 21 before you can be appointed as an officer. You must pass the entrance exam before your 35th birthday.[1]
- Complete the NYPD's educational requirements. In order to be hired as an officer by the NYPD, you need to have completed at least 60 college credits and earned a minimum 2.0 GPA from an accredited school. Alternatively, you must have served at least 2 years of active service in the U.S. Armed Forces.[2]
- Provide proof of citizenship and residency in NYC. You must be a U.S. citizen to serve as an NYPD officer. Additionally, you must hold a valid New York driver's license. You will need to provide proof of residency in one of the 5 boroughs of NYC, or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, or Orange County, within 30 days of being hired.[3] Proof of residency may include:[4]
- A current lease or letter from your landlord including dates of tenancy and rent payments.
- A utility bill showing your name and current address.
- Your voter registration card.
- Income tax returns showing your current address.
- An automobile registration certificate or insurance policy.
- Make sure you do not have any disqualifying factors. A variety of factors may disqualify you from serving with the NYPD. Before applying to the NYPD, consider whether you:[5]
- Have ever been convicted of a felony or domestic violence misdemeanor.
- Were dishonorably discharged from the military.
- Have a demonstrable history of disrespect for the law (e.g., a pattern of repeated convictions or arrests).
- Have violent tendencies.
- Have ever been fired from a job due to poor behavior or difficulty dealing with authority.
EditApplying to Become an Officer - Take the Police Officer's Entrance Exam. The first step to being considered for employment with the NYPD is to pass the entrance exam. You must be at least 17.5 years old and under the age of 35 to take the exam.[6] Fill out an NYPD Recruit Police Officer Registration form here to get information on how to take the exam: https://recruit.nypdonline.org/. If you fail the exam or are unsatisfied with your score, you can sign up to take it again. The exam will test your skills in:[7]
- Memory
- Written comprehension and expression
- Deductive and inductive reasoning
- Informational ordering
- Spatial orientation
- Problem sensitivity
- Visualization
- Fill out all required application forms. Once you have passed the entrance exam, you must submit to a multi-part candidate screening process. You must register online and complete a series of application forms to begin this process.[8] Start by creating an account here, and following the prompts: https://a056-crimestoppers.nyc.gov/applicanttracking/index.html
- Pass the medical exam. The screening process begins with a medical exam, which is administered by a Police Department Doctor at the Medical Division, 1 Le Frak City Plaza, 59-17 Junction Blvd., Corona, NY 11368. Bring copies of your medical records and report any medical conditions you have that require medication. If the doctor has any concerns about your physical condition, you may be placed on medical review. If this happens, you might need to present more detailed medical records or take further medical tests. The basic medical exam will include:[9]
- A vision test. Your corrected vision must be at least 20/30, and your uncorrected vision in each eye must be at least 20/100. Bring your glasses or contacts to the exam.
- A hearing test. Hearing aids are not allowed during this test. You must be able to hear sounds no louder than 35 decibels, ranging from 500 hertz to 6000 hertz, with each ear.
- A blood pressure test. You must have a controlled blood pressure of no greater than 140/90, as well as a pulse of fewer than 100 beats per minute. For best results, do not eat or drink any products containing caffeine or other stimulants within 24 hours before the test.
- An electrocardiogram to test for any cardiac problems.
- A medical history assessment and general physical exam.
- Submit to a character pre-screening. The character pre-screening is conducted at the Medical Division. During this screening, you must submit proof that you have completed at least 45 college credits with a GPA of 2.0 or higher, or that you have done military service. You will also need to provide fingerprints and report any criminal history or character issues.[10]
- Meet with your Investigator to complete your character investigation. If you pass the character pre-screening, you must attend 1 or more interviews with an investigator to review your application. You must attend all scheduled appointments and bring any required materials to your interview(s).[11]
- Bring identification documents to your interview(s). When you attend meetings with your investigator, you will be required to bring a wide variety of documents relating to your identity and background. Make sure to bring the following identification documents:[12]
- An official copy of your birth certificate with a raised seal
- Records of name change, if applicable
- Naturalization papers, if you are a foreign-born citizen
- Certificates and records relating to your marital status, if applicable
- Your Social Security Card
- Your driver's license and motor vehicle registration for any vehicles owned by you or your spouse
- 2 proofs of residency (e.g., a copy of your lease and a utility bill)
- Selective Service Registration and Classification Cards
- Provide evidence of your education and work experience. In addition to ID documents, you will need to bring records of your education or time served in the armed forces, along with your employment history. Bring copies of the following to any interviews with your investigator:[13]
- Your high school diploma (or equivalent), transcripts from college, and diplomas from any completed college degree programs
- Original Discharge or Separation papers for military service, if applicable
- Your employment history for the past 10 years or since the age of 18
- Present any required financial documents. As part of your background investigation, you must provide evidence of your financial history. Bring these and any other required documents to any interview(s) with your investigator:[14]
- W-2 forms and tax returns for the past 5 years
- Records of disability benefits or workmen's compensation benefits
- Records of outstanding debts
- A Social Security Detailed Earnings Report
- Provide any other requested background information. Your investigator may also ask for other documents pertaining to your past and current activities and affiliations. You may need to present some or all of the following:[15]
- Membership cards from any unions and social or fraternal organizations to which you belong
- Records of any arrests or trials at which you were a defendant
- Any licenses you hold from a government agency (e.g., a pistol license or a liquor license)
- A DMV Lifetime Driver's Abstract from every state in which you have held a driver's license
- Take written and oral psychological exams. Both psychological exams will take place at the Medical Division. After you complete the written exam, you will meet with a psychologist and answer questions. Keep your answers during the interview open, honest, and clear.[16]
- There is no specific preparation you can do for a police psychology evaluation. The psychologists evaluating your written and oral responses are trying to get an idea of your honesty, general personality, and suitability for the stresses of police work.[17]
- You will be asked questions designed to evaluate various aspects of your personality, including emotional stability, social competence, adaptability, assertiveness, dependability, attention to safety, ethics and integrity, ability to tolerate stress, and decision-making skills.[18]
- Complete the Job Standard Test. The Job Standard Test will assess your ability to perform a variety of physical tasks in a short period of time (4 minutes and 28 seconds). The components of the Job Standard Test are the Barrier Surmount, the Stair Climb, the Physical Restraint Simulation, the Pursuit Run, the Victim Rescue, and the Trigger Pull. These tasks involve sprinting, climbing, resisting (simulated) physical force or restraint, running or jogging, dragging heavy weights over long distances, and operating a dummy weapon with your non-dominant hand. You will need to be in good physical shape to complete the test successfully. The NYPD suggests that candidates prepare by:[19]
- Eating a well-balanced diet in the days leading up to the exam and avoiding junk food, tranquilizers (such as alcohol), and stimulants (such as caffeine).
- Getting plenty of rest and avoiding any intense exercise 24 hours before the exam.
- Fasting for at least 1.5 hours before the exam.
- Wearing a T-shirt, sweat pants, sneakers, and batting gloves on the day of the exam.
- Appeal within 30 days, if you are disqualified. You can be disqualified from service with the NYPD if you fail your medical exam, psychological exam, or background check. Fortunately, you have the option of filing for an appeal with the Civil Service Commission. You must file your appeal in the form of a certified letter within 30 days of your disqualification.[20]
- A civil service attorney can help you through the appeal process, including writing your appeal letter and gathering supporting evidence for your appeal.
- If you failed your medical or psychological exam, you must see an independent medical or psychological professional (e.g., your own primary care doctor or a private psychological therapist) and have them write up their own report supporting your suitability for the job.
- You must submit any supporting medical/psychological documentation within 60 days of filing your appeal.
- If the Commission decides to consider your appeal, they may schedule a hearing. If you are working with an attorney, they should attend the hearing and present arguments on your behalf. If you were disqualified for medical reasons, bring your doctor.
EditAttaining the Detective Rank - Complete your Police Academy training. All new NYPD recruits must complete rigorous training with the NYPD Police Academy. Your training will consist of a variety of components, including both classroom and tactical instruction. You will also gain practical experience in the form of a 3-week field assignment part-way through your academy training course.[21]
- Gain work experience. In most cases, promotion to the status of detective is discretionary, meaning that there is no specific exam or procedure for becoming a detective. You may need to spend several years gaining practical experience as a police officer before your superior officers and/or the Police Commissioner decide you are ready to become a detective.[22]
- However, you are automatically eligible for promotion to the rank of 3rd Grade Detective (the lowest detective rank) after spending 18 months doing work that is considered investigative (e.g., serving as a plainclothes officer).
- Seek additional education. You may be able to increase your chances of becoming a detective if you gain additional training and education after becoming police officer. The NYPD offers a variety of educational opportunities to its employees, including a partnership with the CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice.[23] Talk to your commanding officer about how additional training could help you achieve detective status.
- Consider taking courses in crime scene investigation, forensic science, or any area of specialization that you are particularly interested in (e.g., homicide investigations, missing persons, or weapons trafficking).
- Develop an exemplary record on the job. In most cases, you must get a recommendation from a superior officer in order to be considered for promotion to detective rank. Do your best to distinguish yourself by performing outstanding work, taking time to develop your skills, and going above and beyond what is asked of you during the course of your regular duties.[24]
- For example, you might take a writing class to help hone your skills at drafting exceptionally thorough, well-written police reports.
- You might also catch your supervisor's attention by demonstrating exceptional risk assessment and problem-solving skills.[25]
- Demonstrate your suitability for the detective role by maintaining high personal and professional standards for honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior.
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| How to Motivate Yourself to Go to the Gym Posted: 16 Jan 2019 08:00 AM PST A gym membership is a great way to give yourself access to high-quality fitness equipment, classes, and trainers. However, many people who have gym memberships do not use them regularly. If you are trying to motivate yourself to go to the gym more often, there are several strategies you can try, such as rewarding yourself, connecting with people at your gym, and keeping your gym bag somewhere convenient. EditUsing Material Incentives to Stay Motivated - Purchase an audiobook that you commit to listen to only at the gym. Research has shown that only being able to listen to an audiobook while at the gym motivates people to go to the gym more often. Choose an audiobook that you are very interested in listening to so that this will actually motivate you.[1]
- If audiobooks aren't your thing, then try making a list of movies you want to watch and only allow yourself to watch them while you are working out, such as while walking on the treadmill or using the elliptical machine.
- You may also consider making a gym-only music playlist. Create a playlist of your favorite songs and commit to only listen to them during your gym workouts.
- Another alternative to audiobooks is to find a podcast that you will only listen to at the gym. Choose upbeat tracks to help make your workout more fun.
- Set up a reward system. Knowing that you have something that you are working towards may also help you to stay motivated to go to the gym. Take some time to establish rewards for going to the gym a certain number of times weekly and monthly.[2]
- For example, you could reward yourself with a new nail polish or movie rental for going to the gym 5 times in 1 week. You could also reward yourself with a pedicure or a trip to the movie theater for hitting the gym 20 times in a month.
- Choose rewards that will motivate you and commit to give them to yourself only if you meet your gym visit goals.
- Calculate the cost of not going to the gym. Gym memberships are not cheap, so not using your membership is a waste of money. If losing money motivates you, then take some time to calculate how much money you will be losing by not going to the gym or not going often enough.[3]
- For example, if your gym membership costs $60 per month, and you don't go for a week, then you will be wasting $15. If you only go to the gym 2 times in a month, then it is like you are paying $30 per visit.
- Pledge money that you will go to the gym or donate to charity. If the idea of losing a larger sum of money than you are spending on your gym membership sounds like it would motivate you, then try making a pledge that you will donate $100 dollars or more to charity if you don't go to the gym a certain number of times in a month.[4]
- For example, you could pledge to go to the gym 20 times in one month or donate $100 to your local animal shelter.
- Or, if you think you'd be motivated if the money went to a cause you do not support, then you could pledge to give the money to that cause if you don't meet your goal.
EditMaking Gym Visits a Positive Experience - Think about your biggest motivation to go to the gym. You may want to get fit to look better in your clothes, to feel more confident, or to improve your health, but these reasons may not be specific enough to motivate you. Instead of focusing on general reasons, try to come up with something very specific and personal to motivate you to go to the gym.[5]
- For example, if you have a child, then your motivation might be something like, "I need to go to the gym regularly to be a good example to my son." Or, you could go even further and say something like, "I want to walk my daughter down the aisle on her wedding day, so I am going to the gym today."
- You can also base your motivation on an upcoming special event. For example, you might say something like, "I want to look amazing at my 10 year high school reunion, so I need to go to the gym today."
- Set goals for yourself. Having a realistic fitness goal can be a great way to stay motivated to go to the gym regularly. Try setting a SMART goal that you can accomplish by going to the gym. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused, and time-based.[6]
- For example, your goal could be to reduce your 5k time by 2 minutes by the end of the next month. This is a specific goal that is measurable and achievable. It is also something that you will clearly know when you have accomplished it (results-focused) and it has a deadline, so it is also time-based.
- You could work toward this goal by running a 5k course on the treadmill at your gym 3 times per week.
- Participate in exercise routines and classes that you enjoy. Working out will always seem like an unpleasant chore if you force yourself to do activities that you do not enjoy. Instead, find an activity that you enjoy doing to help make visiting the gym something you look forward to.
- Try different classes at your gym, such as spinning, step aerobics, kickboxing, and high intensity interval training (HIIT). If you don't like one class, then take a different one. Showing up a little early for class can help you make friends and feel more invested in your workouts.
- Use different machines, such as the treadmill, step machine, stationary bike, and elliptical walker.
- If your gym has a circuit training station, try it out to see if you like it.
- Get to know the trainers and regulars at your gym. Taking some time to chat with the trainers and regulars at your gym is a good way to make going to the gym a more pleasant experience. It will also help to keep you accountable because if you stop showing up, people will notice. Try saying "hi" to the trainers and regulars you encounter each time you visit the gym. After a few visits, you might want to introduce yourself to the trainers and regulars.[7]
- For example, if you encounter a regular or trainer on your way into the gym, say something like, "Hi! My name is Chris. I don't really feel like being here today, but I am here! How are you doing today?"
- You may also consider getting an accountability buddy. This can be someone you meet at the gym or a friend who also needs help sticking to their gym visits. Send each other texts throughout the week each time you go to the gym, or plan to meet the person at the gym a few times each week.
EditSetting Yourself Up to Go to the Gym - Get some comfortable workout clothes. Feeling good about the way you look may be an end goal of regular gym visits for you, but having some workout clothes that you like wearing now may help you achieve this goal. If you have been hitting the gym in old or uncomfortable clothes, buy yourself a few new items to wear to the gym.
- For example, you could buy a new pair of leggings or shorts, a new workout t-shirt or tank top, and a comfortable new pair of running shoes.
- Go to bed early to ensure that you will have enough energy to work out. Feeling tired is a major reason why some people skip the gym. To avoid feeling too tired to work out, force yourself to go to bed a little earlier than you normally do.[8] Even getting an extra 30 minutes of sleep may make the difference between feeling run down and feeling energized when you head to the gym.
- For example, if you normally go to bed at 11:00pm, try going to bed at 10:00 or 10:30pm.
- Keep your gym bag packed and ready. Setting yourself up to head to the gym at a moment's notice may be good motivation. You will have less of an excuse to skip the gym if you are totally prepared to go. Pack your gym bag and stow it somewhere handy at all times.[9]
- For example, if you like to go to the gym after work, then keep your gym bag in the trunk of your car or in your office at work. Make sure it is stocked with your workout clothes and shoes, a water bottle, a towel, and a snack.
- If you want to hit the gym in the morning before you head to work, stow your gym bag right by your front door. Wear your gym clothes in the morning and stock your gym bag with a water bottle, toiletries, a towel, and a change of clothes for work.
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| How to Grow Duckweed Posted: 16 Jan 2019 12:00 AM PST Duckweed is an aquatic plant that is commonly found in lakes, forming what seems to be a green blanket over the water. Easily grown, it is a natural food for many animals and keeps mosquitoes from breeding on the water. If you would like to grow some for a science project, animal feed, or for fun, you can grow it indoors or outside in a pond. EditGrowing Duckweed Indoors - Buy some duckweed at a pet store or harvest it from a pond. You might be able to buy some duckweed from pet stores in your area. Otherwise, you can take it from a pond it's growing in. Fill your container with some water from the pond. Then scoop some duckweed from the pond with your hand and place the duckweed into your container.[1]
- Place the lid on the container to prevent splashing while you bring the duckweed home.
- Between 50-100 duckweed pods will be enough as they will grow and multiply quickly.
- Disinfect the duckweed with potassium permanganate. You'll need potassium permanganate to disinfect the duckweed. Mix one teaspoon of this chemical in of water. Place the duckweed into the permanganate solution for 30 seconds or so.[2]
- Potassium permanganate can be bought at your local pharmacy.
- Disinfecting the duckweed will make sure that it is free of pests and bacteria.
- Place the duckweed in a plastic tray with of depth. This will help you create a suitable environment for the duckweed to thrive in. Fill the tray with freshwater and add the duckweed to it. Use freshwater from a pond for best results but you can also use tap water.[3]
- You need to use freshwater as duckweeds are freshwater plants. This is why they only grow in ponds and not at sea. Salt water will kill the duckweed.
- Position the tray so it receives 10 hours of sunlight daily. The best place to put the tray is right next to a window that receives at least 10 hours of sunlight each day. Like many plants, duckweed will thrive in direct sunlight. If you see duckweed in a pond, notice how the pond is almost completely without any shade and receiving plenty of sunlight.[4]
- If you can't put duckweed near a window that receives 10 hours of sunlight, you can also use fluorescent light bulbs to help them grow. For best results, place the light bulbs above the tray. The duckweed won't grow under these light bulbs as well as it would with direct sunlight.
- Change the water in the tray after 1 week. Check the tray a couple of times a day and remove damaged duckweed from the tray. Replace the water in the tray with more freshwater.[5]
- It will take 10 days or so for the duckweed to multiply.
- Use a net to transfer the multiplied duckweed to your desired location. If transferring the duckweed to a pond in your garden, make sure that the pond is receiving plenty of sunlight. If you're moving the duckweed to an aquarium, make sure that the aquarium lid has a light source attached to it.[6]
- Duckweed requires no further care or maintenance once it's in your pond or aquarium.
- You can get a suitable net in your local garden store.
EditGrowing Duckweed Outside - Test to see if your pond's pH level is between 6.0 and 7.5. Duckweed grows best at between these 2 numbers. To find out the pH of the water in your pond, dip some litmus paper into the pond. Depending on how acidic or basic the water is, the paper will turn a color between red (highly acidic) and blue (very basic). If the paper is between a dark yellow and lime green in color, the pond water is suitable to use for your duckweed.[7]
- Buy some litmus paper at your local pharmacy.
- If the pH of your pond is too acidic, use baking soda at a rate of 1 teaspoon for every of water. Do this until the pH reaches the 6.0 to 7.5 range.[8]
- Create a pond if you don't have one. The best place to dig your pond is an area that isn't low in elevation, has no muddy soil, and doesn't flood from excessive rain. Create steep slopes around the pond. The pond should be at least deep.[9]
- Don't place the pond too close to trees or to other things that might cast a shadow over it. Duckweed needs plenty of sunlight to be able to grow.
- Using a waterproof plastic tarp or a pond liner, cover the pond's bottom surface area. Make sure there is at least a few feet extra of tarp extending around the ditch.
- Cover the tarp with soil. Raise an edge/water-run-off barrier around it. Try adding some stones around the edges.
- Fill your pond with freshwater if you built a pond. Duckweed will also grow in tap water once the pH is suitable. Fill your pond until the water reaches from the top of the pond. This will prevent flooding.[10]
- You might be able to buy large tanks of freshwater from your local garden store. If not, you can use tap water.
- Add a dechlorinator to your pond. You can buy a dechlorinating agent at your local pet store. Read the packaging to find out how much water the agent is designed to treat. Unscrew the lid of the agent and pour the desired amount into your pond. This will remove chlorine from your pond.[11]
- Duckweed grows best in dechlorinated ponds.
- Buy duckweed from a pet shop or harvest it from a pond. It's unlikely but you should check to see if your local pet store sells duckweed before you head to the local pond. If the pet stores don't have duckweed, find a pond with duckweed in it. Fill a container with freshwater from the pond and scoop the duckweed into the container.[12]
- 50-100 duckweed pods will be enough.
- You can also use plastic drinking bottles to collect the duckweed. Just make sure you've properly washed the bottle out beforehand.
- Disinfect the duckweed with potassium permanganate. You can buy this chemical from your local pharmacy. Mix one teaspoon of potassium permanganate in of water. Add the duckweed to this mixture and let it sit for 30 seconds. When the 30 seconds are up, remove the duckweed from the mixture and add it back to your container of freshwater.[13]
- Add the duckweed to your pond. Take the containers to the pond and place the duckweed into your pond. After 10 days or so, you should be able to notice the duckweed multiplying.[14]
- If you're putting other plants in your pond, pick plants that don't require plenty of sunlight. The duckweed will block most of the light from entering the pool.
- Duckweed requires no further care or maintenance once it's in your pond or aquarium.
- Duckweed likes still water, so there's no need for a fancy aeration system.[15]
- Some fish enjoy eating duckweed, and it can be a great nutrition source for ducks and chickens. It can also be used in freshwater aquariums to absorb nitrates.
- If you already have an established pond, you can add a pound or so of duckweed to it. This is a treat for fish or other animals that will eat it!
- Some cities do not allow people to have natural ponds over a certain size in a certain location. Check with your local regulations.
- In most places, duckweed is viewed as a weed, good for a private pond. Do not release it into any sewer, lake, or river.
- In aquariums, especially if it's warm (over ), it will grow very quickly![16]
EditThings You'll Need EditGrowing Duckweed Indoors - Duckweed
- Containers for transporting the duckweed
- Potassium permanganate
- A plastic tray with of depth
- Direct sunlight or fluorescent bulbs
- Freshwater
- A net
EditGrowing Duckweed Outside - Litmus paper
- Freshwater or tap water
- A dechlorinating agent
- A Shovel
- Plastic tarp
- Potassium permanganate
- Duckweed
- Dechlorinated water
- Containers
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