931st Airman in Wichita 'police academy'

Published Nov. 16, 2011
By Brannen Parrish
931st ARG Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- From the time a child is old enough to express himself verbally, adults begin to ask the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Senior Airman Bronsha Smith always knew the answer to the question - a police officer.

As a five-year old growing up in Malakoff, Texas, one of his favorite activities included coming home from school to watch the show, "CHiPs".

"I had a routine," said Smith, Combined Arms Training and Maintenance instructor, 931st Security Forces Squadron. "I used to come home from school, eat a bowl of cereal and watch 'ChiPs'. I never really wanted to ride a motorcycle, but I liked that show and I wanted to be a police officer."

Smith began training to become a Wichita Police Officer six weeks ago. He will spend 23 weeks at the Wichita Law Enforcement Training Center.

Graduates spend an additional 12 weeks in field training, and one year in a probationary status.

"To be in the WPD, you are pretty much hand-picked," said Smith. "If they don't see the values or the good morals you have through the hiring process, you probably aren't going to get selected."

According to Lt. Dennis Wilson, Recruitment and Pre-employment officer for the Wichita Police Department's Training Bureau, applicants are screened to ensure they meet the department's high standards. They encounter an extensive application and selection process that includes an aptitude test and a 55-page questionnaire about the individual's background, and numerous panel and board interviews. A candidate may spend six to eight months in the pre-employment phase.

"We're going to go over that booklet with you one question at a time to make sure we're not missing anything and to ensure you're not forgetting to tell us something," said Wilson. "We look at the answers they give us and if there are any red flags, we go over those. We want someone who is going to be honest, who has a high degree of integrity, someone who is going to be able to think on their own, someone who is a critical thinker."

For Smith, who has developed a deep appreciation for the Wichita community, the opportunity to be a Wichita police officer was worth the wait.

"I've always wanted to work in law enforcement. I was going to be around this area and I decided Wichita was going to be my home," said Smith, who spent more than five years on active duty as a security forces specialist. "There are a lot of things to do here. Everything that I want to be able to do is here. It's a very diverse city and it is right in the middle of the United States, so you are pretty much half way to anywhere."

According to Lt. Don Phelps, Academy Instructor for the Wichita Law Enforcement Training Center, graduates of the program complete more than 900 hours of police training. The state mandates 542 hours of training, and the City of Wichita requires an additional 400 plus hours.

"It's a very grueling process to get here and there's no slack. We make it clear, if you are a liar or lazy or late, we are going to get rid of you," said Phelps. "We want them to think fast, logical and clearly. We only want the best for the city and the best for the police department. Goal is to get the best of the best that apply."

While military service does not guarantee employment, or even entrance into the program, Wilson said applicants with honorable military service often make desirable candidates.

"The fact that the military will instill discipline, training and accountability during their tenure helps," said Phelps. "We stress accountability. If you make a mistake, you own up to it."

Smith credits his mother for instilling a sense of responsibility and leadership into his upbringing.

"My mom was pretty stern and strict. My mom wasn't military but she was very structured and taught me structure," said Smith. "She taught us to do our best and to try to help others, and that's one thing I like about the Wichita Police Department is that they focus on really helping out the community."