PREP stands for Police Recruit Entry Program. It's a unique, structured, and hands-on experience designed to prepare future officers for the challenges of the police academy and beyond. Got me physically ready because you start off in the morning by getting some exercise and some routines in of what to expect in the academy. Each pre-recruit has successfully completed and passed the physical testing and background process. The pre-recruit will be hired by the Mesa Police Department as a full-time employee and will participate in prep until the start of the academy held 4 days a week. PREP is a physically and mentally engaging program that helps develop the discipline, knowledge, and resilience required for a successful law enforcement career. We're doing quite a bit with conditioning and physical fitness and we're adding a lot of cognitive elements into that. They have to be able to make decisions on the fly when they get in scenarios at the academy and even when they get to patrol. So really making sure we add in all the strength and conditioning, but we do it with a thoughtful mindset because they have to be able to think when they get on the street. Physical conditioning is a major focus. Recruits train in running, strength and conditioning, and receive expert instruction on mobility and injury prevention. I definitely like preparing me for the type of workouts that I was going to deal with in the academy. But it's not just about physical strength. In the classroom, recruits learn the foundations of criminal law, stress management, report writing, communication skills, and emotional intelligence. introducing me to the mindset that is needed as an officer, but also the mindset that's needed as a recruit in the academy, which is to never give up uh and to keep pushing when everything when things are challenging. Prep also offers practical on the job experience. Pre-recruits are exposed to different units across the department where they gain insight into real world policing. Self-defense and tactical confidence are built through police jiu-jitsu training taught by experienced professionals. I think the biggest thing that helped me get through it was just the relationships and connections that you build. Can't make it through the academy alone and establishing those friendships in the prep program allowed me to work with them to also get through the academy. The program fosters camaraderie and team building, creating a strong support system through a structured mentorship program. I worked with the CIU detectives, uh, specifically the domestic violence detectives, and they gave me projects that, um, I did not expect that I was going to be able to do before actually becoming a sworn officer. The Mesa Police Department's prep program isn't just training, it's transformation. It's where character is built, leaders are made, and futures begin. [Music]