6.8.10

Hey All,

First, I would like to say that we are aware that most of you reside many, many miles away and we don't expect you to travel that great of a distance for this event. That being said I will be recording, taking pictures and sending a final email that will cover the activities of the last week of the Academy as well as the Graduation. We have both felt your support since day one and sincerely appreciate it.

Our cadet came home with new Graduation info on Friday. He will still only get 8 tickets to be present at the actual ceremony, but he can invite more people to the Academy grounds so that they can watch the badge pinning - which will be outside and is supposed to be very poignant, and you will be able to watch the driving demo which is supposed to be so awesome! So we extend the invitation to come to the Academy and see where Ryan has spent his last 6 months. As far as we have been informed they have not specified the number of guests that are allowed on the grounds, so we invite everyone and will retract that if necessary. (Sorry)

Please let me know if you are interested in attending the Academy so that I can get a head count.

Here is the general schedule for that day:

These times have been approximated by me with the info I have received.

Friday, July 9th

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Graduation Ceremony

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM Badge Pinning Ceremony in the Quad

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM Lunch Break (off campus)

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Driving Demo.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Tour Academy?/ Leave Academy

4:30 PM - ... Party in Folsom

Hey, so, can you see it? It's tiny, I know, it just became visible to me and is still barely visible to our cadet. Week 22 gives way to a pin-holed-sized bit of light at the nearing end of the tunnel. Even though Ryan only has 4.5 weeks left they continue to keep the pressure on. Last week they had an ex-parolee as a speaker. He came to share his knowledge of gang life and his "Academy and education" of growing up on the streets. It was eye opening for our cadets to hear his experiences. They also had a full day of gang training including graphic videos that would make anybodys stomach turn. Saturday brought a tear to our cadets eye as he went through riot training and tear gas exposure. They learned how to extract a fellow officer from a riot crowd and learned to stay up wind anytime tear gas is in the air. Ryan utilized his swimmers lungs and held his breath through out most of the tear gas exposure, so he didn't get a full whiff of it until the next class went and he was down wind. He did say that the gas stung their skin through their clothes and were advised not to wear deodorant as the gas would attach to it and sting even worse. Some passed out, most coughed, but all recovered in a short amount of time.

Ryan continues to find out that more and more Officers at the Academy refer to him as "Gotti" I think that nickname may follow him through out his career. A rare occurence this weekend was the bringing home of another cadet. I will call him cadet stray. It was fun to have another cadet's perspective on Academy life. This particular cadet knows all and sees all. Hey did not reveal a lot,but did allude to a lot of drama and goings on amongst the cadets. Our own "cadet head-down and working" was unaware of almost all of these things - which is good. I was starting to think that this place was almost immune to human nature, that it is just so difficult to make it day to day that people are not themselves. Well, atleast that's what pig pens roommate wishes. Yes, there is a cadet that shares a likeness with pig-pen, with one small modern aide...Febreeze. Cadet pig-pen feels that Febreeze is multi-faceted...air,hair and clothes! His roommates take the opportunity to Febreeze this cadet and his locker while he sleeps-I know right??!! Ryan's OCD roommate isnt looking so bad these days, atleast he shower and washes his clothes.

Maybe we should pitch this place for a reality show or actuality show?? I know I would tune in.

Stay tuned for next weeks dramatic update from THE ACADEMY!!

Love,

Amy

ps I will send the evite for the party later this week.