The group now consist of 38 males and a single female, all of whom have proven their worth and shown their commitment to becoming a member of the police force.

The FCPA is an extended format program, an alternative to a full-time basic academy and takes place over the course of 38 weeks.

The primary purpose of the academy is to prepare the men and women for police service, putting them through preparatory training that equips them with the necessary professional skills required for a career in law enforcement.

There are no prerequisites to joining the FCPA but a 90 question multiple choice exam is required before admittance into the academy along with a physical qualification exam.

Out of 42 learning domains a handful of the material the cadets are taught consist of the laws of arrest, the procedures of search and seizure, controlled substances, reasonable suspicion and patrol techniques.

The recruits are also taught how to handle domestic violence calls, crimes in progress, self-defense, weaponless defense, when to apply force and when talking is a better alternative.

They also have to endure 40 academic tests, 18 scenario tests, 25 written tests, exercise tests and five report writing exams.

With roughly $7000 worth of fees and 1,100 hours of training this may not be for everyone.

So why would someone put themselves through such a large and demanding amount of work?

“The main reason that I hear is the fact that they’ve always wanted to be police officers since they were little kids,” said Cynthia Sands, office manager. “They are the little kids that played cops and robbers and always wanted to be in law enforcement.”

Another common reason for wanting to be a member of the police force is that it is a family tradition. Sometimes being a member of law enforcement simply runs in one’s blood.

Sometimes there’s also the fact that a devastating occurrence changes a person. It can make them want to make a difference in the world and right all the wrongs that they’ve witnessed.

“You have to be a certain kind of person to be able to understand the kind of life that a career in law enforcement brings, and it isn’t something that just anybody can walk into. There’s going to be a huge part of the population that’s going to hate you and you have to be able to set that aside, not take it personal, and understand that there is a job to be done and protection involved,” Sands said.

The FCPA meets on a weekly basis on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-11 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They also meet Fridays from 6-11 p.m. for scenarios on a case-by-case basis.

The 44th class is set to start on August 25 of this year. The three entrance exams will take place on June 7, 14 and 21. The last entrance exam is the final day to qualify for admission for the 2014-2015 year.

On the weekend of June 28 those who have passed all three entrance exams come together as class 44.

Completion of the academy results in a certificate from the Police Officers Standards in Training, commonly referred to as POST. Upon receiving the certificate, recruits can be hired by departments from all over California.

They also receive 52 college units.

The FCPA’s programs used to consist of two academies overlapping year-round, recent school budget cuts have resulted in the program being cut to one per year.

The 44th class is set to start on August 25 of this year. The three entrance exams will take place on June 7, 14 and 21. The last entrance exam is the final day to qualify for admission for the 2014-2015 year.

On the weekend of June 28 those who have passed all three entrance exams come together as the official class 44.