r/regretjoining • u/Upper-Tumbleweed894 • 10d ago
Exposing chicago police academy..
Hello everyone I want to share something it's been on my chest for a while... and it's time for me to let go ...
I NEVER THOUGHT SERVING MY COUNTRY WOULD COST ME THE CHANCE TO SERVE MY CITY.
I’m sharing my experience at the Chicago Police Academy because I believe people should know what happened to me and I want to hear from anyone who has experienced something similar.
I entered the Chicago Police Department academy in 2024 because I wanted to serve my city. I worked through the academy, completed the required training, and believed I was moving forward toward becoming a Chicago police officer.
Then I received military orders and had to leave for military service overseas. I notified CPD and provided documentation concerning my military obligations. My understanding was that when I returned, I would continue the process and eventually take the Illinois state certification exam.
When I returned, however, things changed.
Instead of simply continuing the process, I was placed into another academy class and was required to go through additional training/testing. I believe I was treated differently from other recruits after returning from military service.
I also experienced what I believe was unfair and inappropriate treatment from academy personnel. One statement that has stayed with me was an officer telling me words to the effect of:
“Go back to the Navy where you came from.”
I documented what happened, and I have paperwork and other evidence that I believe supports my account.
What makes this even more difficult for me is what I observed regarding another recruit.
I am aware of a recruit who, according to my understanding, was caught with illegal drugs while in the academy. Despite that situation, my understanding is that the department continued to support that recruit through additional training before ultimately taking separate action against him.
Meanwhile, I was a Navy Reserve service member who had left the academy because I had military obligations and returned wanting to continue serving both my country and my city. After I returned, I believe I was subjected to increased scrutiny and ultimately denied the opportunity I had expected to have.
I am not saying this other recruit should or should not have been given another opportunity. That's not my point.
My question is:
Why did I receive the treatment I received after returning from military service?
If CPD had legitimate performance concerns about me, I believe they should be able to explain why those concerns resulted in the treatment I received, why I was treated differently after returning from military service, and why I was not allowed to continue on the path I understood I was supposed to be on.
I am not asking Reddit to automatically believe me. I am asking people to look at the timeline and the evidence.
I have documentation, military orders, academy paperwork, communications, and other material relating to what happened.
I have also pursued the appropriate complaint channels rather than simply making accusations online.
I'm sharing this because I don't want another reservist or service member to go through something similar without knowing their rights.
If you have experience with the Chicago Police Academy, CPD, USERRA, military-service discrimination, or a similar situation, I would genuinely like to hear from you.
I wanted to serve my country and then serve my city. I still believe I deserved a fair opportunity to do both. I hope I can get understand and I will woth time to reveal more details on the academy
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u/Semper_Right 9d ago
MOD of r/ESGR_USERRA_Answers here.
When you state that you "pursued the appropriate complaint channels" does that include ESGR.mil or DOL-VETS? If not, you should contact them.
As for your USERRA rights, I assume you were an employee of the City of Chicago as you go through the academy. If so, you are leaving a position of employment so your reemployment rights are protected if you meet the eligibility requirements under 38 USC 4312. Under 38 USC 4313, you must be placed in the escalator position (or a position of like "pay, seniority and status" if your service was longer than 90 days) once you are reemployed. See, 20 CFR 1002.191-.197. There is a special process for probationary/apprenticeship positions, which may apply, that allows the employer to place you where you left off when you are reemployed and once you complete the program all of your pay, seniority and status should be retroactive to when you should have completed it. 70 Fed.Reg. 75,272. Typically under USERRA, a returning service member cannot be required to go through "new hire" procedures, unless it involves qualifying for the escalator position (such as renewing licenses or certifications).
You should contact DOL-VETS and get their opinion on whether you are protected by USERRA as an academy student (you should be if you are an employee) and what your reemployment position should be upon your return. They provide technical/compliance assistance to guide service members and their employers, or you can simply file a complaint with them.
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10d ago
[deleted]
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u/Upper-Tumbleweed894 10d ago
Me nothing i have 0 spars in my record this hapoend after I came back from military training
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u/Upper-Tumbleweed894 10d ago
I have ppl and witnesses etc and I have trying to contact lawyers under iserra and no luck no one wants to deal with my case I have a lot of documentation even foia request , etc
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u/Upper-Tumbleweed894 10d ago
A lot of thr Academy staff wanted me out
This person got more support than me his name is Alfredo Saldana I even have his incident report how CPD usually writes their report
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u/Pretty-Palpitation22 9d ago
Do you regret joining?
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u/Upper-Tumbleweed894 9d ago
Yes I wish I can expose this to media of the kind of corruption that goes inside of the academy... i have documentation
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u/dsmGERG1973 9d ago
so your CoC is aware of your CPD difficulties, right? I am surprised you haven't found a lawyer yet to try and help your case?
oh...could you edit that very last sentence of your original post? (everything else was very well written!)
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u/Upper-Tumbleweed894 8d ago
If my post gets more than 50k views i will reveal names and more events
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u/Upper-Tumbleweed894 10d ago
Because im the first of its kind and my CPD class kept it Solange that's fine to be skeptical.. but as a military member I would have no reason to lie about a experience and I have dont gov jobs previously with law enforcement
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u/jbourne71 10d ago
Having grown up in Chicago and known a shitton of Chicago cops, including working and training with them in various capacities, I am skeptical that this is the entire story. I’m not accusing you of lying, just saying this does not track with my own experience.