I cant speak for the academy were you are but for me it was realy no a problem. The p.t. was nothing, the homework was the worst, not because it was hard, it was just a lot and the books that had to be caried everywere were very heavy.
As far as dealing with the street most people go through differant stages, that change with the time you have and the amount you are exposed to.
Were I am the pay is o.k. could be better compaired to other law enforcement in the area. The benefits are good it's nice to have health care, and a pension after 20 years.
My time on the job started with walking a foot post in the p.j.'s 1 cop for 57 bldg's. I had a very good time doing that. I then went to a team that did nothing but drug arrest, that was alot of work and alot of fun.
I then moved into undercover work for four years that was by far the most fun I had in my job. You get to be another person, and get into alot of very dangeros spots alot of fights, but its all great fun.
I then went to a detective sqd for 3 years and that is were I got burnt out.
The case load was out of control and I got tierd of dealing with dead people and the familys who dont want to help you find out who killed their family members.
Now I have a nice inside job, no stress, no case's, steady hours with steady days off.
In time like now with the economy going down the tolet any civil service job is the way to go.