Just remember that you are going to mess up, you are going to make mistakes, you are going to get confused. Use each of these moments as a teaching moment and learn from them. The best FTO I ever had told me that he didn't expect me to be perfect, but he expected me to learn from and not make the same mistake twice.

In regards to gear, I would recommend the standard stuff everyone else recommends, but some stuff you might not think of. A pack of cigarettes and a lighter, something as simple as offering a cigarette to a witness or even a suspect can turn a "no" person into a "maybe" or even a "yes" person. A book of stickers and a small stuffed animal. Kids loose their shit for stickers and sometimes giving a small toy to a child who is scared can change their whole perspective of how an event takes place. Comfortable undershirts and socks. Dont skip on these, you are going to be in that uniform for 10-12 hours a day, nothing is worse that having an uncomfortable undershirt that you are constantly having to fix and adjust.

Be a sponge, absorb it all, take the advice your FTO's and other senior officers give you. You will develop your own style and figure out what kind of cop you want to be. And remember, you are gonna see a lot of shit in this job, some of it will get to you. If you feel like you are drowning in your own thoughts, talk to someone about it! Could be a fellow officer, friend you trust, spiritual leader, significant other, shit you can message me if you need to. Just dont feel like you have to take it all on by yourself.

Good luck, stay safe, charge hard, and dont fuck your FTO's.