Are you talking about the full-time academy or part time academy? The part time academy will let you in, you do need to be "sponsored" by a department chief. However, you do not need to be guaranteed employment by that department. At least that is what I've heard, I'm not too sure about the full time academy, but I think you either have to be already employed as a part-time officer or you need to be sent there by a department and guaranteed a job upon successful completion of the academy. Not too sure if all this is correct, just what I've heard. Good Luck.