An inside look at the training academy of the largest sheriff's department in the nation.

It's half way through the first week of the academy and Class 355 is about to learn that Los Angeles is one of the most dangerous counties in the country as they get their first introduction to defensive tactics.

It's week two and Recruit Class 355 is already showing signs of weakness.

It's week three as one recruit defies direct orders and goes to Mexico over a weekend, which resulted in a physical altercation with a local gang.

Drama at the academy is at an all time hight as two recruits have a heated dispute at the shooting range.

The recruits are sent to vehicles training where they learn to do quick driving maneuvers, skids and high speed pursuit chases.

Love is in the air at the academy as two recruits are discovered to have had an ongoing romance while another takes a weekend off from studying to get married.

Some of the recruits of Class 36 struggle as they try and master some of the most basic fire skills. After being out for three weeks with injury, recruits Lefebvre and Bennett struggle to catch up to the rest of the class.

Class 355 starts to pull together as a group as graduation day approaches.

Class 355 has been waiting 18-weeks for this day, but one recruit learns he will not be graduating. This day is a poignant yet emotional time for the recruits as they start to see the significance of the badge they will wear.