Class 12-15 Week #4

Week #4: Officer Survival, use of force and defensive tactics.

Shaun Cahill from the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office gave the class an overview of operations at the County jail in preparation for the jail tour on April 14th; no personal firearms allowed!! Sergeant Bruce Lawrence, who is a Defensive Tactics Instructor, described the use of pepper spray and the Taser as defensive weapons that police officers can use. He also discussed "command presence," the air of authority that officers should be able to project, and something that Bruce has in abundance. He also told the class that he'd rather be Tasered than pepper sprayed any day. The two students who went on ride-alongs this week both witnessed traffic stops, one of which resulted in an arrest. They took copious notes of their experiences and thought the experience was terrific.
SCPAA Editor, Donna Leiss

Photos courtesy of Pauline Fortin and John Leiss.