Class 14-17 Week #4

Class #3: Introduction to Criminal LawWeek #4 of the Citizens Police Academy focused on the use of force—when to use it, how much to use, and what to use. So much of what a police officer does on a daily basis comes down to knowledge and experience. Contrary to how they are depicted on TV and frequently in the media, police officers are not pot-bellied, coffee-swilling, donut-chomping, knuckle-dragging Neanderthals. They are highly trained, well-educated, experienced individuals who frequently are called upon to make split-second decisions when confronted with situations that could originally be perceived as benign but that could quickly turn volatile. How the officer responds can depend on many different factors: the nature of the offense, the severity of the crime, risk to both the officer and to the public, and the availability of response alternatives, among other factors. The officer has to be prepared to escalate his/her response and then de-escalate the response if warranted. Sgt. Lawrence’s comment: “You don’t have to go to every fight you’re invited to.”

He defined the use of force as including “command presence,” weaponless techniques, physical skills, and the use of authorized weapons and restraints. He commented that many students in the formal police academy have never been in a fist fight in which they have had to defend themselves; students aren’t provided with much actual defensive training, which is part of the reason why Sgt. Lawrence is so adamant about Sandwich officers being given intensive training in defensive tactics. (In a question to the citizens class about how many of them had been in an actual fist fight, only 2 students raised their hands.)
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He then demonstrated all of the equipment on his “tool” belt—taser, which delivers 52K volts of electricity; his radio; his flashlight (which can be used as a defensive weapon in a pinch); 2 sets of handcuffs; his firearm; extra magazines; and pepper spray. He commented that he would prefer to be tased 3 times instead of being blasted with pepper spray. He also passed around his Kevlar vest, which he wears every day that he is on duty.

Ride-along assignments will begin next week; sometimes nothing happens on a shift, and sometimes LOTS of things happen.
Trip reports are always eagerly anticipated.

May 9th will be the tour of the Barnstable County Jail (it’s a Tuesday).

Next week’s class: Joint Operations - to be held at Sandwich High School

                                                                                                                                                                                     Contributing Editor, Donna Leiss

Photos courtesy of Pauline Fortin and Bob Nichols