![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Stop in the name of the Doug
Apr. 7th, 2018 05:04 pmThat was exciting, stressful, educational, and fun as hell. Today was CPA Saturday, our full day of training as part of the Citizens Police Academy. I had been both anticipating and dreading this part of the course, as it was going to be as real as it gets. We would be doing things like traffic stop scenarios and spending time on the Santa Clara Police Department's subterranean firing range.
Set up for this day began at our regular meeting on Wednesday. We had been fitted for ballistic vests and belts. Part of the deal was we had to be equipped, as much as possible, like real officers. We then got some very basic instruction on how to do a traffic stop. As the officers giving that block pointed out, we were getting one hour of training as opposed to police cadets who spend weeks doing traffic stop training. They were not expecting our group of amateurs to perform flawlessly. I think they were going to be happy if we avoided crashing their cars.
Training took place at the combined police and fire training space and corporate yard. For the locals, it is behind and around the fire station at Walsh and Scott. To manage things better, we were split into two groups. My group did traffic stops first. We got a quick explanation of how to work the lights and siren, radio procedures, and how to use the PA system. Then we were split into units, two teams of two officers on Ford Crown Victorias, one team in the newer SUV, and one team sitting out. We rotated after each scenario so everyone had a chance to work every position.
The scenarios themselves were stressful. I now understand why police officers tend to retire of stress-related disability. We quickly learned that anything can be in that car. We would get dispatched, pull the car over, report our location and the vehicle plates to dispatch, contact the driver, and go from there.
Everyone remembered to put the patrol vehicle in park. We can claim that, at least. Other than that, every scenario had issues. I kept positioning myself incorrectly, for example, when I was acting as the cover officer or as a supporting officer. "Officers" taking far too long to exit the vehicle and approach the suspects, or not reacting when suspects got out of the car and approached them. I ended up in a shootout at less than three feet when the occupants of a car we stopped turned out to be packing. I was commended for my monitoring of the whole situation, my direct commands, and the speed with which I reacted to seeing a gun.
After finishing our time doing traffic stops, we retired to the training room at the Santa Clara Fire Department's training facility for lunch. I was amazed at how hungry I was, it had been a very long time since I was both physically active and mentally stressed at the same time. Luckily, we had amazing burgers provided.
After finishing lunch, and last second bathroom runs, our group went to do our range time. The actual range is a simple bare room where you can fire at static targets from as far as 25 meters away. It's being renovated currently, so it was a bit of a mess, but still functional. While we were shooting from a basic standing position, there were plenty of scenario pieces; wooden constructions meant to simulate windows, doors, etc. Dom, the range master, explained that the range can be set for almost any training scenario, including lighting and ambient sound. All the CPA shooter fired from the 5-7 meter lines
We fired five weapons, four of which are department issue. We started with a Smith & Wesson Model 642 .38 Special +P Revolver. This was to give the non-shooters a base for understanding how to fire, and so they could compare with the other weapons. We each got to fire six rounds. I found the trigger pull to be really heavy and frankly sucked with this weapon.
Next up was the 9mm Glock 34. This is the standard issue pistol for Santa Clara officers. Dom helped me unlearn a bad habit in my grip, and complimented me on my grouping. We each fired nine rounds through this weapon.
Then came the big fun. a Heckler&Kock UMP45, a beautiful .45 caliber submachine gun. Made mostly of polymers, it is amazingly light. The model we were firing had both a single shot and 2-round burst mode. We each got a 15 round magazine and fired in both modes. Amazingly controllable.
Next, another pistol. The Glock 21, a .45ACP-firing large frame weapon. This is an option for officers who prefer a heavier caliber. Honestly, I preferred this pistol to the 9mm. I know it sounds odd, but I felt I had better control of the larger frame. Also, .45ACP means anyone I hit is going to lie down for some quiet time.
Finally, we fired the M-4. 5.56mm, this was like old home week for me. Another light weapon, easy to maneuver and fire. We didn't know it, but Dom ran a drill on us. Saying that we were almost out of time, he had us running up to and from the firing line and was pressuring us to put rounds on target with the M-4. This is what they do to officers in training. If you're called to an active shooting, you are going to be running from your car to the scene, not casually walking, and you may be making shots under stress.
After all this, we were rewarded with donuts. At that point, I needed the sugar. I was drained. The next big step for our class is ride-longs. Those start next week, and my slot is on Tuesday the 17th. I am so glad I signed up for this experience.
One funny thing. I mentioned to Kirsten the other day that this was going to be a stressful day and that I might declare it "pizza and a real beer day." At the end of the day, our CPA coordinator suggested that tonight would be a good night to order a pizza and enjoy an adult beverage. My pizza and beer are police approved!
Set up for this day began at our regular meeting on Wednesday. We had been fitted for ballistic vests and belts. Part of the deal was we had to be equipped, as much as possible, like real officers. We then got some very basic instruction on how to do a traffic stop. As the officers giving that block pointed out, we were getting one hour of training as opposed to police cadets who spend weeks doing traffic stop training. They were not expecting our group of amateurs to perform flawlessly. I think they were going to be happy if we avoided crashing their cars.
Training took place at the combined police and fire training space and corporate yard. For the locals, it is behind and around the fire station at Walsh and Scott. To manage things better, we were split into two groups. My group did traffic stops first. We got a quick explanation of how to work the lights and siren, radio procedures, and how to use the PA system. Then we were split into units, two teams of two officers on Ford Crown Victorias, one team in the newer SUV, and one team sitting out. We rotated after each scenario so everyone had a chance to work every position.
The scenarios themselves were stressful. I now understand why police officers tend to retire of stress-related disability. We quickly learned that anything can be in that car. We would get dispatched, pull the car over, report our location and the vehicle plates to dispatch, contact the driver, and go from there.
Everyone remembered to put the patrol vehicle in park. We can claim that, at least. Other than that, every scenario had issues. I kept positioning myself incorrectly, for example, when I was acting as the cover officer or as a supporting officer. "Officers" taking far too long to exit the vehicle and approach the suspects, or not reacting when suspects got out of the car and approached them. I ended up in a shootout at less than three feet when the occupants of a car we stopped turned out to be packing. I was commended for my monitoring of the whole situation, my direct commands, and the speed with which I reacted to seeing a gun.
After finishing our time doing traffic stops, we retired to the training room at the Santa Clara Fire Department's training facility for lunch. I was amazed at how hungry I was, it had been a very long time since I was both physically active and mentally stressed at the same time. Luckily, we had amazing burgers provided.
After finishing lunch, and last second bathroom runs, our group went to do our range time. The actual range is a simple bare room where you can fire at static targets from as far as 25 meters away. It's being renovated currently, so it was a bit of a mess, but still functional. While we were shooting from a basic standing position, there were plenty of scenario pieces; wooden constructions meant to simulate windows, doors, etc. Dom, the range master, explained that the range can be set for almost any training scenario, including lighting and ambient sound. All the CPA shooter fired from the 5-7 meter lines
We fired five weapons, four of which are department issue. We started with a Smith & Wesson Model 642 .38 Special +P Revolver. This was to give the non-shooters a base for understanding how to fire, and so they could compare with the other weapons. We each got to fire six rounds. I found the trigger pull to be really heavy and frankly sucked with this weapon.
Next up was the 9mm Glock 34. This is the standard issue pistol for Santa Clara officers. Dom helped me unlearn a bad habit in my grip, and complimented me on my grouping. We each fired nine rounds through this weapon.
Then came the big fun. a Heckler&Kock UMP45, a beautiful .45 caliber submachine gun. Made mostly of polymers, it is amazingly light. The model we were firing had both a single shot and 2-round burst mode. We each got a 15 round magazine and fired in both modes. Amazingly controllable.
Next, another pistol. The Glock 21, a .45ACP-firing large frame weapon. This is an option for officers who prefer a heavier caliber. Honestly, I preferred this pistol to the 9mm. I know it sounds odd, but I felt I had better control of the larger frame. Also, .45ACP means anyone I hit is going to lie down for some quiet time.
Finally, we fired the M-4. 5.56mm, this was like old home week for me. Another light weapon, easy to maneuver and fire. We didn't know it, but Dom ran a drill on us. Saying that we were almost out of time, he had us running up to and from the firing line and was pressuring us to put rounds on target with the M-4. This is what they do to officers in training. If you're called to an active shooting, you are going to be running from your car to the scene, not casually walking, and you may be making shots under stress.
After all this, we were rewarded with donuts. At that point, I needed the sugar. I was drained. The next big step for our class is ride-longs. Those start next week, and my slot is on Tuesday the 17th. I am so glad I signed up for this experience.
One funny thing. I mentioned to Kirsten the other day that this was going to be a stressful day and that I might declare it "pizza and a real beer day." At the end of the day, our CPA coordinator suggested that tonight would be a good night to order a pizza and enjoy an adult beverage. My pizza and beer are police approved!
