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Week 7 built upon a foundation of team-based learning. The week was packed full of lectures and scenarios.
From Monday morning to Friday evening, we were working together, actively learning arrests and search procedures. Throughout the week, we learned how subject identification and control are key factors in traffic stops. Without attention to detail, failure is inevitable. Everything we learned this week was based on timing and precision.
We kicked off physical training for the week with our first off-campus cadence run. For me, this drove home the idea of teamwork. With a patrol truck pacing us, we ran in the dark with blue and red strobes to light the way.
Photo caption: Recruits drive patrol trucks with activated emergency lights and siren to practice vehicle stops.
On Monday we learned the ins and outs of warrantless search laws. Later in the day, I was pleasantly surprised when we did a scene in which we got to drive a patrol truck. For the first time in the academy, we had the privilege of driving a patrol truck and activating the lights and sirens.
Tuesday, we were introduced to weightlifting rather than cardio. Weightlifting is one of my favorite hobbies, so I was excited to be able to incorporate that into our daily routine. Conservation officers need to maintain a healthy amount of muscle for the physically demanding career they have.
Tuesday afternoon we performed a felony traffic stop scenario. For many of us, this was an adrenaline rush. Timing and effectiveness are key in safely executing these potentially dangerous stops.
Photo caption: Recruits tread water and take turns swimming down and touching the bottom of the tank.
Wednesday was bittersweet. We kicked off the day with physical training in the tank. I did not like being in the tank the first week of the academy, but I have learned to make the most of it. After our two weeks of water safety, my confidence in the water has significantly grown. It is amazing how much that mind over matter is a game-changer in this academy. I have previously caught myself panicking in the water, but now I feel much more competent when presented with a difficult water task.
Photo caption: A recruit stands behind a patrol truck and shouts verbal commands to a vehicle operator who is reported to have committed a serious crime and suspected to be in possession of a firearm.
This week we also learned how to write search warrants, and how to prepare those warrants for court. After a thorough day of classes, we were awakened in the middle of the night by a complaint scenario. With little information, we were tasked with responding to a call in a timely but effective manner.
On Wednesday, we received a well-deserved break. We were instructed to start wearing our Danner boots (a boot designed for hunting, hiking, military and law enforcement) rather than our dress shoes.
Photo caption: An instructor watches a recruit practice searching a vehicle.
In the classroom, we dove head-first into conservation law. Conservation law is the meat and potatoes of what we will be enforcing as officers. Our hard work paid off on Thursday with everyone successfully passing our legal tests. As a team, we overcame yet another hurdle.
Friday began with a 6-mile run on the drive track. Running in cadence requires timing and rhythm from all recruits. One weak link in the chain can make the whole unit fall out of cadence.
Photo caption: Recruits practice collecting each other’s fingerprints.
Our last day of the week was a new learning experience of Live Scan fingerprinting and Mobile ID. Mobile ID is the capability to capture two fingerprints in a mobile location with a handheld scanner to submit and confirm identification to a mobile device.
Recruits were privileged to test a new version of Mobile ID. This is a useful tool for identifying both lost people and criminals.
We ended the week by being introduced to firearm tactics.
Throughout the week, we faced many curveballs. I started to understand the importance of overcoming adversity. Just when I thought I had things figured out, our staff would throw another obstacle at us.
I also started to see the key role that failure plays in learning new skills. Through failure, we learn what not to do next time we encounter a similar experience. Although a slow process, I have started to see an introspective view of us being sculpted as recruits. We are slowly becoming more and more prepared for the vast amount of adversity that will be thrown at us in our lifelong careers. While we accomplished many hurdles in week 7, we have many more to accomplish in the upcoming weeks.
On to another week of training.
