Week 10 of the 21st Session Academy sped by! The trainees spent the week on our Emergency Vehicle Operating Course (aka EVOC) learning everything they need to know about getting behind the wheel as a law enforcement officer.
The trainees learned defensive driving, emergency light operation, road safety, and pursuit procedures during the first few days. They practiced these skills in different vehicles, weather conditions, and lighting, to guarantee the trainees would be able to drive in any environment.
“It was definitely nerve-racking… driving a patrol car for the first time,” said a trainee.
The courses are laid out using traffic cones. The goal is to maneuver quickly and safely through the course in the allotted time and hit as few cones as possible. The trainees are graded based on safety, accuracy, and timing. At the end of the week, the trainee with the highest score is named the “top performer” for EVOC. The one who… struggles a little more than the rest… earns the beloved and long-standing nickname “the Cone Killer.” It was a close call; instructors say the academy as a whole performed incredibly well.
“I’ve been teaching EVOC for quite some time, and collectively, this class has been one of the best,” said EVOC instructor Sgt. William McCann.
Now that the trainees have proved themselves behind the wheel, their next step is completing Defensive Tactics. This two-week course will cover the importance of balance, good body mechanics, leverage, and the proper response to a multitude of situations law enforcement officers find themselves in daily.
Only eight weeks to go, 21st Session!
