Training Prepares Police for All Scenarios
OLD SAYBROOK – With both hands around a .40-calibur Smith & Wesson, my finger pushed the trigger shooting a firing bullet at a drawing of an armed criminal with a loud thundering sound.
This reporter saw how difficult it is for police to fire at a moving target and gained an increased appreciation for officers who serve and protect our communities.
Old Saybrook Police’s Lieutenant Clifford Barrows, a firearms expert, showed this reporter, on the inaugural police professional development day, two different Smith & Wesson handguns the department is considering purchasing which would offer a higher security level and better ease of use by officers.
To determine which gun should be purchased, officers fired them in the department’s firing range.
“The chief is asking for bottom to top input and wants to hear from officers on what gun they liked and why,” Lieutenant Mike Spera said, adding this feedback will be brought to the police commission.
In a trailer setup behind the police department, Patrolman Jeff DePerry showed this reporter a table full of items often found in methamphetamine labs and explained the dangers of these labs.
DePerry said the new federal law limiting purchase of over the counter medications with methamphetamine has helped greatly curb the abuse of this drug.
Federal law limits methamphetamine purchases to 3.6 grams per day and 9 grams per month and mail-service pharmacies are limited to providing 7.5 grams for a 30-day sales limit.
The law requires pharmacies to ask for identification when selling products with pseudoephedrine and ephedrine documenting the sale with the name, address, and signature of the purchaser along with the product’s name, quantity, and time and date of sale.
“Hopefully, we will never see a meth lab (in Old Saybrook) but the purpose of the workshop is for officer safety since these products are volatile,” Spera said.
Behind the makeshift meth lab, staff participated in a felony car stop scenario.
Dispatchers Phil Jackson and Rob Dahlstrom role-played felons while Patrolman Jay Rankin told officers the procedures to follow to ensure the safety of everyone.
Benny, the department’s K9 dog, searched the felon’s car for possible occupants whom did not follow police orders to surrender.
Trained to detect narcotics, search, and for protection, Benny is a versatile dog, Spera said.
“The more we train as a team, the better we will respond as a team,” Spera said.
In another workshop, Officer Brian Ziolkovski gave the latest procedures on arrest and control.
The oleoresin capsicum, OC, spray, also called mace, is just one method an officer can use against an uncontrollable person.
“There are different levels of heat units and how it will feel,” Ziolkovski said, explaining officers’ OC sprays have more volume and are stronger than over-the-counter sprays.
The heat from OC spray comes from a naturally occurring plant similar to hot peppers, Ziolkovski said.
Officers in this workshop received information about the two main types of handcuffs, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and how they should be applied.
Ziolkovski told officers that application of handcuffs is partially determined on whether the person is cooperative toward the arresting officer and gave them information on physical exercises to train officers to handle difficult situations.
Another workshop, Spera said, involved officers speaking about their career goals.
The ultimate goal of the day, Spera said, was for officers who attended off-site training to teach their colleagues the knowledge they gained.
“This is the first time in thirty years we’ve had a professional development day,” Spera said.
The day went well and Spera believes the five officers who lead sessions did a phenomenal job in demonstrating a high level of professionalism.
Spera said the department’s twenty-one officers have dealt with serious incidents in the last few months including a railcar arson fire, two separate standoffs requiring roads to be closed, a felony car chase, a deli robbery, and a suspicious death near Chalker Beach.
“The summer presents us with unique challenges,” Spera said, “our population at least triples but we also have a service population year-round consisting of those who go to our shopping centers, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and travelling on I-95.”
Citing a profession and well-trained police force, Spera said, “Old Saybrook is still a safe place to live and visit and we (OSPD) want to improve to have the quality of life that everyone expects.”
This reporter saw how difficult it is for police to fire at a moving target and gained an increased appreciation for officers who serve and protect our communities.
Old Saybrook Police’s Lieutenant Clifford Barrows, a firearms expert, showed this reporter, on the inaugural police professional development day, two different Smith & Wesson handguns the department is considering purchasing which would offer a higher security level and better ease of use by officers.
To determine which gun should be purchased, officers fired them in the department’s firing range.
“The chief is asking for bottom to top input and wants to hear from officers on what gun they liked and why,” Lieutenant Mike Spera said, adding this feedback will be brought to the police commission.
In a trailer setup behind the police department, Patrolman Jeff DePerry showed this reporter a table full of items often found in methamphetamine labs and explained the dangers of these labs.
DePerry said the new federal law limiting purchase of over the counter medications with methamphetamine has helped greatly curb the abuse of this drug.
Federal law limits methamphetamine purchases to 3.6 grams per day and 9 grams per month and mail-service pharmacies are limited to providing 7.5 grams for a 30-day sales limit.
The law requires pharmacies to ask for identification when selling products with pseudoephedrine and ephedrine documenting the sale with the name, address, and signature of the purchaser along with the product’s name, quantity, and time and date of sale.
“Hopefully, we will never see a meth lab (in Old Saybrook) but the purpose of the workshop is for officer safety since these products are volatile,” Spera said.
Behind the makeshift meth lab, staff participated in a felony car stop scenario.
Dispatchers Phil Jackson and Rob Dahlstrom role-played felons while Patrolman Jay Rankin told officers the procedures to follow to ensure the safety of everyone.
Benny, the department’s K9 dog, searched the felon’s car for possible occupants whom did not follow police orders to surrender.
Trained to detect narcotics, search, and for protection, Benny is a versatile dog, Spera said.
“The more we train as a team, the better we will respond as a team,” Spera said.
In another workshop, Officer Brian Ziolkovski gave the latest procedures on arrest and control.
The oleoresin capsicum, OC, spray, also called mace, is just one method an officer can use against an uncontrollable person.
“There are different levels of heat units and how it will feel,” Ziolkovski said, explaining officers’ OC sprays have more volume and are stronger than over-the-counter sprays.
The heat from OC spray comes from a naturally occurring plant similar to hot peppers, Ziolkovski said.
Officers in this workshop received information about the two main types of handcuffs, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and how they should be applied.
Ziolkovski told officers that application of handcuffs is partially determined on whether the person is cooperative toward the arresting officer and gave them information on physical exercises to train officers to handle difficult situations.
Another workshop, Spera said, involved officers speaking about their career goals.
The ultimate goal of the day, Spera said, was for officers who attended off-site training to teach their colleagues the knowledge they gained.
“This is the first time in thirty years we’ve had a professional development day,” Spera said.
The day went well and Spera believes the five officers who lead sessions did a phenomenal job in demonstrating a high level of professionalism.
Spera said the department’s twenty-one officers have dealt with serious incidents in the last few months including a railcar arson fire, two separate standoffs requiring roads to be closed, a felony car chase, a deli robbery, and a suspicious death near Chalker Beach.
“The summer presents us with unique challenges,” Spera said, “our population at least triples but we also have a service population year-round consisting of those who go to our shopping centers, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and travelling on I-95.”
Citing a profession and well-trained police force, Spera said, “Old Saybrook is still a safe place to live and visit and we (OSPD) want to improve to have the quality of life that everyone expects.”
