Thanks Scotty. I enjoyed training at Universal Studios in the academy and some during in-service training. But I enjoy life in Tennessee way more. Being able to buy firearms & ammo that even the LAPD SWAT team is not able to carry. And, where we have more steers than queers.
This is an example of why during those days, the LA police academy was considered the cutting edge to those of us who were either waiting to become old enough to pursue a career or already had some experience - that is if we’d check our egos at the door. I remember a reserve deputy at the Midwest sheriffs department where I was an explorer in high school. Rode with him on a few grave yard shifts. He’d been an explorer at a large dept in SoCal and was really squared away, at least from my limited perspective at the time. His tactics hadn’t come from the local reserve academy. Two federal academies, a state reciprocity process, and a bunch of years has taught me that application of solid street tactics may not win any popularity contests but will keep you, and possibly the criminals alive. Sometimes tragedies still happen to the best among us due the situations we have to step into. I think this video should be part of academy and in-service curriculums. There are a number of lessons inside.
My academy class back in 1982 at Golden West college in Huntington Beach , was an LAPD Sergeant Wemmer who taught officer survival . He used every (not EVERY) fatal shooting of LAPD officers as a training tool and even some that were from different agencies , and we re-enacted them , sometimes making the same mistakes. The one that stuck out the most and made the biggest impact was the Newhall shooting . Anyone who's ever been through a police academy since the 70's knows what that was...
Oh the sweet incentive physical training, loved by military and first responders alike! 😂 You're a great story-teller Scotty. :) That would be a hell of a resource... being able to train on a studio back-lot and go through evolutions.
What gets me is the attitude by so many, coppers included that "oh I work in a small town, that'll never happen here." Ya well, most OICs are now happening in these "it'll never happen here," places. In 2023, in a matter of a few weeks we had two officers KIA in the middle of BFE Wisconsin. Then not too long after that, a sheriff's deputy was also KIA. I worked in the city before going out the burbs, so far I've been luck. But a captain he also came from the "big city," but where did he get into his OIS, BFE Wisconsin. Point is, this can happen anywhere at any time! We can't drill that into recruits enough.
Great stories! Can these be a little longer when you have the material? I also wonder if, in the room in the background of about half your shots, is the Minneapolis Police Department patch on the bulletin board. Colors, shape and writing style match. They are having such a hard time now, keeping officers, the chief even commented about it, even as he redivided the department and the mayor tries to find another coordinator. The last one didn't make it a year. Hang in there, MPD, I'll still wear your gear proudly.
My departenr went to The Burbank Studios (Warner Brothers) once or twice a year for training. I lost my PR24 out there. It probably ended up in the prop department fot T.J. Hooker.
