The butterfly effect…

Week 17, Day 5

So week 17 was a really short week and we still managed to squeeze in a lot of training. We had our last trip to Red Rocks this week, but not for PT. We went to Red Rocks to have our class photo taken as well as our individual graduation photos. This was a fun day. We took our official academy class photo with the beautiful Red Rocks backdrop, and at the same time…we were being video taped and photographed by several tourist that happened to be up there. This happens every time we go up there. It just solidifies that we are ALWAYS being watched and critiqued.

The fun part of the day was not only knowing that our time is winding down…but we got to relax a bit and just hang out with each other. When we were taking our individual photos, must of us try to look as serious as possible. You know we are going to be cops…so we have to look like a cop. So during the photo shoot, it became a challenge to see who we could get to crack a smile or laugh during their photos. I think everyone broke under the pressure. It really was a great day. I have to give a shout out to Jim from the Crime Lab for being our official photographer. He did a great job and he only attempted to fall off his ladder twice, while taking our class photo.

We also finished up with vehicle stops. This was where part of the butterfly effect came into play. What I mean by butterfly effect…all the butterflies in my stomach as I was confronted with a couple different scenarios. I had a scenario where the person I pulled over for a traffic violation, actually had a gun hidden in the visor of his car. What do I do? Do I pull them out of the car? Do I call for back-up? Do I draw my weapon for safety? All of these thoughts ran through my head, in a span of about 1 second. I worked through it and came out alive and well. But then my mind goes to…I am not ready for this. I have had 17 weeks of training and I am not ready to graduate. We have learned so much in this academy and I know that I speak for a majority of us…will we be ready to do this for real? BUTTERFLIES!!!

Then we moved onto the high risk (felony) vehicle stops. This happens when we have to remove 1 or more people from a vehicle. The instructors through some very interesting scenarios our way and it was cool to see how everyone reacted. The best scenario had to be when one of the instructors was on his knees and he was instructed to get up and walk towards the police car. As he got up, he tore a large hole in his pants. Everyone remained composed and serious through the scenario, but in the end…we laughed so hard. We all heard the pants rip and it was a true test to see how long everyone could go without losing it. Thanks to the instructors for the laugh.

After vehicle stops, we moved on to more simmunitions training. This time we had real life scenarios to work through, with active shooters. This too was a great test to see how everyone would react. The first scenario my group did…well…we were shot in the back by who we thought was the victim. We got better as the day wore on, but the screwed up scenarios stick with you. The last scenario my team got to play the “bad guy” and shoot at everyone. Now this was the other half of the butterfly effect. We had to think like the “bad guy” and outwit our classmates.

It was definitely an intense version of hide and seek. There’s nothing like running, because you’re being chased by your classmates…with guns. By the way…the simmunitions rounds…they hurt. Thanks to Nathan…I still have a large welt and bruise on my abdomen. One of the guys in the other group got hit in the abdomen and it looks like he now has 2 belly buttons. Nice shooting Laura!!!

Overall…it was a great week. Next week, we move onto driving. This should be fun.

Approaching the active shooter scenario

Searching the hillside for a the bad guy

Using cover to avoid getting shot

Getting set up for the class photo

Part of the peanut gallery, making people laugh

Recruits Meyer, Wilhelm and Harris. We refer to them as the AARP recruits.

Ranger takes advantage of Gonzo's intense focus

Red Rocks…Not just for Concerts anymore!!

Week 4, Day 1

Well, it’s hard for me to believe that we are going into week 4. But on the other hand, we have done so much in 4 weeks that it feels like we should be father along. We wrapped up week 3 with the gut wrenching Red Rocks PT session. We were told throughout the day, the PT session would end when someone puked. I am happy to report it wasn’t me. Actually, nobody puked!! I think the instructors were shocked, yet excited that we all hung in there and everyone finished strong. We helped each other up the stairs, the bleachers and of course the planter boxes. Who knew that Red Rocks could cause that much pain? My knees and shins have seen better days, but my enthusiasm is strong. Most of the people I talked to throughout today’s class felt the same way, which is good, since we are going back to Red Rocks next week. GREAT!!!

Getting ready to run the stairs

Up and over the planter boxes

Finishing with the bleachers

We had a relaxed day today, with CPR and first aid classes. It was fun to be out of the classroom for the day and actually doing some hands-on work, instead of just sitting and listening. I know for me it’s hard to just sit all day. I would rather be out doing something. I know those days will end soon enough, but I still can’t help but feel a bit exhausted with all the classes right now. The rest of the week is filled with more law classes, but towards the end of the week we actually get into some classes on patrol. Patrol is where my heart lies. I hope to make it through my training in detentions and eventually test out, to get on the street. Most of the instructors we have had, say that if we want the experience then patrol is the way to go.

CPR & AED training

Basic first aid

What happened here?

Today, we started our week with a memorial formation to pay tribute to Fallen Officer’s of Colorado. It’s a beautiful way to start the day and it sets a tone for the rest of the week. Tomorrow morning we will start our day again, with a memorial formation and honor another 41 fallen officers. As I stand in formation, at parade rest and my head bowed, I listen to everyone say the name of a fallen officer. I can’t help but think about what their story was and how they died. I get a glimpse of what their families may have gone through and how the news was broken to them on that day. Then as it gets closer for me to snap to attention and say my officer’s name, I get nervous. I get nervous because I want to do that officer’s memory proud. That I have honored them properly and I can’t help but wonder…if someday an academy class just like this one will say my name or any of my classmates’ names. It seems like a horrible thing to think, but it is all around us. Just recently there was a shooting in Wheat Ridge, where a woman’s life was taken by another. One of the first arriving officer’s on scene is a friend of mine. I can’t help but think; if my friend was just a few seconds sooner would the gun have been turned on them? Today and tomorrow, I will read a name from the fallen officer’s list…a person I don’t know, but how long will that last?

So even though I am sitting bored in a classroom, or doing a CPR class for the hundredth time. No matter what we do in this academy, if we don’t give 110% to everything who are we really cheating? The instructors tell us often, it doesn’t matter if you’re the fastest or the biggest…it’s that you didn’t give up. So we don’t give up in class, we don’t give up on our studies, we don’t give up at Red Rocks and we don’t give up on each other. It’s an important lesson we are all learning in this academy. We are entering a tough world, where most of the time people only call for us when they need us or when they are in trouble. We are learning how to rely on each other, A LOT!!!