Behind the Badge: Behind the Wheel

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - Students in the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy got a hands-on look at patrol operations, including the chance to drive a patrol unit and practice a simulated felony traffic stop.

Students were greeted by Sgt. Rob McGarry, who began explaining the importance of the more than $100,000 mobile offices, said every deputy relies on their patrol cars.

McGarry and Lt. Greg Wilson shared what deputies keep inside those vehicles, from maps of the county to simple things like water and towels, all because they have to be prepared for any possible situation while out on the road.

And while deputies must be ready for anything, they also have to be ready to drive in any condition. The patrol units are capable of reaching top speeds of around 130 mph.

Students were then given the chance to get behind the wheel of a patrol unit, something our News Channel 6 crew was very excited to try.

Students carefully controlled the vehicles as they navigated a slalom course designed to help them understand just how quickly officers must react to changing road conditions.

Student Linda Brown said the activity gave her a newfound respect for patrol vehicles.

“You can feel the power in them. If I were to, say, have to chase somebody, I would feel comfortable in that car knowing that I could keep up,” Brown said.

While that was one student’s takeaway, class instructor Melvin Joyner shared why exercises like this are an important lesson for the class.

“People don’t realize how much training these deputies go through just to drive a vehicle. We wanted to give the Citizens Academy an opportunity to see a small obstacle course like we did tonight, what happens and how strenuous it can be, especially when you turn the lights and the siren on,” Deputy Joyner said.

After students parked their cruisers, they had the chance to experience a felony traffic stop from the officer’s perspective, an experience that gave me a new level of respect for what officers go through during these high-stress situations.

Students were tasked with removing both a driver and a passenger from a stopped vehicle while protecting their partner, staying calm and keeping themselves safe. Students used blue Glock 17 training replicas that have the same weight and feel as the real thing to help simulate the situation as closely as possible.

Student Ray Antione said the reenactment changed his perspective on the job deputies do every day.

“It changed my perspective because that’s what they deal with on a day-to-day basis. Every single day they put on the uniform and go protect and serve the community. Knowing that they do this every day being behind it wakes you up and lets you know this is real, and they have to be trained to do this every single day,” Antione said.

Joyner said that reaction is exactly what instructors hope students will take away from the training.

“It’s meant to show you this is what our deputies do numerous times during their career. Again, you never know what that person inside that vehicle has do they have a gun? Do they have a knife? This is how we have to do it,” Deputy Joyner said.

The exercise helped students better understand the stress officers face every day and the split-second decisions they must make while working to keep the community safe.

Next week, the Citizens Academy will explore more divisions within the sheriff’s office, including the people responsible for handling and processing evidence.