I Can’t Wait for More

Anxious, excited, and nervous are only a few words that describe the emotional roller coaster that I have been experiencing over the past several weeks. We are nearing the end; only eight more weeks. It seems so surreal. For many years I have worked to be where I am right now and in eight weeks, assuming I don’t mess something up completely, I will be wearing the TPD blue and the badge.

Over the past several weeks nothing has gotten any easier. November 19th the class began week 15 with what we thought was another day at the range. We learned quickly how fast things could change. After shooting some, we were addressed by several competitive shooters and instructors. Sgt. Eckert then told us that we would be assisting in the search for Cori Baker.

This was the first time that we, as a class, were really able to be a part of something significant in the Tulsa community. Once we arrived in the area in which we were going to search, we broke up into groups and searched specific areas. The areas consisted of open fields, overgrown pasture, and wooded terrain. Unfortunately the search was to no avail. I know that in the back of my mind I wished something would have been discovered, even if it were a piece of clothing. After being a part of the search, I could only attempt to imagine the pain and frustration the Baker family is experiencing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family throughout this time.

The following week was learning a skill we will use all the time, Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST). Until this point I never realized there was such a science behind these tests. Even with all the technical information, this class was a lot of fun. The first day was all classroom instruction and reviewing of the individual tests. It was time to put what we had learned thus far to the test. For two days we actually participated in a drinking lab where we performed SFST on individuals who had been drinking. This was a very valuable training tool. I have to say though I quickly realized, yep, I really am a rookie. I stumbled through the instructions along with everything else. It all turned out well in the end. It was just a matter of getting there.

Traffic collisions were a topic that I wasn’t sure if I was looking forward to or not. Cpl. Collum came in with a group of instructors that truly made traffic collisions interesting. Obviously there is math and physics involved in collisions (which either one I ever cared to learn anymore about). Put that stuff in front of me and it’s like trying to put a square peg in a round hole.  I actually walked away making sense out of the formulas and what we are supposed to do with them.

Once we got through the how-to’s, we got into the meat of working the collisions. The report forms are long and it does take time to learn what goes where and how to properly fill out the forms. We also got a head start on report writing as the instructors taught us the collisions report forms on the laptop computers. The computer form is much easier but I still had to figure out what to “x”, what to number, and what to even fill in for that matter. By the end of the week I really enjoyed collisions. Now I have no doubt that I may change my mind when I’m standing on the side of a roadway with cars driving by at 70 mph.

A slight change in schedule for this past week is an understatement. As most Tulsans know the area was hit hard and fast by an ice storm on December 9. There were downed power lines and trees throughout Northeast Oklahoma. I can only describe my neighborhood and it resembled the remnants of a tornado. As the class gathered in a classroom outside the academy due to a power outage it was decided that we would be assigned to an academy staff member. Our job was to assist the uniform divisions in blocking and redirecting traffic. I have to say after a fourteen-hour day I was ready to go home to a warm house Unfortunately my power was out like everyone else’s.

On Tuesday we were again assigned to another officer but this time it was a detective. We spent our time going to different businesses and talking to business owners. I learned a lot this day. I am really appreciative to have been assigned the detective that I was. On the same note I really appreciated the time we were able to spend talking to local business owners. As small of a difference that we may have made, I hope that someone was able to sleep a little better knowing that someone was looking out for them.

The week was ended with the classroom portion of law enforcement driver training (LEDT). Several years I have spent looking forward to this block. I’ve spent a lot of time learning and researching different aspects of LEDT. I even wrote my senior thesis using the TPD LEDT program as my specific group in which I studied. So I think it’s easy to say I’m “ate up” with it.

Starting Monday December 17th we start actually driving. I don’t know of anyone that could argue that driving a police car at high speeds wouldn’t be some of the most fun you could ever have.

With only eight weeks to go it’s hard to relax even a little. I can testify to the fact that you are your own worst critic. I wonder what I may mess up before it’s all said and done. Over the past four weeks I’ve been chased by cows in fields, watched intoxicated people fall all over themselves, and frozen, all by no choice of my own. All that to say, “I can’t wait until February 8th to get some more.”

APO Amy Hoehner

Comments

[Kim]

As I told you already, I'm so excited for you! I can't wait to watch you graduate. :D