CULMAN, Ala. – The third class of the spring 2023 session of the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy was held Tuesday night. This session focused on educating participants on patrol.
Captain Ricky Blackwood started the session by telling the group about Project Lifesaver, a rapid response program that aids in locating at-risk individuals with cognitive disorders who are at risk of wandering off. Project Lifesaver uses a personalized transmitter, powered by a small battery, that emits a constant radio signal 24-hours a day. Once the law enforcement is advised that a person is missing, officers identify the signal using a specialized directional antenna and are able to track the missing person. Cullman currently has 56 clients registered with Project Lifesaver, and it has a 100% success rate (95% of people are found within the first 30 minutes).
Blackwood also showed the group patrol videos. He explained how deputies must make decisions quickly while in the field and stressed how every second counts. Lt. Stephen Thomas and Investigator Ryan Fortenberry were in attendance to offer their personal experiences while on patrol and how important communication and quick decision-making skills are out in the field.
After watching the patrol videos, participants were given mock scenarios to act out with deputies. The deputies played the roles of the residents while the participants played the roles of the responding deputies. Each side was given a prompt, and the participants had to demonstrate how they would handle the situations if they were the deputy. At the end of each scenario, Whaley explained what went wrong/right, how the situation could have been handled better and legal repercussions for the wrong actions.
The group also participated in mock traffic stops in which they interacted with deputies and showed how they would handle the situations.
The next class will be this Saturday. Participants will meet at the shooting range and be taught proper gun safety.
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