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We arrived back at the Michigan State Police Training Academy in Lansing on Sunday, ready to take on another week of training. After checking in we quickly changed into our uniforms and reported to the classroom for our introduction to firearms training, led by Conservation Officer Kyle Bader. We were each issued our department pistol and a cleaning kit to keep them maintained. Bader explained the importance of firearm safety and the shooting range safety procedures. We ended the class by going over the Michigan law on use of deadly force and the DNR Law Enforcement Division policy on use of force.
Photo caption: A firearms instructor uses a training pistol (incapable of firing live ammunition) to demonstrate proper handgrip.
Monday began at 0600 with a circuit workout. Following inspection, we reported to the indoor firearms range for our first block of instruction on how to safely and properly use our duty pistol. With varying degrees of firearm experience throughout the class, it was important we started with the basics and learned from the bottom up. Bader started the class by introducing the other firearm instructors, all of whom are also COs from around the state. We received the range safety brief and began handling our pistols for the first time. We started with dry fire and live fire drills. Dry fire drills consist of pressing the trigger and allowing the striker to fall on an empty chamber. This allowed us to learn the feel of the trigger without the distraction of the noise of live fire. Being comfortable with firearms as a CO is critical because we are always carrying firearms while on the job, and due to the nature of the work, also encounter firearms daily. Following a break for lunch we were in the classroom for a lesson on cultural competence and sexual harassment led by MSP Inspector Sarah Krebs and her staff. This class focused on showing the difference in cultural beliefs from one person to the next and the impacts these beliefs can have on a person’s conduct. As law enforcement officers, having a better understanding of an individual's culture can assist in making better contact with anyone we meet while on patrol. Monday evening ended with a lesson on how to properly clean our pistol and set the standard for how clean our pistol needs to be after we fire them.
Photo caption: A recruit lifts and flips a tire (tire flip) during morning physical training.
Tuesday morning started with another circuit workout, but this time it was outside. Our first block of instruction for the day was on the range for firearms. The focus of the day was on proper trigger squeeze, grip, proper reloads and clearing simple malfunctions. To become certified through the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, we must pass our firearms examination which includes marksmanship tests at different distances. Having the proper technique and skills to fire our pistol accurately is very important because we are responsible for every round that is fired, no matter where it lands. After lunch we reported back to the classroom to finish our instruction on cultural competence and sexual harassment with MSP Inspector Krebs and her staff. The focus for most of the class was on sexual harassment. We went over written scenarios and discussed the different types of sexual harassment and proper ways to intervene and stop it. Our final class for the evening was on victim rights taught by CO Richard Cardenas. We learned about the rights that victims have in legal proceedings and the county resources available to assist them through the process. Tuesday ended with a teambuilding exercise.
Wednesday morning started like all the rest with physical training. We went for a run to a hill where we conducted hill sprints and a series of short distance cardio exercises in a nearby parking lot. The first block of instruction for the day was back on the range for firearms. The focus for today’s lesson was on clearing more complicated malfunctions, proper reloading, and more marksmanship. Our afternoon lesson block was on health and wellness taught by CO Anna Cullen. Topics included coronary risk and physical fitness, stress and lower back issues in law enforcement. All three of these topics have a higher rate of occurrence among law enforcement, so learning early techniques and habits to reduce our risk is essential for our overall health and readiness.
Photo caption: Recruits practice firing their pistol using one hand.
Thursday morning, we were in the tank for PT. Like every other morning this week, we were back on the firearms range for our first block of instruction. Today’s instruction focused on shooting controlled pairs, multiple targets, how to properly switch from our primary hand to firing with our support hand and how to shoot with only one hand. Our final block of instruction for the week was on warrant preparation and request, and preparation for legal proceedings taught by CO Josh Reed. We took our notes from Wednesday’s scenario and applied them to practice citation writing and writing a report to build a warrant request packet.
Each week seems to challenge us all in ways that we don’t expect, but one thing we can count on is being able to rely on our fellow classmates to keep pushing forward. Leaving the MSP Academy on Thursday evening we felt a sense of accomplishment at putting week 11 in the books, knowing we are one week closer to achieving our goal of graduating.
