Video: For Future Law Enforcement Officers, Getting Doused With Pepper Spray Is Part Of The Training

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – It is the most dreaded day of police academy.

Every cadet at the North Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center is doused with pepper spray. Then the cadet is led through drills, to teach valuable lessons.

“Twofold, show them, not only can you fight through it, but somebody else can also, if you spray them, it’s not some miracle weapon, where you can spray somebody and all of a sudden they will comply, that’s in a perfect world,” said Deandre Eiland, who is an instructor at the academy. He was a cadet in 2007 and vividly remembers the day he was sprayed with OC.

“It feels like the sun is about three inches from your face, the entire time, burning, most folks say it’s the best sinus medicine they’ve ever had,” Instructor Eiland said.

After cadets complete the drills, they are faced with a final scenario, where they have to give orders to a fellow cadet, playing the role of a criminal.

Once they subdue the bad guy, cadets rinse their faces, and wait until the pain wears off.

“It kind of takes your breath away, it’s hot,” said Bre Lucas, a self sponsored cadet.

Cadets say the OC pepper spray class is one they will remember, long after the academy.

“Once you get sprayed, once it hits you, I don’t think you will take it for granted. You might not be so quick to pull it out and use it, not a good feeling,” Cadet Lucas said.

“Probably the roughest thing of my life sir, I ain’t going to lie. Still burning as we speak, can barely keep my eyes opened. If you ever get sprayed, better be able to fight through it, is all I can tell you,” said Blake Love, a self sponsored cadet.

Throughout the OC class, cadets encouraged one another. Instructors say that is part of the teamwork that develops as Class B 54 starts week three. Fourteen cadets started week three.

One cadet dropped out during the first two weeks. In part four of “True Blue” we visit cadets on the firearms range.