Hands-on Look At Traffic Stop Training

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Members of a citizens police advisory board had a unique opportunity to see how law enforcement officers are trained to react during traffic stops.

For Aaron Washington , the objective was clear. He is playing the role of a police officer, who stops this gray Ford truck for a traffic violation. His goal is to get the drivers license, and proof of insurance, but things don’t go well.

“Let’s just say, I’m a bad officer, glad to serve on the police advisory board, but there’s a lot to that, got to be thinking, and well trained,” Washington said.

Washington , and other members of the civilian advisory panel, and members of the media, spent a few hours at the North Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center where they were taken through some of the same training cadets and veteran officers utilize.

Each member was taken through an interactive video tool known as the Firearms Training Simulator, or F.A.T.S.

“Every gun is a gun call, cause we carry a gun into that call. And then, what’s a killer look like, what’s a bad person look like, we never know if there’s a gun in the car, how they’re going to react,” said Deputy Chief Allan Gilbert.

Each scenario is based on a real life situation, members of the Citizen’s Police Advisory Board says this gives them a better understanding of what police have to go through and also it shows them there is no such thing as a routine traffic stop.

“In a split of a second you have to make decisions, that are going to affect whether you will go back to your family or not. You get a good perspective of what a police officer goes through,” said Advisory Board Member Gabriela Ungo.

“The knowledge they gain through this, can help maybe answer some questions people might have through incorrect perceptions, I realize, what you perceive is what you believe,in some cases that’s not true,” said Advisory Board Chairman Bill Allen.

After each drill, participants were briefed on what worked, what didn’t and how law enforcement officers are taught and trained to respond.

Each member of the police advisory board is required to go through the Citizens Police Academy.