Mental, physical skills set police officers apart

COLUMBUS -- The first image on the screen presented by Patrol Officer Dale Ciboron in week three of the Citizen’s Police Academy produced its desired result. The initial shock and awe were followed by gales of laughter as the image of the front door of the local Daylight Donut bakery registered in the minds of the academy participants.

“Let’s just get this out of the way right now,” Ciboron said. “We like our donuts, and I’d venture to say that most of the patrol officers on the force are well aquatinted with the interior of this site.”

When the laughter subsided Ciboron described in detail the equipment patrol officers carry on their persons and in the department’s vehicles. He explained general patrol procedures and the mental training and discipline required to succeed on the force.

“The uniformed police force in this country really is a paramilitary organization,” Ciboron said. “They are organized in a military-style system of rank and can be considered as a form of street soldier. I once heard it said that a police officer is not paid for what he or she does, but for what they are willing to do. I think that sums it up pretty good.”

Ciboron spoke about the street survival triad that makes up the training of a patrol officer. The two foundation points are tactics and shooting skills. The apex of the triad is the mental and physical conditioning attained.

“The survival state of mind begins with the understanding that law enforcement is a hazardous occupation,” Ciboron said. “A suspects’ background, attitude, motivation and willingness to shoot may be very different from ours and there are legal, moral and psychological implications of shooting that must be personally resolved before a confrontation occurs.

“The survival state of mind takes into account it may be necessary at any time to take a life to save your own or someone else’s and with preparedness, preplanning and proper physical fitness, mistakes can be avoided.”

The remainder of Ciboron’s presentation dealt with report writing, the concept of reactive and proactive engagements, the various types of patrols and calls for service the department receives.

Ciboron pointed out that every minor traffic stop has the potential to yield a much larger return in terms of uncovering other criminal activity.

He said the goal of every enforcement effort is to create the greatest amount of compliance to the law with the least amount of action.

“Writing reports is my least favorite part of the job,” Ciboron said. “But it’s a very necessary piece because basically if it’s not documented, it never happened.”

The general consensus among the officers in the room was that the paperwork connected to their jobs is as important as it is extensive. They all agreed there are some days when the necessary paperwork can take up to 50 percent of the officers’ shift.

Next up was Sgt. Pat Hoffman, a 21-year veteran and expert in accident investigation.

Hoffman explained the important reasons for investigating traffic accidents.

“The state keeps statistical records of all accidents involving a motor vehicle, ” Hoffman said. “We are mandated to report to the state all accidents that involve injuries or fatalities and/or accidents with property damage of $1,000 or more.”

Hoffman said the collection of accident data is helpful in discovering problems at specific locations around the city, education and for the purpose of directing the locations and duration of targeted enforcement efforts.

Patrol Officer Bryan Heusinkvelt has been on the Columbus Police force 19 years. Heusinkvelt is the lead Bike Patrol officer and has ridden a bicycle for the department in all types of weather for the past 18 years.

“Our bike patrol got its start back in 1990 as an innovative approach to stopping a sudden increase in vandalism and property damage cases,” Heusinkvelt said. “The beauty of patrolling on a bike is the ability to get through an area where traffic congestion is very heavy and the quiet, stealthy approach to the bad guys that is possible only on foot or on a bicycle.”

Heusinkvelt described the equipment he uses and assured the class he is fully equipped to stop a vehicle and write a citation as needed when working the bike patrol.

“I still get calls like anyone else on patrol,” Heusinkvelt said. “For some of them I will return to my vehicle, quickly put the bike on the rack and go. But, for calls that are close or where stealth is an advantage I’m going to stay with the bike every time.”

Patrol Officer Colin Alexander played the role of myth buster at Wednesday’s session.

Alexander is an expert in speed enforcement, radar and LIDAR or “Light Detection And Ranging” equipment for vehicle speed enforcement.

Alexander debunked the myths that aluminum foil in the hubcaps or chains hanging from a rear view mirror could nullify the accurate reading of the radar equipment used by officers working on speed enforcement’s. He said the newest equipment used by the department can target specific vehicles on a busy stretch of roadway utilizing laser detection technologies.

“I can put a quarter-size beam on your front license plate and the LIDAR will give me an exact reading to confirm the estimated speed that was observed by the officer,” Alexander said.

Alexander made it clear the equipment is used to confirm and document the observations made by the trained officers doing the speed enforcement.

“You don’t just become a patrol officer and go out the next day to do speed enforcement,” Alexander said. “To qualify on the equipment is a three-day training course followed by more training and testing in the field. The training is a national course that results in certification. Recertification is currently required every four years and that will soon change to every two years.

“There’s really no reason with the training of the officers and the accuracy of this equipment to ever try fighting a speeding ticket,” he said.