Officer Chris Rankin

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: Officers Complete Bi-State Driver Training Course

Texarkana Arkansas and Texarkana Texas Police Officers assigned to the Patrol Division of their Police Department recently completed a pursuit driving refresher course at the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in East Camden, AR., known as ALETA.

Over the past several months, the patrol commanders from both agencies have been assessing the training needs for front line officers and the need for a low speed driving and high speed pursuit driving refresher became apparent.

Chief Bob Harrison is quoted as saying, "Liability is a major factor when we consider training topics. We train our officers regularly on the use of their firearms, and thankfully they do not have to use them on a regular basis. We have a greater liability when it comes to our officer's driving skills because they are behind the wheel of a car 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."

"When you consider the financial impact that a fleet accident can have on a police department and a city as a whole, it makes good sense to train our officers as thoroughly as possible."

In this case half of the training course is set up to involve many of the skills that officers use during a high speed pursuit. These skills include learning to shuffle steer, proper braking techniques, and learning to gauge the apex of of a curve. The other half of the course involves slow speed maneuvering including a slolum course through a set of cones, along with parallel parking, and reverse driving skills. Most officers do not get driver training or refresher classes after the completion of a police academy.

TAPD and TTPD officers have been fortunate to be able to use the driving track at the ALETA facility and to commute back and forth each day with a fresh group of officers. The cost of training is split between the two law enforcement agencies, which included, mea;s, fuel, wear and tear on the vehicle brakes, and tires. The course they run through takes between 4 to 5 hours and ends with a timed run through the entire course. The course has been instructed by TAPD Sgt. Mike McQuerrey, and TTPD Sgt. Mike Harris.

Both of these supervisors have received advanced driver training and are certified as instructors through their respective states. The course is to include each officer from both cities' patrol divisions and the training will conclude on Friday May 25th.

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.