Recently, I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with
Bayard’s Police Force. (I received a verbal invitation sans any warrant or
handcuffs.) I had the pleasure to witness their firearms and bean bag training
course, and to accompany them to the City Dump for target practice.
Officer Stan Tavenner, the Less-Lethal Impact Munitions
Instructor Certified led the session
When one thinks about firearm training, it’s easy to think
of a made-for-TV setting with action and tough man-talk. Target practice would
be the reincarnation of the ‘Gunfight at OK Corral.”
However, at target practice they shot bean-bags, not live
ammunition.
In all phases of the training I witnessed sober-minded responsibility.
The training focused on saving lives; the assailants, bystanders, and
themselves.
I listened to them discuss different situations they may encounter
while on duty. I watched body language and listened to the tone of their voices.
Through those showcases, I understood the situations they mentioned were viable
and serious. If not handled appropriately, they could result in serious injury
or loss of life.
At target practice I witnessed cohesiveness and
concentration. Individually, they stood about 20 yards from the target and
called out, “This is the Police. Stop, now, or I’ll shoot.” They each pumped
three rounds of less-lethal beanbags into a target. Afterwards, together, they looked
at the holes the not-as-lethal ammunition put in the target, and discussed shot
patterns.
Police Chief Douglass handed me one of the beanbags, “They
come out of the shotgun at 184 mph. They’ll stop you.”
Still, some scoff and say, “This is Bayard, Nebraska and violence
doesn’t happen here.”
Unfortunately, though, violence does rear its ugly head
in the Bayard’s of the world. When it does, don’t you want well-trained-level-headed
Law Enforcement Officers handling the situation?
The attitude of Bayard’s Law Enforcement Officers; that’s
the point Bayard’s citizens should glean from this article.
During the training I heard no macho bravado. Our Police
Force is a nucleus of mature, experienced, and dedicated individuals. They’re
married, they probably kiss their wives when they leave for work, some have children,
some are veterans, they have future family plans, and they more-than-likely
have retirement accounts.
They want to go home after their shift. As you, they want to
live to enjoy the fruits of their retirement accounts.
But they wear badges, carry guns, and drive City vehicles
with the word POLICE on the side. This makes them a target; this involves them
in any fracas that arises in Bayard, or vicinity.
After spending the afternoon with them, and have them patiently
answer my questions, I know they respect those they serve. The safety of
Bayard’s residents is their main concern. These five officers take their jobs
seriously, and they’re proud of what they do and how they do it.
They understand that oftentimes their reactions are
spontaneous; there’s no time to think right, wrong, or indifferent. They’re
Bayard’s finest, they sense the immense responsibility behind their badge, and
they care more for your safety than their own.
The voice of Bayard’s Police Department is “middle C.” The
‘C’ that stands for care, concern, consideration, companionship, and
camaraderie, and they’re in the middle of anything that threatens their
‘Cs.’
Support them.
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