Citizen Police Academy: Cop cars, boats and K9s

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Driving 101 with the Fort Myers Police Department, means we are in the driver’s seat.

Yes, they put WINK News behind the wheel of a cop car. First, we learned the obstacle course. Then, we learned vehicle pursuits, aka, catching the bad guy.

Sergeant Enrico Doro said, “When we start driving with lights and sirens, you guys are going to notice, you experience tunnel vision. You are going to be so focused on that car in front of you, that you are going to get too close. A lot of people we are chasing, they don’t know how to drive.”

But officers rarely get into pursuits, because it’s not safe.

Still, we had fun.

“It’s the most we ever had with our clothes on,” said one class member.

Besides the streets, FMPD is also responsible for the waters. With one boat, and one full time officer, things are always busy.

“Sometimes we are in a patrol boat, pulling someone over for speeding, reckless boating. next minute we get a call for medical emergency,” said Sgt. Gruber.

They took us out on the boat, and showed off some of their water survival training.

We can’t forget the four-legged officers, the K9 division.

K9s respond to any high level calls, like drug sweeps, burglaries, fleeing suspects. But, they can’t be used to intimidate or coerce a suspect. Class members got some hands on attacks with K9s.

Now some of you may be wondering, if the money for this program comes out of the police department budget, and it does. The instructors are all either on duty, change their hours so they are on duty, or take comp time. In a few cases, some officers are given overtime.

WINK News has one more piece to wrap this all up for you, and take you on one of our police ride-alongs. It will air on Memorial Day and you don’t want to miss it.