CPA – Day 5

Okay so it’s a week late. But after day 5 last week my sinuses decided to take me on and they’re kicking my ass. The perfume and cologne people wear during class is slowly killing me. I can’t give up the classes though because they’re awesome. I’m getting so much information and ideas bubbling just below the surface. So I endure the dizziness, the coughing, the pounding head, the pressure that makes me feel like my cheeks are going to explode out of my face. Scent allergies are a real thing and I wish people would be mindful of that.

Off the soapbox now.

Day 5 was amazing. It started out with the TRU team. The tactical rescue unit. Think Flashpoint only real life. Highly specialized officers that deal with high risk situations. The presentation was great. They did a live demonstration outside, of a high risk traffic stop. They had the lights and sirens going, had full gear on and were using the loud speaker. No wonder they had to warn the region about noise for this one.

The marine unit was next (I think, I don’t have the course outline with me). I was surprised to learn that they actually do work all year round though they don’t get many calls in the winter months. They have other duties to attend to when they’re not out on the water. It looked like a very cool unit and made me think more and more about a character I wanted to create years ago who was a police diver.

Explosive deposal unit was up next. Very cool presentation and he brought show and tell items! A grenade is heavier than I thought it would be. They do have a robot to do the dirty work. He let one of the students try on the bomb suit. It weighs about a hundred pounds. I don’t think I could handle that. Plus it gets really hot, even though it has its own cooling unit.

Last was the K-9 unit. Good presentation. The dogs are used for what you would expect. Mostly tracking (articles, people) and finding drugs. I don’t know that I could handle it though. I love animals and even though I “know” the reasoning behind leaving the dogs outside all the time I don’t like it. And I would always see the dog as a dog. Not a police officer. I wouldn’t want it to get in the way of a bullet or a blade. Criminals don’t care if it’s an animal.

I’ll post day 6 on Friday. That was a really good day too.

I’m off to get some work done.

Until next time…

Cindy