Class 54 of the Garland Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy is underway with more than 25 participants and I’m thrilled to say that I am one of them.
The class lasts for 12 weeks and covers more information than can be listed here. We’ll learn about everything from the everyday operations of the department to DWI and narcotics enforcement and criminal investigations to gang enforcement and much more. We’ll also learn about the K9 unit, which I hope will include some demonstrations and I’m told that a helicopter will land right there at the station during one of our classes.
The last couple of weeks of the program include a trip to the shooting range, a chance to drive a police vehicle on an obstacle course – as fast as we want – and programs by the SWAT and Bomb Units. There is also an eight-hour ride along with a patrol officer, four hours of observation in the Communications Department, as well as four hours of jail observation.
The CPA coordinator is Officer Alberto Irizarry from Community Relations, which falls under the supervision of the Public Information Officer, Lt. Pedro Barineau.
The first class began with a welcome from Garland’s Mayor Scott LeMay who took a few moments to talk about the good fortune of Garland citizens to have such a high-caliber police department as well as the quality of the individual officers and civilian staff members.
It’s easy to see that Irizarry and Barineau, who could have had careers in standup comedy, are devoted to doing the best job possible for the department and for the citizens of Garland. I’m sure that the next 11 weeks will include lots of learning as well as lots of fun and laughter.
Barineau is the person we see on the television news providing information and updates on the status of crimes and investigations. Irizarry’s job as community relations officer is to educate citizens about GPD. He attends community events and provides instruction on situations such as active shooter training to civic groups, churches and people in their workplace as well as stranger danger classes at daycares and schools and senior citizen safety training.
Both of their jobs include active use of social media to keep the public up-to-date.
Irizarry provided a look into a typical 12-hour shift of an officer and the effects on their stress levels, which because of the nature of the job, are constantly increasing and decreasing. Throughout a shift, officers evaluate danger levels as they receive calls. When an officer gets a call about a car break-in, there is typically no danger involved – no stress. The next call could be an armed robbery, which involves a weapon and a high danger level – stress level rises. They get back on patrol and the stress level decreases. Then they are notified about a fight with no weapons involved – stress level stays low. But that is followed by a call about a road rage shooting – stress level rises again. These constant level changes are not only exhausting, but can also take a toll on their health.
Irizarry also talked about the effect of the negative publicity and social media attention that is now a concern for all police departments. It’s hard to imagine how it makes officers feel to be dedicated to protecting people who have no respect for the uniform and the badge, or the person wearing them. I can’t comprehend, but am deeply grateful for, their willingness to place themselves in danger for people in the community, including those who insult them, call them names or even want to cause them harm.
I see this as proof that law enforcement is not a job, it’s a calling.