CPD training day offers public a glimpse into officer preparation

Participants got to sample classroom instruction and scenario-based training officers receive as part of a mandatory 40 hours of annual in-service training.

“This is not an easy job. I’ve said this before, this is very difficult work. At any given second, an officer can find himself/herself in a volatile situation,” Chicago Police Department Supt. Larry Snelling said. “For me, it’s very important for people to understand what our officers are dealing with.”

While many assumptions can be made about an officer’s training, Snelling said the whole thing is about transparency with the public.

“This is a job where we are highly visible. We’re responsible for people’s safety. We can take criticism, but we want that criticism to be informed,” Snelling said.

A replica of a Chicago street intersection can be found inside the Joint Public Safety Training Center. It’s designed to help officers train for critical incidents and run through the many scenarios they may have to face.

Participants also got the chance to play a role as police officers.

“It was a great experience, gets the blood pumping definitely,” participant Kevin Flores said. “It’s an awesome way to see what police deal with on a day-to-day basis.”

One scenario sampled on Saturday was a traffic stop, which started as routine before turning to a shots fired incident.

Another scenario was a traffic stop where the suspect runs away from the vehicle just as the officer approaches.

Participants said the event not only gave them a deeper understanding of police work, but also an appreciation for the everyday men and women behind the badge.

“Every critic needs to come to this training and see what it’s like,” participant Beverly Ann Sandifer said. “I have a better understanding of what our beloved officers, who are people like me and you, they are people…they have things they go through on an everyday basis. They’re no different. They’re not aliens, they are humans.”