WOW did the 8 weeks of classes go by fast!!! We made great new friends and have a new respect for our Tampa Team Police Officers. We hope that you also enjoyed following our experiences in the Citizens Police Academy.

    Thanks to the Columbia Restaurant who catered the graduation event with a special menu and a graduation cake. The newly appointed Citizen Police Officers and their families laughed at the classes videos the corporal made during our weekly seminars. Tazing, police car chases, shooting, SWAT team exercise and our ride alongs were in the often funny moments DVD.

    To participate as 1 of 20 members in the next springs Citizen Police Academy contact Tampa Police downtown special events.

    Out on the police training field it was vehicle operations.  They can describe it all in advance but nothing prepares you for this experience. We were passengers in the cars for all the demonstrations. The first is called J-Turns.  In this scenario a bad guy just pulled a gun and is pointing it you in the car. The officers puts the car in reverse and hits it to a speed of 40+ then spins the car into a 180 turns and drives off at top speed. OMG I though he was going to flip the car!!! For REAL!! In the P.I.T (Pursuit Intervention Technique)  we had the chance to be both the good and bad guys. At a high speed the officers hits the rear or front of the bad car sending it into a spin.  At the Tampa police training facility there is actually a curvy, up and down course complete with blind spots and hidden surprises. Just to drive the course would be hard for anybody. Out Tampa Officers not only do it in high pursuit but at the same time run the cars tags on their computer while keeping in constant radio connection. Talk about multi tasking. After seeing just some of the driving training that Tampa officers go thru… I don’t know how anybody could ever think that could “Out Run a Officer!!!”

    Back inside to the training class room. Here we watched video on hand to hand training. The videos were a cross between wrestling, kick fighting and dirty street fighting. The average take down is under 2 minutes. Here in these videos the officers fighting other officers in a classroom, the fights went on for over 10 minutes. You could just see the determination on their faces.

Next week we have “District Ride Along” and then Graduation Ceremony

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Week 4: The Tampa Citizen Police Academy 

    It was another interesting and exciting week at the academy. Mr Vegas law class also joined us.  Major Keith O’Conner started of this weeks class. He is in charge  of the special ops. This includes 12 + special units, squads & teams. The 4 main ones are SWAT, Hostage, Bomb & Marine Divers.

    Sergeant Richard Mills is in charge of the SWAT Team.  This is the very top 2% of the police force and is very hard to get into. All the members are volunteers who also work full time positions with the police. These volunteers are on call an impressive 24/7. The best discriptions is “They are the Cop, that Cops call when then need Help!!” The SWAT team did demonstration for us. A police chase cars with a hostatage take over. It all ended up with officers jumping of the top of building and rescuting the hostage. WOW

    The Tampa Bomb Squad is one of the very best in the country. They train with the FBI and Army. Each officer goes thru a 6 week class costing $120,000 each.  The squad cover 6 counties and has 250-270 calls per year. The bomb suits cost $19,500 and can only be worn for 30 minutes due to the heat. The Robotscost an average of $160,000 each.  We then watched a video rates “FOUO” For Official Use only. WOW did we feel special. After the film it was out side to see 4 bomb explosions!!! The truck was way cool too. Tampa is one of only 4 in the USA to have a bomb container.

    The rain started as the Marine Unit pulled up with one of their boast. There are 6 full time officers  who maintain & operate the Tampa fleat of 6 boast.  These boats are left in position thrupught Tampa Bay. they work together with the US Coast Guard, Tampa Fire and Stets of FL. beside regular operations they also escote cruise ships and chemmical ships in the harbor.

Next week is “Use of Force” Street Tactics, Simulations, Shoot don’t Shoot & traffic Stops.  Until then signing off…  Mark & Carrie

“Dishing with Mark & Carrie” is an Internet blog followed by over 60,000+ people every week. Visit www.MCFilmFest.com to see more.

    What a HUGE Honor it is to be accepted into the Fall 2013 Tampa Police Dept. Citizen’s Academy.  We hope you enjoy this fun 9 week blog.  There are 2 classes with 25 students selected each year. We knew a couple of people in our fall class. From Attorneys, bank officers, students and general community leaders that were selected to help their local community.

    The introductory class started with all the top Tampa Police officials introducing themselves. Cookies & drinks were provide. Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor then took the stage. If you ever get a chance to hear Chief Castor speak, do go. She is one of the most interesting & fun public speakers we have ever seen. Chief Jane has served under former Mayor Pam Iorio & current Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

    Over the past 10 years Tampa has seen a 81% deduction in crime. Chief Castor talked about how the city was cut into 3 districts and is now run like a major business. The new Police Mission Statement was changed from lawyer talk to very day lay terms to, “The Mission of the Tampa Police Department is to Reduce Crime and Enhance the Quality of Life Through a Cooperative Partnership with all Citizens.”

    In the USA there is a national crime database, U.C.R. (Uniform Crime Report)  The Chief realized if she were to focus on 4 main areas in Tampa the UCR would drop. This became known was the “BIG 4”. The areas of crime in the Big 4 are burglary, robbery, auto burglary and auto theft. Other new groups include “The Quad Squad” focusing on street level drug sales & distribution, “ROCK SQUAD”  and the “WOW” (Worst Of the Worst) program.

Tampa PD Public Information Officer Laura McElroy was introduced and talked about communications with the public. Laura  comes from 16 years as a TV anchor & news reporter.

     There is a facebook for the Police at https://www.facebook.com/TampaPD The web site is at http://www.tampagov.net/dept_Police/. There is also a Twitter and online magazine “Signal 14”.

    Assistant Chief John Bennett gave a very interesting talk about the Tampa Police New Police computer software. It used to be that when a police report was filed by the officer, then taken in to supervisor, then post. This could take 3-5 or more days  The new software lets the officer post his report in the field instantly. This new online system is made up of 4 parts. Part 1- the Data, part 2- Blogs, part 3- Validate & part 4- the reports. It is much like a doctors patients chart except for crime. All officers can add to it at any time. There is a civilian version like this at www.raidsonline.com

    There is also a searchable data base to. Example… search for burglar thru dog door in xyz area. If several crimes popped up similar they probably are looking for the same person. This logical and common sense approach has caught the eyes of many law enforcement agency’s across America. Even the US Military are taking a closer look at this Tampa produced program.  Talk about making you PROUD OF OUR TAMPA POLICE FORCE!!!

    The remainder of our first class we went over the up coming weeks classes. Next week we will  be at the Communications Center learning about 911 Tapes, Live dispatch and call center facility tour. We can’t wait to tell you all about it!!!

“Dishing with Mark & Carrie” is an Internet blog followed by over 60,000+ people every week. Visit www.MCFilmFest.com to see more.