Tonight’s session started with some classroom instruction with an old-timey police training video on safety during traffic stops.  Seriously, this video had an actress obviously no older than 20 and the police dispatcher returned her birthday as XX/XX/60.  That’s an old video.  However, Officer Jorgensen stated that all of the information in the short clip (minus the cheezy acting) was current and correct procedure.

We then drove separately to Bonanzaville where we each had the opportunity to pull over an officer using actual West Fargo Police Department cruisers!  During my traffic stop, Officer Anderson initially pulled over and waited patiently, while I “ran” his plates, then took off when I exited the vehicle.  I scrambled back to the cruiser and reinitiated the pursuit which lasted for approximately 50 more feet.

Over the PA I asked the driver to put the vehicle in park, turn off the engine and throw his keys out the driver’s side window.  Officer Anderson refused to throw down the keys, as apparently keys for an Audi cost $150 (so I gave him some slack in this simulation), and instead held them out the window.

I approached the vehicle and asked for license, registration and proof of insurance.  The driver claimed the car wasn’t his but was his girlfriend’s.  However, he had all documents readily at hand sitting on the passenger seat, and handed them to me.  I informed the driver that I pulled him over for excessive acceleration and erratic driving.  I asked that he please wait while I ran his information in my cruiser.

I returned to the vehicle to find the driver on the phone with his lawyer, according to the driver.  I informed him that the vehicle was reported stolen and asked him to step out of the vehicle.  The drill ended there (I half wanted him to run).

Others had the fun of the driver jumping into the passenger seat, the driver arguing with the officer, or the driver’s side window not operating.  All in all Officer Anderson kept the evening interesting.

After everyone who wanted to had their turn, we stood in a circle and shot the breeze about several different issues including personal protection, concealed carry weapons, and interesting traffic stops the officers had experienced personally.

Next week is firearms instruction.  Can. Not. Wait.