Class Notes: Muskego Citizen's Academy Goes Behind the Wheel

What protects many police officers in the line of duty is also what kills one-third of all officers who perish in the line of duty: their vehicle.

Whether they are in the vehicle involved in a high-speed chase or are next to it when another vehicle strikes it, the police car demands respect and a ton of skill to operate safely.

So why on earth we were allowed to maneuver around a course with them is beyond me but I will be forever grateful.

Our troop of Citizen Academians headed out to WCTC again to first learn some basics about steering, and view a few videos of what can go wrong when officers don't exercise what is referred to as 'due regard.'

While law enforcement enjoys a privilege (and I use the term 'enjoy' loosely here) to speed, proceed through stop signs and stop lights without coming to a full stop, they must do so using care - due regard - of others' welfare. While it can be abused, officers train excessively in operating their vehicles to keep them and the public safe during a pursuit.

Our task was to take our turns maneuvering these vehicles through an obstacle course of cones, practicing serpentine moves, evasive steering and alternating between operating as fast as we could feel comfortable, and slowing to a careful crawl on tight turns.  Trained officers can complete the course on a good day in a little over one minute.

Sounds easy, but staying in control when speed is required is truly a mind over matter thing.

Our group posted some impressive times, with the top being 1:04.  Yours truly played it safe the first time, with 1:47 but no cones being knocked over.  The second time around I was much more pleased, posting a time of 1:29.  I had recorded 1:24, but knocked a cone over, which was a five second penalty.

We were told to view these cones as each having a lawyer that wanted to sue us, so I guess a five second penalty wasn't a bad deal.