Sumner police officer Jake Yancey knows how to shield himself from harm – literally – thanks to a recent training session for SWAT team members.
Members of the team are expected to quickly make sound decisions based on the information presented at the moment and take decisive actions to rectify issues which may present themselves.
Members are required to pass quarterly firearms qualifications and attend training.
Yancey joined the Special Weapons and Tactics team almost two years ago and is a four-year veteran of the Sumner Police Department. To keep skills sharp, officers participate in training exercises like the shield operator’s course.
“This course was designed to teach operators skills in the use of shields in shooting scenarios. During this course we performed numerous drills on moving, shooting and utilizing the shields as a form of mobile cover,” Yancey said.
Officers hone their marksmanship during the training.
“During these firearm training scenarios we work on shooting on the move, shooting from different positions and ranges and shooting in close proximity to team members who are also moving and shooting,” he said.
Shooters are faced with the challenge of maintaining accuracy while under a time limit.
“Nearly all drills occur on very tight time constraints and accuracy levels are held to an extremely high standard.”
Trainings involve different scenarios including serving high-risk warrants and hostage situations. SWAT members sometimes train in buildings which are scheduled to be demolished, using the interiors as a course to train on. In the rooms and corridors of these buildings, actors (often Police Explorers) join in the training by impersonating suspects or acting as the victims in hostage scenarios.
Yancey enjoys the unpredictability his job provides.
“I love going to work and knowing that each day will be different. I love hearing the crackle of the radio and waiting to hear what it has to offer. I enjoy running to calls and knowing that no one calls the cops when their kids are getting good grades or they just got a new car; people call the cops when they can’t control the situation and it is my job to help them control those situations and often make tough decisions,” he said.
While a career in law enforcement may bring excitement and unpredictability, it is not without its mundane tasks.
“No brochure or cops show will show you the countless hours that are spent writing reports. I never expected to spend so many hours typing reports,” Yancey said.
Without the many hours police spend on paperwork, there would be a dearth of information about cases, complicating the justice process.
“These are some of the most important documents that we complete and help prosecutors make sound charging decisions and paint vivid pictures for juries and judges when trying to recreate details of scenes.”
