The Citizens Academy, held by LPD, DPS, and the Sheriffs Office teaches Lubbock residents what it's like to be in law enforcement and to better understand what goes on behind the scenes.
"One of the key aspects that we wanted out of this program was for the participants to be able to see how things really, truly work out there," Sheriff Kelley Rowe said. "There are a lot of misconceptions out there based on television and movies and those types of things and none of those are even remotely accurate, as you've come to discover yourself, with regards to how law enforcement operates each and every day and how they do it safely and how they keep their community safe."
Students at the academy were able to get hands on experience Saturday as they were put through different scenarios, including an action-reaction test and a driving course.
In the action-reaction test, students were given a handgun loaded with simulation rounds, which shoot a 'paintball' type of bullet, and were sent into a room to try to defuse a hostile situation.
Each trainee responded differently as the simulations intensified.
Sheriff Rowe said the goal of the program was to show that there are a lot of moving parts and how dangerous some of these situations are.
"Well the main thing was to give all the participants an opportunity to see what happens when a law enforcement officer engages himself into a situation," he said. "How they have to assess, what all is going on. You know, are the threats there and then be prepared to react."
Students were also put through a high speed driving course, simulating the conditions of a pursuit.
This is the first year for the Academy and the three agencies hope to continue it into the future.
