Dallas Morning News Feature Article - Flower Mound Citizen Police Academy

[TXCharlie]

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neighborsgo Blog | The Dallas Morning News
Flower Mound: Inside the citizen police academy

9:50 AM Wed, Oct 07, 2009 | Permalink



Spending a Saturday morning firing a .40-caliber handgun, a 12-gauge shotgun, an M-4 rifle and an AK-47 isn’t out of the ordinary for Flower Mound’s citizen police academy; it’s all part of the experience.

The class of 20 stepped up to the firing line Saturday, each taking one-on-one instruction from Flower Mound police officers. The session was part of the 10-week course to explore the inner workings of the police department.

“[The citizens] get to know what our fire power consists of,” said Steven Caldwell, crime prevention officer. “The purpose is to educate them on gun safety as well as just firearms in general.”



Aparna Batlanki, a stay-at-home mom, said the firearms class was the one she had been waiting for.

“The M-4 and the shotgun are my favorite,” she said. “But it was educational. Now I know how much [the officers] have to practice to get it right.”

Ready, aim, fire

• Glock 22 (semi-automatic .40 caliber pistol): I have a little bit of experience with a Glock. It’s fun to shoot. However, after about 10 shots, my hits started trailing down on the target, and they took the gun away.
• Remington 870 (12-gauge shotgun): The shotgun was intimidating. I shot all of the other firearms before I mustered up the courage to try one that required specific placement on my shoulder to avoid injury. Note to self: Don’t stick your tongue out when firing a shotgun with a lot of recoil. I shot it only once.
• Colt M-4 (semi-automatic/automatic rifle): The rifle was, by far, my favorite — especially after the switch hit automatic. Nevertheless, there’s a reason the officers instruct the shooters to fire in short bursts. The bullets tend to creep upward.
• AK-47 (automatic assault rifle): It was extremely heavy.

But Caldwell said the purpose of the class is serious, too.

“About half of the class has never shot a gun before,” he said. “We let them have the chance to walk a mile in our shoes. That’s just part of it.”



Antoinette Lucania, 83, shoots a Glock 22
while Officer Bob Lemoine assists during
the Flower Mound Citizen Police Academy
firearms class Saturday.


http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?pag...&post_id=16847

Flower Mound officer takes bite out of crime

On Thursday, the class met Bullet, the Flower Mound K9 trained in narcotics, patrol, and when needed, apprehension. He sniffed out some marijuana, located an article and apprehended a pretend suspect.


The catch: Bullet understands only Czech
and German.


Bullet, Not Your Average Dawg

He’s from central Europe, he understands only Czech and German, and he’s in charge of narcotics, patrol, and when needed, apprehension for the Flower Mound Police Department.

His name is Bullet, and he’s a police dog.


Bullet, 3, sniffed our marijuana, located an article and apprehended a pretend suspect Thursday at the police department’s citizen police academy, which is in its sixth week.

The purpose of the 10-week course is to explore the inner workings of the police department.

Thursday’s session also covered communications and a firearms briefing — in preparation for Saturday's lesson.

The class of 20 learned about the role police dispatchers play in a crisis and listened to real 9-1-1 calls including a case of domestic violence, an early childbirth and a robbery.

“It’s really something,” said Bill House, 79-year-old retired Army radio operator. “You get to understand the whole facet of the police department. I have a lot of respect for them.”

Mickie Taylor, a mother of three who used to be in law enforcement, said she chose to take the class because it’s in her blood.

“I wanted to get as close as I could get,” she said.

On Saturday, House and Taylor will join their classmates at the Grapevine Police Department gun range. They’ll be shooting a .40-caliber pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun and an M-4 rifle.

“I don’t know,” House said, “it’s been a long time since I shot an M-1 rifle in the Army.”I'll also be shooting on Saturday. Check back for the 4-1-1 on how it went.

The class also learned about the role police dispatchers play in a crisis last week, listening to real 9-1-1 calls including a case of domestic violence, an early childbirth and a robbery.

“It’s really something,” said Bill House, 79-year-old retired Army radio operator. “You get to understand the whole facet of the police department. I have a lot of respect for them.”

Karl Buddenhagen said he is taking the course because he wants a career as police officer. He is planning to enlist in the Army Reserve as well as apply for the Flower Mound dispatch position.

And Batlanki said the class has changed her view of the police department.

“I always wanted to know how the police department works, what they do, how they work together,” she said. “Now I know. I see it in a totally different light now.”

To follow the Flower Mound CPA, check out neighborsgo.com: post your community news

[pgg]

"Note to self: Don’t stick your tongue out when firing a shotgun with a lot of recoil"

[Second Chance]

"Note to self: Don’t stick your tongue out when firing a shotgun with a lot of recoil"

Or stand with your feet together and leaning back...............

[121Traffic]

Lindsey Bever (lol I hope that's not pronounced the way I originally read it), while probably an attractive lady in her own right, looks absolutely yummy in tactical black and in the other pictures on the range. Crappy stance be damned.

[pgg]

Lindsey Bever (lol I hope that's not pronounced the way I originally read it), while probably an attractive lady in her own right, looks absolutely yummy in tactical black and in the other pictures on the range. Crappy stance be damned.

Maybe you should do some one on one training with her

[mtaylor]

I wish Richardson would let me sign up to fire automatic rifles!

[Odd]

Firing stance? Cameraman would probably be more into that conversation. Her stance is pro LE so far as I can tell: as reporters go isn't that more important than how they fire weapons?

Get some lucky young guy here her phone number.

[ms1600]

Citizens academies are great tools for educating the public about what you ladies and gents do. APD has them up here and I attended one a few years back. Kudos to officers that volunteer to present at them.