Police Academy: Week 2
This past week wasn't as bad as the first week. There was no passing out, no scalding my face with OC, and we hardly did any PT. The classes this week were all very interesting. We talked about crimes in progress, how to approach them and what to do when we get there. The Cobb County Police Department (CCPD) has one person to a vehicle, so the most important thing to do when approaching a crime is to wait for back up. CCPD's number one goal is to have all of the officers go home safe.
Sergeant Moore from the narcotics unit came in to tell us everything we need to know about drugs. We talked a lot about methamphetamine (meth). I knew that the stuff was bad, but I had no idea how easy, dangerous, and cheap it is to make. The main ingredients are cold medicines, red phosphorous (from matchbook strikers), and a solvent (like paint thinner). 25% of all meth labs explode. If the person extracting the red phosphorous from the matchbooks isn't careful, then the red phosphorous turns into white phosphorous. White phosphorous is used in bombs and such. It will burn through absolutely anything and everything it touches until it is burned out. One of the by-products of making meth is a poisonous gas. Sgt. Moore told us that it was the same gas used by the Nazis in the concentration camps. The worse thing about meth is that any redneck with a bucket, a coffee pot, some kitty litter, and a nearby drugstore and hardware store can make it.
Before we broke for lunch that day, Sgt. Moore pulled out a bag of marijuana and passed it around so we would know what it looks and smells like. He then pulled out a soda-can-turned-bong and lit some of the marijuana so we'd know what it smells like lit. Police academy is crazy.
Yesterday evening, they had a memorial service for all of the fallen officers in Cobb County. There are at least six or seven police departments in Cobb, and many of the officers and their families showed. I was honored that they asked all of the recruits to attend as well. It was a very touching service. As they read off the names (there were about ten names dating back to the 40s) a white dove was released from behind the stage. After a 21 gun salute I helped light everyone's candles. I got home around 7:30 last night and fell asleep almost immediately.