CHP Graduates New Officers – Pandemic Style
Sacramento was witness to an unprecedented graduation ceremony at the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Academy last week. On October 30, 2020, 77 new cadets (seven women and 70 men) were sworn in during a socially distant graduation ceremony that took place at the Academy. The pandemic brought the chance for unique experiences for these CHP graduates – they begin their new careers with more hands-on patrol experience than any class in the history of the Academy.
From the Academy to the Streets
Due to statewide restrictions and concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 20, 2020, the CHP closed its live-in Academy, which is located in West Sacramento. The cadets, who had begun training in October 2019 and had already completed 23 weeks of the 29-week Academy training, were sent home and given assignments to CHP Area offices located as close as practicable to their residences.
Over the six months that the cadets spent working in CHP Area offices throughout the state, they had an opportunity to observe a variety of tasks and activities, which enhanced their classroom work. They accompanied officers on ride-along, which allowed them to experience a CHP officer’s shift in the field. They learned on-the-job how to fill out CHP traffic accident reports and otherwise help the public. They also received real-world instruction on the administrative and bureaucratic sides of the position, such as answering the phone, filing reports, and completing general office tasks that many officers may be unfamiliar with.
The members of the cadet class were able to return to the Academy on September 14, 2020, to complete their final weeks of training amidst enhanced safety and health protocols.
Most Experienced Cadet Class
The CHP Commissioner stated that the cadets faced the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic with resolve and that upon their return to the Academy they were excited and energized about their new careers. He pointed out that they had received a wealth of real-life experience during their time in the field that no other cadet class had.
Areas of Instruction at the CHP Academy
The cadets received well-rounded and comprehensive training at the CHP Academy, including the following areas of instruction:
- Leadership
- Nobility in policing
- Ethics and professionalism
- Cultural diversity
- Mental illness response
- Crisis intervention techniques
- Crash investigation
- Patrol operations
- The arrest of suspects, including those who operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI)
- Report writing
- Traffic control measures
- Stolen vehicle recovery
- Assisting the driving public
- Citation writing and issuance
- Emergency scene management
- Instruction in Penal Code, Vehicle Code, and Health and Safety Code.
Now that they have successfully completed instruction, the new officers will be assigned to various CHP Area offices throughout California.
Watch the YouTube video from the CHP documenting the last graduation ceremony before the pandemic changed everything.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Rocklin, California
Hello, and thank you for reading. I’m Ed Smith, a Rocklin personal injury lawyer. Highway patrol officers respond to numerous automobile accidents every day throughout the Rocklin and Roseville areas. Many of these crashes cause injuries to vehicle occupants. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident caused by a negligent driver and sustained injuries, an experienced car accident lawyer can help. Please contact one of the case managers or injury attorneys at our law firm for compassionate, free, and friendly advice. Our phone numbers are (916) 921-6400 local and (800) 404-5400 toll-free.
For more than 38 years, I have been a legal advocate for injured Rocklin residents. To learn more about our law firm, you can click on our settlements and verdicts page to see some of the great results we’ve achieved for our clients. Many of those prior clients have graciously taken the time to review our legal services. Those reviews can be found at the following links:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/police-california-highway-patrol-chp-1022704/
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