Training ECC Police Academy students

LANCASTER, N.Y. (WIVB) - Students from the ECC Police Academy received some hands on training at Como Park Saturday morning.

Those who took part in the event, simulated real life situations that they would experience in the field.

John Chiarello from the Erie County Law Enforcement Training Academy says, "Recruits get the kind of training that they learned in class, then they come out here and get to do the real life situations. In the morning, they do the different steps, in the afternoon we do the testing.

There are four different tests: 1 Officer, 2 Officer, DWI, and Felony.

In each one, the most important take home is safety. If back up is needed, then call for it and don't do anything that can compromise your life.

Jessica Taneff from the pre employment training says, 'Anything can go wrong, nothing is ever a routine stop. You can be stopping somebody just for blowing a red light and it can become a felony stop."

During the routine stops, they pulled cars over, called dispatch, and assessed the situation. They had different scenarios if the person was speeding, lost, or if the car was broken down.

Chairello speaks on behalf of the felony stops and says," The felony traffic stop is already set up that it's a felony and they have to deal with it a totally different way knowing that it was a bank robbery or shooting. They have been briefed on that when they pull the vehicles over."

The trainees said that it can be nerve wracking, but it's better to get it out of the way now that they are prepared for when the real thing happens.