WYOMING, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — In light of two high-profile police shootings in Pennsylvania, 28/22 News wanted to take a closer look at police training practices.
28/22's Joe Mason spoke to area police chiefs today and has a look at how police train for a crisis.
Two Pennsylvania state troopers were seriously injured after a shooting in Susquehanna County in early August. On Wednesday, three police officers were shot dead, and two were left in critical condition in York County.
Both took place in rural areas. Both were ambush-style attacks. But, how does police training prepare these first responders to deal with domestic incidents?
10-year-old shot during argument involving two men
Police Chief Michael Turner oversees the Wyoming Area Regional Police Department. He says ambushes bring immediate challenges to responding officers.
"We're on the defense automatically. I mean, if we're pulling up on scene of a situation, especially in a rural area or a wooded area, there are so many vantage points that the suspect would have on us," explained Turner.
Turner says the shooting in York is on his mind and the minds of his officers.
"I have a lot of younger officers on staff, so now we have to take into effect. You know, every dispatch call, you're going to have that in the back of your mind. Are they going to be dispatched to this location? Are they being set up? So, I just have my officers be more alert," shared Turner.
"I'm always worried about our officers, especially with the domestic violence situations. I just pray every day that they come home, they come back to the station and go home to their families," continued Turner.
Police Chief Douglas Higgins heads the Dallas Township Police Department.
He says his officers undergo more than 900 hours of training in various areas, and even with this training, incidents like these are among the most dangerous for officers.
"We train best-case scenario, but obviously, each call is different. It presents different challenges. We teach officers to park away from the scene and walk up to the house. As you're walking up, look for cover just in case. But, obviously, it's very hard to train for an ambush," said Higgins.
Chief Higgins notes that domestic incidents share many similarities.
"A lot of anger. A lot of passion. A lot of heat-of-the-moment decisions are being made by the people that are going through a stressful situation. And they're acting out under anger and frustration and not thinking about what they're doing," explained Higgins.
Chief Higgins says an action report will eventually be released on the shooting in York, detailing what happened on Wednesday afternoon. That report could influence police training in the coming years.
