How do law enforcement officials prepare for dangerous situations?

OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. (WTRF) — It’s a tragedy that is sending shockwaves throughout the country. Eight law enforcement officers were shot in the line of duty in Charlotte, North Carolina yesterday and four of those officers are dead.

Law enforcement officers across the country clock in every day without knowing what dangerous situations they might be in to keep others safe.

”The bravery, the heroism, everything that goes down with that defines what our profession is, our people demonstrated that today.”

Chief Johnny Jennings – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Dept.

Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department lost one of his officers yesterday as they were conducting a routine search warrant just like any other day.

Unfortunately, in the life of a law-enforcement officer, a routine search warrant or traffic stop can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation. Sheriff Tom Howard from the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office says there is no way to anticipate these types of situations and that all they can do is prepare.

”Here at the sheriff’s department we’re trying to be prepared for everything we can. It’s dangerous every day. Every law enforcement throughout this country deals with this. Unfortunately, what happened in Charlotte last night, unfortunate situation.”

Sheriff Tom Howard – Ohio County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Howard says each day brings new scenarios and every time a call comes in, it must be approached as a dangerous one.

”We have to be very, very safe and just treat every situation differently. It’s not the same thing every call. So, every call is a new call, no matter if you dealt with that person or family several times before. It’s a brand new call every time you go.”

Sheriff Tom Howard – Ohio County Sheriff’s Office

The training that it takes to become a law-enforcement officer is very important, but Sheriff Howard says it is equally important to continue training throughout ones career.

”If you just did, these state bare qualifications, it’s basically you’re qualifying saying you’re certified to carry, you know, a pistol. With what we do is far above it, all kinds of different trainings we do like the active shooter drill today, it’s preparedness we’re trying to prepare, you know, to work with everything we work with.”

Sheriff Tom Howard – Ohio County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Howard says the country is on pace for one of the deadliest years for officers being killed in the line of duty and the only way to reduce that number is to prepare for any possible situation.

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