It has been a busy time and I am way behind in my blogging..I will try to catch up..
All of our activities have been exciting and enlightening..
The Citizens Police Academy went to the firing range at the Marine
Military Academy ,where the instructors let us shoot different weapons and kept us safe at the same time. No small feat with this group!! We had some students who for some reason thought they knew more or just did not listen.
The first order of business was reading the
safety rules.
This is Sargent Gracia showing the stance we are trying to achieve but "it did not happen" although a few came close.
Sargent Garcia says,"FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER, FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER, DO IT MY WAY ",, this is
hollered many times to one shooter in this group. Finally a tap on shoulder by Officer Osborne and "finger off the trigger" is repeated,,, Oh ,
ok,
Sargent is just shaking his head.
Threat is the word you listen for as the
signal to fire your weapon.
Hold it this way. Feet apart, lean forward , bend your knees, feel the
shoulder pocket, lean into it , look down the barrel, line up the site, aim, listen for the word threat, then fire!! TARGET, what target?? I am just happy I did not kill anyone. Maybe driving the cars is more my thing..
Now , Any one want to shoot some slugs?
Everyone has a different stance.
Leo and Sid are the alumni who do a lot of the behind the scenes work setting thing up and helping the students. After we are
finished they get to shoot also.
For me the hardest part was reloading the clips with the
maxim 15 rounds. I told Officer Osborne I know I put at least 25 rounds into my clip.
Hold the pistol the correct way or your thumb/finger will "get bit".
One thing about this class,, we do eat.
Officer
Alvear spends the whole morning cooking on the grill for our noon meal.
Sargent stands behind us and shouts THREAT, and
watches, we are lucky to have his expertise in our class as he is going back to work in
narcotics after a 2 year break. He is a very patient and
knowledgeable instructor. We also had him with us on the driving course.
Are we looking good?
Watching to learn from others mistakes and learning..
Waiting for our turn in very pleasant surroundings. The "old" shooting range was quite primitive we are told. We are the first class to get to use the Military facilities.
Finally, just before leaving Officer Osborne tells us congratulations we have achieved our objective today....yea,, but what was that we ask???
He laughed and said ,"We are all going home with only the holes God gave us". We love our Officers..
--
The last night of class someone brought in a bag of donuts and we make Officers Dave Osborne and Fred Alvear pose with us. Dave Osborne says we are a "sick" group.
Hands off my donut.
Officers Fred Alvear and William Bilokury
Connie and Bob attended the dinner with me and Connie renewed her friendship with Officer Fred Alvear
We will miss spending Monday nights with Officer Osborne and his off beat sense of humor..
Our cool cake.
Police Chief Danny Castellio handing out our pins and Wood Engraved Plaques..
Everyone gets one of each , there were no tests or finals to cram for in this course , just a whole lot of fun and eye opening appreciation for our police force.
Sergeant Mike Garcia describes the timed course and gives us the rules and penalties.. 
Driving up to the 
