Police Cadets Learn Ins and Outs of Explosives

Loud cracks from each explosion faded into the blustery morning air Monday, and Lt. David Turner pointed out the different smoke explosives gives off.

He also shared stories of people around the world who were either injured or killed while handling them.

On Monday, cadets in the Lubbock Police Academy met for explosives training at the department's training facility. In the previous 13 of their 22 weeks of training, the cadets have gone through physical and some fire arms training.

Cadet Dave Lagoski, 26, said he is thankful to receive explosives training, which he said he believes is an advantage to any new officer about to hit the streets.

Joe Don Buckner / Staff Lt. David Turner, with the Lubbock Sheriff's Department, explains the uses of time detonator chord during an explosives class Monday at the Lubbock Police Department training range for the LPD police cadets. Order a print

For two hours, the 10 cadets met in a classroom for instruction on how to identify explosives and the protocol to follow if they find them.

Then the group went outside in brisk conditions for the real deal, and walked through the mobile units operated by the LPD and sheriff's department.

They detonated commercial explosives as well as military explosives.

"It's not every day you get to blow up some C-4," Lagoski said.

Joe Don Buckner / Staff A powder burn is ignighted during an explosives training for Lubbock police cadets at the LPD training range west of the Reese Technology Center. Order a print

"Most of what we teach was learned from other people's mistakes around the world," Turner said.

LPD Sgt. Jim Curtis said new officers in Lubbock go through four hours of explosives training - two in the class and two at the range - in one day.

He said it's a new element for the cadets, but beneficial.

"They have so much thrown at them in so little time," Curtis said. "They get a little overwhelmed."

Curtis said it is quite possible that some of the cadets from this class will join the bomb squad down the line.

Turner agreed, but was quick to add that chances are not likely.

"Some of the cadets are intrigued by the S.W.A.T. guys because they're so gung-ho about their jobs as if it's not tough enough just being a police officer," Turner joked. "But when it comes to the bomb squad, they're like 'I don't know about that.'"

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