It takes a lot to become one of Lubbock's finest and on Tuesday, some of the latest police recruits found out exactly how painful some of the training can be.Eight cadets have just one month left of their 23-week program and Tuesday was pepper spray training. Every Lubbock officer carries the spray every day on the job because it's a non-lethal way of protecting themselves, but before the recruits can become officers they have to prove they can take the spray themselves and continue on with their work. All the cadets passed the test and say it was painful, but worth it.
"It's a pretty rough experience getting sprayed in the face with pepper spray. It locks you down. I could not breathe I'm moving around blinded as you can tell and I'm just kind of lost. It's worth it. I love this job its the greatest thing in the world," says Tino Blanco, one of the recruits. This group of recruits will graduate in just a month. Then, most of them are hoping to become officers right here in the Hub City.
This group of recruits will graduate in just a month. Then, most of them are hoping to become officers right here in the Hub City.