02-22-2007, 04:21 PM
Rash of Crashes in Western North Carolina Involved Rookie Law Officers
Five high-speed crashes in McDowell and Buncombe counties since December have involved rookie law officers, including a wreck that killed a 2-year-old girl.
Four others suffered severe injuries in the crashes.
Officials say western North Carolina lacks the proper facilities to properly train officers for chases and other high-speed response.
"Until you put them behind the wheel on a course that allows them to pursue the other vehicle and drive the speed, it's very difficult for them to hone their skills," said Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan.
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College could fill that gap.
The college is in negotiations to buy land for a roughly $4 million track that would give officers training in chases and high-speed evasive maneuvers without putting lives on the line, said Max Queen, vice president of continuing education.
North Carolina mandates that officers get 40 hours of driving instruction during the 624-hour Basic Law Enforcement Training, said Dianne Davis, director of A-B Tech's law enforcement academy. All but eight of those hours are spent behind the wheel.
The Highway Patrol requires nearly 100 hours of driving training.
Five high-speed crashes in McDowell and Buncombe counties since December have involved rookie law officers, including a wreck that killed a 2-year-old girl.
Four others suffered severe injuries in the crashes.
Officials say western North Carolina lacks the proper facilities to properly train officers for chases and other high-speed response.
"Until you put them behind the wheel on a course that allows them to pursue the other vehicle and drive the speed, it's very difficult for them to hone their skills," said Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan.
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College could fill that gap.
The college is in negotiations to buy land for a roughly $4 million track that would give officers training in chases and high-speed evasive maneuvers without putting lives on the line, said Max Queen, vice president of continuing education.
North Carolina mandates that officers get 40 hours of driving instruction during the 624-hour Basic Law Enforcement Training, said Dianne Davis, director of A-B Tech's law enforcement academy. All but eight of those hours are spent behind the wheel.
The Highway Patrol requires nearly 100 hours of driving training.