Law enforcement training involves pepper spray to face, underwater diving; weekend arrest list; 911 call roundup

It takes a lot of work to be trusted with the responsibility of our community’s safety.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has recently been sharing photos of just how tough soon-to-be law enforcement officers have to be to earn their badges.

On July 16, the sheriff’s office posted these impressive yet cringe-worthy photos of recruits taking a squirt of pepper spray to the face. Not only did the recruits have to withstand the awful sensation, but they also had to practice drills like making an arrest while fighting through the burn.

Philip Weinmaster gets sprayed with OC (pepper spray) during academy.

Posted by Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, July 16, 2015

Andrew Haney gets sprayed with OC (pepper spray) during academy last week.

Posted by Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, July 16, 2015

Philip Weinmaster places the handcuffs on someone after being sprayed with OC at academy last week.

Posted by Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, July 16, 2015

Andrew Haney orders a "suspect" to the ground to place her in handcuffs during OC training at academy.

Posted by Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, July 16, 2015

The sheriff’s office wrote that the effects of pepper spray, a.k.a. Oleoresin Capsicum, “are not lasting and wear off after several minutes.” The sheriff’s office also posted these photos of recruits cooling their faces.

https://www.facebook.com/dgsosheriff/photos/pcb.432702700270551/432702550270566/?type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/dgsosheriff/photos/pcb.432702700270551/432702643603890/?type=1&theater

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Sheriff’s deputies and Lawrence police took part in a joint training last week with the Douglas County Underwater Search and Recovery Team and Douglas County Detectives.

The Underwater Search and Recovery Team is made up of both sheriff’s deputies and police officers who work together whenever possible evidence or other things may need to be retrieved from bodies of water, according to the sheriff’s office.

Posted by Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Friday, July 24, 2015

As you might’ve guessed, the training got a little wet, judging from sheriff’s office photos. I’m not sure where the exercise took place, but the sheriff’s office wrote that it was at an “area lake.” Officers are seen donning life jackets and wet suits.

Mik Shanks and Terry Haak place flags on an exercise earlier this week for the Douglas County Underwater Search and Recovery team.

Posted by Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Friday, July 24, 2015

Members of the Douglas County Underwater Search and Recovery team participated in an exercise earlier this week.

Posted by Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Friday, July 24, 2015

The sheriff’s office wrote that this underwater search and recovery drill is one of many trainings “year round and in all types of weather.”

Imagine deep diving into a frozen lake. Brrr!

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As per usual, there were quite a few people arrested over the weekend. I’m going to list a snapshot of different categories of arrests here, but if you’d like to see more details, you can check out the Douglas County Jail’s booking log here: http://www.dgso.org/web/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=228

Between Friday and Monday mornings:

– 21 people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

– Four people were arrested on suspicion of drug-related crimes

– One person was arrested on suspicion of criminal threat.

– 18 people were arrested on suspicion of failing to appear for a court date.

– One person was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery.

– Two people were arrested on suspicion of battery.

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And now for our daily roundup of police calls. I’m starting to notice the number of calls picking up, which I’m guessing has to do with students trickling back into town. That’s not necessarily because they’re up to no good, but likely just because of the sheer bump in population. Whatever it is, I expect the increase to continue as apartment leases expire Friday and a crop of new tenants move in next week.

As always, I’ll remind you that this is a list of noteworthy calls I pulled from the Lawrence Police Department call log. Not all calls yielded police reports, and many may have gone unsubstantiated. The list is meant to give you an idea of what kinds of calls police are responding to within a given time period.

This list is a collection of calls that police responded to between Friday afternoon and Monday morning:

Violence

– Disturbance (verbal or physical arguments): 12

– Domestic disturbance: 8

– Battery: 2

• Fight in progress: 2

– Shooting: 1

Traffic

– Noninjury accident: 22

• Injury accident: 3

Medical

– Medical: 12

– Suicide threat: 3

• Alcohol poisoning: 1

Person crimes

– Harassment: 5

– Sex Crime: 2

– Prowler: 1

Miscellaneous

– Suspicious activity: 7

– Suspicious activity with weapons: 2

– Noise/Nuisance: 15

– Sound of gunshots fired: 3

• Runaway: 2

Drugs

– Drug Activity: 1

Property crimes

– Burglary: 8

– Stolen vehicle: 2

– Criminal damage: 7

– Auto burglary: 3

– Theft: 15

– Trespassing: 8