The pinnacle of Basic Police Officer Training at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy is three days known as “Officer Survival.”
This part of the course is composed of reality-based scenario and de-escalation training exercises and first aid/tourniquet and trauma training.
“Officer Survival training teaches cadets how to work under stress with divided attention and increased heart rates,” said Ronaldo Ulibarri, lead instructor at the academy (which falls under the New Mexico Department of Public Safety). “Training for the performance of law enforcement duties and functions under stress and the ability to properly act in situations that are tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving are of the utmost importance. The training is tailored for the specific purpose of providing cadets with the skills necessary to survive a deadly force encounter.
“Officer survival is not merely training, it’s a mindset. The ability to think on their feet, making conscious decisions while performing critical functions/skills is the culmination of everything learned throughout the training cycle.”
This portion of the course provides an environment to demonstrate the skills and concepts that cadets were taught throughout the training cycle so they can ultimately be successful and survive a deadly encounter, per Ulibarri.
“It’s definitely an eye opener,” he said. “The stress level for the cadets substantially increases and really does put certain things into perspective for the cadet who is entering the profession of law enforcement. If they haven’t gotten a clear picture of certain aspects that the job entails, they definitely do after officer survival.”
Story by New Mexico Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer John Heil. Photos by DPS Media Relations Unit – Payton Santillanes.
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