TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Since the pandemic has created sporadic shutdowns and backups at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, the Terre Haute Police Department has stepped up by hosting remote academy training. On Feb. 15, THPD began training its recruits as well as officers and deputies from Knox County’s Sheriff’s Office, Greene County’s Sheriff’s Office, the Sullivan Police Department, the Shelburn Police Department, Clay County’s Sheriff’s Office, the Brazil Police Department, Vigo County’s Sheriff’s Office and the West Terre Haute Police Department.
THPD had never conducted remote academy training before, but as it noted on its Facebook page, “Unprecedented times calls for unprecedented measures.”
Ryan Adamson, THPD Public Information Officer, said the makeshift academy is going well despite some expected bumps.
“Obviously, technology is always a bump, right? It’s great when you need it, but it’s a double-edged sword,” Adamson said. “Sometimes it goes haywire and sometimes we have problems with it, but look — it’s nothing that we can’t work with, it’s nothing that we can’t work past.”
Though training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy would be a more ideal situation, THPD is making the most with what they have at their facilities.
“These women and men will never forget this experience,” Adamson said. “It’s to keep them safe. Ultimately, when they’re safe, their communities are safe. That’s the end goal, right? To create safer communities and that’s what we are establishing and that’s what we’re doing here.”
Adamson said it’s been meaningful for the THPD to host this remote police academy.
“It’s a close-knit group,” he said. “It’s a great way to network, especially with officers from surrounding counties and our women and men make the best with what they have.”
