Residents take a look at crashes, drug effects at second citizen’s academy

Editor’s Note: Appealdemocrat reporters are sitting in on sessions of the ongoing Marysville Police Department’s citizen’s academy. Stories appear once a week or so.

Residents took a look at some gnarly car crashes and the effects of drugs at the second citizen’s academy for the Marysville Police Department.

Marysville Sgt. Adam Barber and Officer Manny Cardoza reviewed traffic laws and myths Thursday night, as well as how officers identify various drugs.

“Dealing with regular people day-to-day is really stressful,” Barber told the class.

Traffic enforcement can be unpredictable and dangerous, he said, recalling a woman who was pulled over for texting and driving and ended up being arrested for felony assault on a peace officer. In order to pull over a vehicle, an officer must have a reason to stop the vehicle, and each element of the traffic statute in question must be proven in order to obtain a conviction.

Barber also went over a number of myths that drivers believe are illegal: Barefoot driving. Eating while driving. Driving with the interior light on.

Safely changing lanes while in an intersection. Darcy Knox listens to a presentation given on traffic enforcement and identifying drugs at the Marysville citizen’s academy on Thursday.

Departments do not have legal quotas for giving out tickets, though there are performance standards.

Motorists can get pulled over by officers outside of their jurisdictions.

Barber said officers have encountered a number of interesting traffic stops: like one person who colored in their entire license plate; or a person under the influence of drugs who hopped into a tow truck and stole it while two drivers were arguing.

The officers also discussed the various drugs and their effects on the body, and how law enforcement can spot when someone is under the influence:

On depressants (like heroin, alcohol, or benzodiazepines), people experience

a slowed pulse and breathing, lowered blood pressure, fatigue, slurred speech, and pinpoint pupils.

On stimulants (like cocaine, speed, and ecstasy), people experience restlessness, sweating, increased pulse and breathing, high blood pressure and dilated pupils

The officers also covered opioids and opiates and hallucinogens. The officers discussed seeing a rise in people driving under the influence of marijuana as well as prescription drugs. Barber recalled a time where a woman had mixed a sleeping pill and alcohol and had no idea she was even driving.

“One of the worst DUIS I’ve (responded to) was on Ambien,” Barber said.

Interim Police Chief

Christian Sachs also told the class that the department is working on training all personnel with Narcan pumps, which are used to reverse opioid overdoses. He plans for each officer to have Narcan pumps on hand so officers won’t have to wait for ambulances to arrive. It can also be used on officers if they accidentally are exposed to a drug.

Darcy Knox said she was surprised to learn that changing lanes in an intersection was legal.

“It’s just interesting, some of the traffic laws,” Knox said.

She joined the citizens academy because she said she has always been interested in law enforcement.

“It’s nice to hear things from their perspectives,” Knox said. “The dialogue is nice.”