CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A special simulation is giving law officers in San Patricio County a more controlled, but very real example of high-speed chases and how to safely navigate them.
San Patricio County Sargent Investigator Austin Tucker said that when officers are called to crime scenes, it's easy to forget roadway safety.
"We get what's called tunnel vision, it happens to everybody, it's adrenaline," Tucker said.
He said that it's a feeling he knows all too well, especially when he has to get behind the wheel to travel far distances, often spanning hundreds of miles.
"We typically put 3,000 to 4,000 miles on a car a month for traffic enforcement, things of that nature it gets pretty dangerous for us," Tucker said.
He said that while his department has seen six claims this year involving police vehicles, it's still good to sharpen their defensive driving skills.
"I've gone through this training three times since 2004, it really helps you get back to the basics and reminds you of the small tips that help you drive safer," Tucker said.
Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Rob Mallory said that when it comes to areas like Nueces County, those numbers tend to look a little bigger.
"There have been 82 crashes involving emergency response vehicles, so police, fire, EMS, in the Nueces, San Patricio area," Mallory said.
He said that when it comes to responding to calls quickly and keeping residents safe, it can become a balancing act. He said that's why digital simulations are paramount for public safety.
"Coach and mentor folks through those things and allow them to practice those skills without putting patrol cars on the roadways," he said.