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Students practice investigative skills in mock car crash

Posted at 8:16 PM, Jan 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-15 22:01:14-05

Copperas Cove High School students with a passion for criminal justice are putting their detective skills to the test.

Budding investigators surveyed a mock car crash to piece together what happened during a collision.

By asking questions, looking at the scene and taking measurements, students can make informed judgments in the fictitious accident reconstruction.

“We have a lot of extremely intelligent students who are apart of our courses who are taking the information and really running with the information they received,” said Kyle Herrera, a Copperas Cove High School teacher.

He says the course has fostered the growing interest in law enforcement in young students.

“It would be helpful if anyone wants to be a police officer,” said Kayla Pastrano, a junior with plans to one day serve as a police officer.

Pastrano is far from the only one in the class that has an interest in joining law enforcement.

“We learned about hostage negotiation, traffic and anything that you would use in the law enforcement career path,” said Caleb Frazer, a junior.

He says this is a course he would recommend to others.

Crime dramas have gained worldwide popularity. 

“Unfortunately, TV is our worst enemy. A crime is committed, investigated, solved and a conviction in 42 minutes. I think when they start seeing real world, what really goes on, such as in some of these classes and what you really have to do, to solve a crime and work an accident, I think some of these students are surprised that there is as much work that goes into it,” said Steve Adcock, former police officer and teacher.

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