Many noticed the presence of Sampson County Sheriff vehicles in Bladen County this week. Friday, June 21 concluded a weeklong training event for the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office Enforcement Division. The training was for Pursuit/Precision Driving and Forced Vehicle Stops conducted by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office Training Division.
The training was conducted at the First Responder’s Training Facility and at the Curtis Brown airfield in Elizabethtown. There were 85 deputies in attendance this week, according to Sergeant Gary Turlington with the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.
“This is an example of the fulfillment of the expectations of the Bladen County First Responders Training Center being utilized to prepare our first responders to more efficiently protect and serve the citizens of our region,” Sgt. Turlington said.
This year the facility has been the site of training for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Regional Fireman and Emergency Service Personnel, NC Wildlife Enforcement Division personnel, law enforcement from Bladenboro, Elizabethtown, White Lake, Tabor City, Whiteville, and the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office along with a myriad of other agencies from the region, according to Turlington.
Additionally, the second Marine division 22nd Expeditionary Training group just completed a training iteration at the beginning of June at the facility where over 150 Marines were present as indicated in an earlier article published on BladenOnline.com.
“Although the training center is far from being completed, we utilize what we have to the best of our abilities,” Turlington said.
During a year’s time the Sheriff’s Office has brought in well over a 1,000 first responders to the training center. All the training bolsters the local economy and prepares our regional first responders to more efficiently conduct the task of protecting our citizenry.
About Author
