🚔 CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY NINTH SESSION: GEAR, DRONES, AND REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS

By: Tyter Beadle

BISHOP, CA –

On December 4, 2025, the ninth and second-to-last session of the Third Bishop Community Police Academy turned into a hands-on and interactive night. Corporal Burton from Bishop PD and Inyo County Sheriff’s Office Nate G. (filling in for Sergeant Hohenstein) treated our nine-student class to a full showcase of patrol equipment, the Special Enforcement Detail (SED), officer-safety tools, and live-action scenarios from drone footage to bodycams. The room was filled with gear: tables lined with rifles, less-lethal launchers, ballistic shields, breaching tools, night-vision goggles, and every other gadget you can think of; But this time, we got to pick them up and ask questions. Nate G., one of Inyo County’s certified drone and robot operators, wheeled out a police robot that looked like Wall-E, some robot cars with cameras, and many different types of drones. He flew a drone around the classroom with surgical precision, showing us just how precise they are. He even let us take the controls and test some of the robot cars. (Photos and videos of all this gear are attached.)

We learned the SED team, our regional SWAT equivalent, is made up of highly trained officers from Bishop PD, Mammoth Lakes PD, and both Inyo and Mono County Sheriff’s Offices. To earn a spot, members must pass an annual fitness test that is beyond standard patrol requirements. Corporal Burton explained the two main chemical agents in use: OC (pepper spray) and CS (tear gas particles), plus the difference between smoke grenades and actual flashbangs. He then rolled footage of “Badger,” the aging but still-kicking armored SWAT truck shared by Inyo and Mono Counties. It may crawl uphill at walking speed, but when bullets are flying, slow and steady wins the day.

The real fun started outside in the December chill. Burton set off a live flashbang (the boom echoed off the mountains, video is already up on Sierra Wave Media’s Facebook) before splitting us into teams for force-on-force scenarios. My partner Steven and I drew first. We approached a “suspicious subject” pacing near an intersection. Using the tactics we’d just learned, loud commands and distance, we talked the guy into raising his hands up. Success! The next team wasn’t so lucky. In seconds, their “subject” spun, yanked a (fake) pistol from his waistband, and you get the rest. Burton and Nate G. explained the scenario, showing exactly where communication broke down and how fast a routine call can turn deadly. We walked back inside for questions, then Sergeant Scobie adjourned the session.

Next Thursday, December 11, we’ll have a short final lesson, receive our certificates, and celebrate with a dinner. The last ten weeks have flown by, and I am grateful for the opportunity Bishop PD gave us. Thank you to Corporal Burton, Nate G., Sergeant Scobie, and every officer who gave us their time. This academy has been one of the coolest things I’ve ever done, and I hope this series has shown readers just how much heart and skill go into keeping our little corner of the Eastern Sierra safe. For more information on the Bishop Police Department, this class, or future ones, contact them directly. Questions about my article or writing? Email [email protected].