CCSD students put law enforcement, EMS skills to the test

You can watch a video of the senior capstone project here.

Students from Veterans Tribute Career and Technical Academy (VTCTA) walked into what appeared to be a car crash, with an injured suspect and multiple witnesses. 

The scenario was part of the senior capstone project for the school’s programs focused on preparing students for careers in public service. The event brought together students from the Emergency Medical Services, Law Enforcement, 911 Dispatch and Forensic Science programs to see how specific skills are used in the field.

“We are able to stage a real-life situation that allows our students to use the skills they learned in class and put them into practical application,”  VTCTA Principal Jason Ginoza said. “We are fortunate to have our partners evaluate our students. So it is actual law enforcement personnel, public safety personnel evaluating our students.”

The stage was set for the scenario at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Joint Emergency Training Center. The students were shadowed by personnel from LVMPD, North Las Vegas Police Department, Clark County School District Police Department, Henderson Police Department and Community Ambulance.

While it was staged, the nerves were real for the students putting their skills to the test for a grade.

“First one, it was definitely scary. My heart was definitely racing,” VTCTA Senior Alex Koopman said. “It was a calm environment, yet there was so much going. With my second pass-through, I more so knew what to do.”

Koopman served as a law enforcement officer in the scenario, working to investigate the crash as the paramedic team worked to treat the victim. 

“It was a fun experience,” Alexander Alavez, a student in the EMS program, said. “There you have a patient screaming at you, you have police questioning you. You just don’t know where to start. You just have to start somewhere and then work our way on.”

Principal Ginoza said the mock scenario is meant to prepare the students for industry certifications and to give them a perspective on the careers they are pursuing.

“Making it as realistic as possible is important,” Ginoza said. “Practicing the proper way allows you to decrease your anxiety.”

While the students admitted to a few jitters early on in the process, they felt confident in their skills by the end and were thankful for the advice provided by the teachers and law enforcement partners working by their side.

“It is a proud day for us to watch our students perform and compete with confidence,” Ginoza said. “The thing that makes me smile is the joy they have from doing that and the pride teachers have in watching them do that.”

To learn more about Veterans Tribute Career and Technical Academy, visit vtcta.org/.