Tactical Training Officers like to hear when Recruits are at the door of their office so they install thick boards of oak on the wall to be banged on, loudly.
When recruits pound on the board, Tactical Training Officers have been known to complain that they are unable to hear it.
These pieces of wood are tough and generally last a long time. The ones used by the Tactical Training Officers who train Deputy Sheriffs and Police Officers at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Regional Training Academy have withstood the pounding of fists from 49 classes of Recruits since they were donated by Basic Academy Class 136.
Sheriff’s Special Officer Class 36, which graduated in February, donated a thick oak board so future SSOs would be able to pound loud enough to be heard on the door of their Tactical Training Officers, Deputy Joseph J. Langhorne and Sheriff’s Special Officer Oliver Didio.
The new pounding board failed to make it through SSO Class 37.
SSO Class 37 member Tait Afualo was trying to be heard. Each time he thought the Training Officer was having trouble hearing his knock, he pounded a bit harder.
The SSO pounding board broke in two.
Afualo, who played offensive tackle for the Arizona Cardinals before joining the Department, said he was not trying to break the board, he just wanted his Training Officer to be able to hear him.
To view a video of the graduation ceremony, click ther play button below the screen.
Sheriff’s Special Officer Tait Afualo was one of 22 SSOs who graduated at the academy Wednesday after 580 hours of training over a 16 week period. All 22 were sworn as peace officers and many have said they hope to make a career of law enforcement.
The graduates join an SSO force that numbers 396 and works throughout the Department to help fulfill the Sheriff’s mission at John Wayne Airport, Courts Operations, Jail Operations, Orange County Transportation Authority and the Security Bureau. More...