City officers put to the test

An officer takes his turns on the driving qualifications range set up in a South Logan Street parking lot Wednesday afternoon under the watchful eye of Det. Sgt. Mike Segina, a crime scene specialist and training officer. Segina rode in the passenger seat for each trip, timing each loop around the course. Passing the Gaffney Police Department's annual driving qualifications test won't get you a license but would show you know how to handle a vehicle under stressful conditions.

Every officer in the department, from reserve officers all the way up to the chief, have to take the annual driving test which measures their precision and control behind the wheel.

While speed isn't a factor, the officers are judged against a stopwatch as they navigate a tight obstacle course lined with traffic cones. Any toppled cones add time penalties to their qualification time.

While it may be hard to visualize, the course was set up to simulate on-the-road hazards a police officer faces on a daily basis, from having to make quick turnarounds in tight spaces to avoiding collisions at intersections while en route to emergency situations.

For a more detailed story about the annual test, check out Tuesday's edition of The Weekly Ledger.