Twin Falls, Idaho (KMVT-TV) Every once in a while, we all need to learn something new for our jobs, and have to update our training. Police and other law enforcement agencies are no exceptions.

In high pressure and emergency situations, police men and women find themselves having to do plenty of things all at once.

Sgt. Tom Fowers, Training Coordinator for the Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office, says, "There are those times when it's very stressful, and someone who isn't able to function under those circumstances unfortunately isn't probably cut out to be in law enforcement."

Fowers says usually they spot those people who freeze up under stress during basic police academy training. The Idaho State Police Academy requires all law enforcement officers to get at least 32 hours of updated training every two years to retain their certification. Roughly 80 to 90 Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office members get up to 40 hours of training every year.

Fowers says, "The training covers subjects such as CPR and first aid, firearms training, emergency vehicle operation, weapon retention, sort of the core skills that law enforcement officers require and need to have."

Fowers says many times officers are driving a car at high speed, talking on the radio, and looking at a computer screen trying to get a background on the situation that they're going to. He says the training also helps officers who are moving from a uniform or patrol position to plainclothes duty.

Fowers says, "It's a different sort of equipment than they're accustomed to in the patrol setting. So we try to conduct some training of that nature every two or three months in order to help people transition to new assignments and be more comfortable with the equipment and be more comfortable with the equipment that they're carrying now."

Fowers says 95 percent of the time, law enforcement personnel are doing things like writing reports and taking statements from people. But they have to know how to keep things together in a crunch.

July 31, 2012.