Local law enforcement officers complete emergency vehicle operator course in Packwood

As a regular host for the annual Sports Car Club of America tour, the Packwood Mill is no stranger to fast cars navigating challenging courses.

On Wednesday, though, the mill site hosted a different kind of fast driver: members of local law enforcement completing an emergency vehicle operator course (EVOC).

Washington state law requires any officer engaging in a pursuit to have completed an EVOC within the last two years and to be certified in at least one pursuit intervention option, such as deploying stop sticks or conducting PIT maneuvers.

Wednesday’s training, which was overseen by local EVOC instructor Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Detective Skylar Eastman, involved teaching personnel how to properly deploy stop sticks and practice safely navigating both a skills course and a high-speed pursuit course.

Members of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Winlock Police Department, Toledo Police Department and Napavine Police Department participated in Wednesday’s training.

“We’d like to extend a special thanks to the Packwood Mill for letting us use the facility,” said LCSO Field Operations Bureau Chief Rick Van Wyck.