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Lots of news releases roll into the Grist’s inbox in a year, and we sort them out, using the good ones, letting others go, making sure they are directly focused on the Methow Valley. This one isn’t. But it was too good to send to the trash, so we’re presenting it as it was written, in the Wordspot:
Olympia Woman Arrested 700 Times by State Patrol
Community Volunteers Help Train WSP Cadets
(Olympia)— Emme (EM-ee) McAbee has no criminal record, even though she has more than 700 arrests by members of the Washington State Patrol.
At least 300 of her arrests have come during burglaries of the same Shelton-area cafeteria, while hiding in the same cupboard, under the same coffee pot.
Her most recent dozen or so contacts came recently, as both a victim and perpetrator of domestic violence.
No, Emme McAbee doesn’t have a criminal record. The record she does have is one of distinguished service to the men and women of the Washington State Patrol- and by extension to all the people of Washington. McAbee is a volunteer actress at the Patrol’s Academy in Shelton, participating in mock scenes to help future troopers get ready for life on the street.
This wife, mother and bookkeeper has a unique acting talent: she has mastered the art of loud and profane verbal abuse.
“I really try to light ‘em up,” McAbee said of the cadets she helps train. “I don’t swear around the house, but these cadets are going to hear it for real when they become troopers. I want to make sure I’m worse than anything they’ll get in real life.”
Academy Commander Captain Marc Lamoreaux says it’s rare for members of the public to start yelling, but sooner or later every trooper is in the verbal cross-hairs.
“We take pride in our ability to ignore rude behavior and focus on doing our jobs in a professional manner,” Lamoreaux said. “Emme’s acting ability gives cadets a chance to learn that the yelling and swearing is really just noise. It also gives instructors a chance to see how each cadet reacts.”
Cadets frequently cite McAbee’s acting as the most memorable part of what the patrol calls “Mega-Practicals,” two days of responding to mock scenes staged around the Academy. Mega-Practicals are the final stages of training before cadets leave the Academy for nearly two months of riding with experienced troopers called “coaches.”
During a recent round of Mega-Practicals, cadets not only responded to McAbee’s case of roadside domestic violence, but they took turns investigating mock collisions, making mock felony stops, arresting mock DUIs, and of course writing mock tickets.
They even had to face mock reporters showing up at scenes seeking information.
This particular group of cadets make up the Patrol’s 100th Trooper Basic Training Class, and will formally graduate at the end of their coaching trips on Dec. 14th.
11/12/2012
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