NAFA NorCal-Northern Nevada Go CHPs For A Day

At one point or another in nearly everyone’s life, people have wondered what it would be like to be a police person. This is especially true in California where, many decades after the television series CHiPs ignited the lure of cruising the PCH while fighting crime, people still are fascinated by the possibilities.

On June 18, NAFA’s NorCal-Northern Nevada Chapter took a tour of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Motor Transport Section, home of their fleet operations center in West Sacramento where every CHP fleet vehicle is upfitted and put into service for the entire state.

 

Jack Brackney, Shop Operations Manager conducted the tour, answering the many questions of the 43 members that attended this event. Unfortunately, the assembly line was idle due to the absences of vehicles to build. (The fleet managers present understood there were delays related to the procurement and selection process.) Jack walked attendees through the shops, showing the set-up preparation. Visitors were immersed in all aspects of prepping CHP marked and unmarked units and getting them into the field.

 

Captain Steve Mills gave us the inside view of life of a CHP Cadet as attendees sat with them during the lunch break. The CHP Academy is a very militaristic-boot camp environment, and may have been an intense, new experience for first time visitors to the training facility.

 

Janice Samuelson and NAFA Member Iseña Garcia, City of Sacramento, got up-close-and-personal with the CHP Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC). The Chapter offers their thanks to the instructors and officers for a fabulous demonstration on the course and the ride-alongs. We’re certain it was an experience they will never forget.  



Thanks to David Worthington, Fleet Manager-County of Sonoma, for shooting and editing of this EVOC ride-along video.

There is considerable difficulty brought to Academy staff to take time to plan and coordinate an event of this nature. With as many members as attended, their efforts are truly appreciated by the NorCal-Northern Nevada Chapter and we thank the California Highway Patrol for the opportunity.  
Special thanks to Chapter Chair Dan McCann for material in this article.