Growing up in Gillette, Wyo., 24-year-old Odessa Police Academy recruit Trenton Le Blanc was around firearms quite a bit as he hunted deer and elk.
Le Blanc said that his experience with hunting has allowed him to be familiar with firearms, but he explained that he has learned by leaps and bounds how to properly use a firearm for his training as a peace officer.
Le Blanc and seven other recruits in the 23rd session of the Odessa Police Academy braved the below freezing temperatures on Thursday morning at the Odessa Police Department’s firing range.
“Shooting while hunting is quite a bit different than the type of shooting that we are doing here, what we are doing here is to a save a life,” Le Blanc said. “Hunting, you have all the time in the world to take a shot, but training here is to be as quick and accurate, because somebody’s life may depend on it one day. I don’t want to be the one to go to someone’s family to tell them that I’m the reason they won’t get to see their loved one again.”
Six of the eight recruits in the 23rd session of OPA are from Odessa. The Odessans include 21-year-old Cameron Limon, his older brother 31-year-old Joseph Limon, 48-year-old Jeff Thomas, 23-year-old Joel Contreras, 27-year-old Chris Torres and 25-year-old Lorenzo Rivas. Joining Le Blanc from out of state is 25-year-old Californian Hector Gutierrez. Thomas and Rivas are going through OPA training to be fire marshals.
OPD range master and Sgt. Carlos Chavez said he sees continuous improvement as the recruits spent Thursday’s morning session firing their respective SIG Sauer P320 .40 caliber handguns from standing, kneeling and prone positions.
“This group has been pretty good,” Chavez said. “We have two military guys and they have done really well and four of the eight really haven’t ever shot, which is good because they don’t have any bad habits. When you have someone that doesn’t have any bad habits and you are training them, those are the best ones you can get.
“I got a couple others that have shot before and we have polished them up and they shooting a whole lot better. I’m not worried about this group.”
The final drill during Thursday’s morning session involved running, stopping and shooting. The first off the line during the final drill was Odessa High School graduate Cameron Limon.
Limon credits his competitive spirit as he was a starting cornerback for the Bronchos before he graduated in 2018. He said he also participated in track and field.
“I’ve been competitive ever since I was in high school playing sports,” Limon said. “I always wanted to be the first one to finish.”
Limon said he doesn’t have to look far for support as his older brother, Joseph Limon, is in the same OPA recruit classes. Cameron Limon said he and his brother can help each other whether it’s in the OPA classroom or while at home.
“We have each other to lean on, because the academy can be overwhelming,” Cameron Limon said. “We don’t just go to class and then we are done. We have to go home and study. It’s been a blessing to have him here.”
Le Blanc said that he has been pretty pleased with how much everyone has been able to learn during firearms training, however, he knows safety with firearms won’t end after the Odessa Police Academy.
“I knew I was going to learn, because you can never know everything,” Le Blanc said. “I’ve definitely learned a lot more this week than I anticipated I would and I still have a lot to learn.
Chavez said he has explained to the recruits about the importance of continuing to learn.
Chavez said he has been the range master since 2003 and a firearms instructor since 1994, but he keeps learning.
“Training, training, training,” Chavez said. “You can’t just get this training and that’s it. We tell them to continue to train. We want them to continue to get your skills up and keep your alertness up. I’ve been here for 34 years and I haven’t stopped learning.”
Recruits
>> Cameron Limon, 21, Odessa.
>> Trenton Le Blanc, 24, Wyoming.
>> Joseph Limon, 31, Odessa.
>> Jeff Thomas, 48, Odessa.
>> Joel Contreras, 23, Odessa.
>> Chris Torres, 27, Odessa.
>> Lorenzo Rivas, 25, Odessa.
>> Hector Gutierrez, 25, California.
