The U.S. Secret Service has ordered a wide variety of GM vehicles for training purposes at its James J. Rowley Training Center (RTC) in Laurel, Maryland. The order of 10 vehicles includes some vehicles you’d expect, like a Chevy Suburban, a Cadillac Escalade, and a police-spec Chevy Tahoe. However, it also includes some surprises.
The other GM vehicles ordered by the Secret Service are a Chevy Colorado ZR2, two Chevy Corvettes, two Cadillac CT4s, and two Cadillac CT5s. All of the Cadillacs appear to be V-Series models, and at least two of them are Blackwings.
“One of the reasons RTC is so successful in our training mission is because of the relationships we have cultivated with other law enforcement entities and private-sector partners,” said Scott Simons, the Special Agent in Charge of RTC. “This opportunity with GM will be another tool we can use to innovate and advance our dynamic training.”
So, why does the Secret Service need such a wide variety of vehicles for training? “I think it is cool to try out all these different platforms to figure out what is going to fit, and what we can use,” RTC driving instructor Constantine Gerukos said. “The times are changing, and so is the rest of the world. So, we have to do the same thing.”
We know that at least two of the Cadillac sedans are Blackwing models because the Secret Service has specified that two of the sedans have manual transmissions. “Not everyone is able to operate a manual shift,” driving instructor Mark Armstrong said. “Having that platform here will enable us to give instruction on how to drive manual vehicles for overseas trips.”
“The students wouldn’t be expecting it,” instructor Brandon Bohonek said of the vehicles new to RTC. “We won’t have these vehicles in view. So, they won’t know it is out there. They may be expecting a (police) SUV, and all of a sudden, one of these vehicles rolls up. We try to make it as realistic as possible out here, which is not always easy to do.”
Secret Service agents might spend most of their driving time behind the wheel of a black full-size SUV, but the agents never know what they’re going to encounter. “Experience with different types of vehicles can help instructors teach students how to adapt their driving techniques based on the vehicle they are operating,” Simons said. “Because each vehicle handles differently in any given situation, exposure to new cars will challenge instructors and give them an opportunity to develop more realistic training scenarios.”
Comments
Amazing what happens on someone else’s dime!
exactly what i was thinking. damn joke!
I approve of this training!
“I think it is cool to try out all these different platforms to figure out what is going to fit, and what we can use”
So you’re planning on replacing the armored Suburbans with Corvettes and Blackwings?
Calling complete bull # on this; you’re just playing with taxpayer dollars. You’re welcome to experiment with different vehicles and fit some sleepers into the fleet (a Blackwing a sleeper??), but don’t think you should be “training” around a track with them.
Total BS.
The article sounded like if the secret service vehicle became not useable in the heat of the moment the driver needs to make a quick decision to take over a civilian vehicle to get away from a dangerous situation. That is why it is important to know a variety of vehicles. Automatic vs stick shift. Sports cars, sedans SUVs, police modify vehicles. I believe everyone should agree that we want anyone willing to put their life on the line to protect lives should be given the best training. Thank you!
In that case, they could save the taxpayers some money and pick up a few used Camrys, Civics (still available with manuals), Smart Fortwos…after all, they won’t necessarily have to drive brand-new cars in a pinch.
The best people that PROTECT PEOPLE. Need to have + deserve to have the best.
No matter what the cost. They may even save lives thanks to having the best.
They might even save “YOUR LIFE”. Or maybe not . Don*t save your life + save taxpayers a lot of money. I*m OKY DOKY with that. You are a genious.!!!!
i doubt it!
Fully agree, if things really go bad they should be prepared to commandeer any vehicle necessary and drive it to its potential.
BUT… at any given location, how many civilian Corvettes and Blackwings will sitting in the immediate vicinity? The Secret Service should train on mainstream vehicles most likely to be around: Silverados, F150’s, Camrys, etc.
where’s musk when you need him
Fully at work stealing the country blind, filling his pockets… Doing what a grifter does best.
Too busy. Musk is a man*s perfume. Musk is a men*s fragrance. tesla going bye bye. Needs to sell more “MUSK” ( musk get it??) Training how to say “Would you like to have
fries with that tesla?? Sarcasm??? What sarcasm???
As an experienced law enforcement person I rate this SS move as total bs and a waste of a lot of taxpayer money. Other than some grain of truth about knowing how to drive a manual trans vehicle for overseas matters this whole scheme is unneeded. In particular, high-speed operation, evasive maneuvers, and related training about vehicle dynamics encompasses pretty much what an operator needs to know. And remember this: the Executive Protection division of the SS is but a very small component of its total staff.
Should teach agents to properly holster their weapons before teaching them how to do burn outs in a Corvette on the taxpayers dime..
So much for Trump saving money.
Maybe you should learn to holster “‘YOUR MOUTH and PEN ”
That article has nothing to do with “WEAPONS ” . It*s about cars. Seems “YOU “can*tell the difference.
Great that you are not in LAW ENFORCEMENT.
So let’s see….Cut Medicaid, USAID, education, NOAA, etc. but spend money on this? Brillant(not!)
Wasteful incompetence at the top.