Recognized for training efforts that save lives of fellow officers
For years, Capt. Mark Candies and Cpl. Randy Pollet have helped keep their fellow police officers a little safer — and that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
The two St. Charles Parish officers were recently inducted into the Monadnock Hall of Fame for their efforts in training fellow law enforcement personnel in self-defense and survival tactics.
The award is given to instructors who have demonstrated dedication, professionalism, and a commitment to saving lives while advancing the educational programs of Monadnock with the criminal justice community.
“It definitely came as a surprise to each of us,” said Candies. “I had to go back and read the email again … I thought they sent it to the wrong person. I was speechless … it’s a great honor. I consider it one of, if not the highlight of my 31-year law enforcement career because it’s coming from police officers.
“We all have the same vision, to save as many lives of both law enforcement and civilians as possible.”
Pollet concurred, noting both officers were also surprised to learn they were the lone senior-level instructors inducted into the Hall — there are three levels of instructors, with master instructor topping the list. All other inductees have been at the master level.
“I was awestruck,” Pollet said. “I didn’t know the organization even had such an award, and then to find out everyone in it is a master instructor except for Mark and I, that was really special to me. This award probably meant more to me than a lot of other accomplishments in my life (because of the respect he has for those who voted). It’s a family, and to be recognized by that family, it’s truly an honor.”
Monadnock Lifetime Products, Inc. is a weapons manufacturer that has provided equipment to law enforcement and private security companies since 1958. Monadnock manufactures several models of police baton.
The company also holds an international instructors conference every year, which has been held in the New Orleans area from 2000-2004 and 2011 onward. It was moved out of the area post-Katrina, but Candies and Pollet were instrumental in bringing it back and connecting it with theSt. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, which co-sponsors the conference.
This year, 345 officers attended from 19 different states and five foreign countries. Over 150 Monadnock master instructors attended to teach.
“It’s a worldwide thing,” Candies said. “But the biggest attraction of bringing it to the New Orleans area is that probably 70 percent of those students are Louisiana or New Orleans area officers. It’s local and they’re able to go and get that advanced training.”
The tactics Candies and Pollet teach range from showing the proper ways to deploy the Monadnock equipment to self-defense tactics like arm-bars, handcuffing, wristlocks and any kind of open-handed defensive tactics. Candies also teaches civilian response to active shooting while Pollet specializes in officer survival.
It can take a sacrifice of time and effort, especially when it’s time to coordinate everything for the convention, but both officers say it’s worth it.
“One of the trainers made a comment to my wife,” Pollet said. “He told her, ‘Mrs. Pollet, I know Randy’s taking his vacation time away from y’all to be here and do this, but his time here is allowing officers to go home to their wives. What he’s doing is saving lives.’ When I saw the tears in my wife’s eyes, (the importance of the training) hit home with me.”
Candies, the director of Training at the St. Charles Parish Training Academy, also knows the methods he and Pollet teach work and have had life-saving impact.
He recalled a phone call he received from Cpl. Burt Hazeltine, the St. Charles deputy who was shot three times in a 2015 incident while directing traffic in a Paradis school zone.
“He called me from his hospital room and told me, ‘I was calling to say thank you.’” Candies said. “’For what?’ He said, ‘Mark, that downed officer rescue tactical medical course you guys set up … I took that course last Thursday, and one week later I’m in a shooting. I’m telling you, the stuff y’all taught us in that course, as this was going on, what you guys were saying was going through my head. I firmly believe without taking that course, I would not have fared as well.’”
The words stick with Candies to this day as a reminder of why he does what he does.
“I will tell you, that is the biggest and most noteworthy compliment I have been given in my career, and that’s why we do it. If anything we do can help one person avoid injury or save their life, then everything else has been worth it.”
Be the first to comment