Training day: Quincy cops hone their skills at Ephrata airport

Quincy Police Officer Brad Poldervart stands alert during a simulated high-risk stop as part of a day of training. Several officers participated in various exercises on an unused runway at the Ephrata Municipal Airport on Tuesday.

Quincy Police Officer Sal Mancini stands alert during a simulated high-risk stop. This exercise and others help police hone skills in a safe environment that doesn’t place the public at risk.

A Quincy Police car makes a tight turn on the slalom portion of a high-speed driving course during the training event.

Quincy Police Officer Sal Mancini (left) and Sgt. Jorge Trujillo slowly advance on a suspect vehicle during a simulated high-risk traffic stop. Officers say they never know what can happen during a traffic stop.

Quincy Police Officer Brad Poldervart (left) and Sgt. Jorge Trujillo (right) arrest a “suspect” played by Quincy Animal Shelter assistant Daniel Reyes during training at the Ephrata Airport on Tuesday.

Quincy Police Officer Sal Mancini gives Officer Jerry Martinez some pointers on properly throwing a spike strip during the Tuesday training. Proper deployment of the spike strip takes practice.

Quincy Police Detective Damon Powell points out the path of the high-speed driving course Quincy Police Department officers will follow during driving exercises on Tuesday.

Quincy Police Officer Jerry Martinez throws a spike strip — spikeless for training purposes — in front of a speeding vehicle as Officer Sal Mancini watches.

Quincy Police Officer Jerry Martinez (center) throws a spike strip — spikeless for training purposes — as Detective Damon Powell (left) and Officer Sal Mancini (right) watch.

Quincy Police Sgt. Jorge Trujillo talks briefly with Sgt. Julie Fuller prior to driving the Emergency Vehicle Operation Course during Quincy Police Department training.

Officers with the Quincy Police Department walk down an unused runway at the Ephrata Municipal Airport after checking out the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course, which they all drove through twice during training on Tuesday.