KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
April 5, 2023
By Natalie Cook Clark
Fulshear Police Department offers Rookie Responder, a safe driving course, free to all Katy area students. Some Katy ISD high schools have brought the program into their schools.
Photo credit: Captain Mike McCoy
Helping Students for 6 Years
Fulshear Police Captain Mike McCoy started Rookie Responder six years ago when he saw a need for it. While the class has been offered at some Katy ISD high schools, it is offered free on Wednesdays or for anyone who reaches out.
Does Your Student Know What To Do?
“I noticed that kids were very nervous while being pulled over and realized they do not teach this in driving school,” says Captain Mike McCoy, who also teaches about the risks of distracted driving in the class.
In addition to teaching new drivers (or about to be drivers) what to do when pulled over by an officer, the class emphasizes the extreme dangers involved with distracted driving. Since starting the program about six years ago, around 3,000 students have completed the class.
“It’s not a boring class,” says Captain McCoy. “It’s fun, it’s interactive and the kids end up loving and learning from it.”
Offered Wednesdays or By Invitation
The class is offered every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the city municipal complex
located at 6611 W Cross Creek Bend Blvd. The class can hold up to 23 people.
The hour-long program is offered free to schools when invited. So far this year, Captain McCoy has taught his class at Jordan and Taylor High Schools. Later this month he’s been invited to Tompkins High School.
According to Captain McCoy, the class helps not just the students but also parents and law enforcement.
“As law enforcement this is the most unpredictable danger an officer will face, is a traffic stop. We don’t know who we are pulling over,” says Captain McCoy. “This class will teach drivers the safety aspect of pulling over and help the officer feel more at ease.”
When the class is over the students will know exactly what to do when being pulled over by the police as well as the extreme dangers of extracted driving.
Captain McCoy believes that every student needs to know about dangers of distracted driving as it’s not taught in school.
According to the CDC, nine people are killed in the U.S. every day due to distracted driving.
“The distracted driver is a teen killer and must be taught to show the kids the true dangers behind distracted driving,” says Captain McCoy.
If you would like more information on the Rookie Responder class or to book group, email Captain Mike McCoy at mmccoy@fulsheartexas.gov.
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