Law enforcement trains on emergency driving in Spokane County [Video]

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — The smell of burned rubber.

The squeal of tires.

It’s fast and loud and it’s as close to the real thing as officers can get off the road.

Around 130 law enforcement officers descended on Spokane County’s new training facility and track outside Medical Lake for ALERT International‘s annual driving training academy.

“Expose them to what that stress would be like in a real-life situation,” said ALERT International’s president Geoffrey Bush of Tuesday’s track day.

The group of volunteers helps officers get hands on the wheel training of pursuits, pit maneuvers and all that comes with it.

“How to recognize the dangers, how to keep their emotions under control because law enforcement is stressful to begin with,” Bush said.

The training comes less than four months since Washington state amended its police pursuit law, loosening strict restrictions to allow chases when there’s reasonable suspicion for virtually any …