Etowah County Deputies Undergo Advanced Training to Enhance Traffic Stop Safety

Photo by Etowah County Sheriff's Office

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Public Safety | May 27, 2026

ETOWAH COUNTY, Ala. — Deputies with the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office are undergoing updated tactical training aimed at increasing safety and preparedness during some of the most dangerous encounters law enforcement officers face — felony traffic stops, now commonly referred to as Known Risk Traffic Stops.

Sheriff Jonathon Horton said one of his ongoing commitments to the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office is ensuring deputies remain properly trained, equipped, and prepared for the realities of modern law enforcement.

According to the sheriff’s office, all deputies are currently being placed through an updated training curriculum designed to enhance officer safety, improve communication, and reduce risk for everyone involved during high-risk vehicle encounters.

Chief Deputy Josh Morgan explained that the training, known as Vehicle Closed Quarter Battles (VCQB), reflects evolving law enforcement practices and terminology.

“VCQB, which is Vehicle Closed Quarter Battles, most people would have known it as a traffic felony stop. We refer to it now as a known risk stop,” Morgan said.

Known Risk Traffic Stops are considered among the highest-risk situations deputies encounter, particularly in incidents involving vehicle pursuits, weapons, violent offenders, or intelligence indicating a heightened threat.

“It could be an event from a post-vehicle pursuit or a stop where we know the person does have weapons,” Morgan said.

The updated training program is rooted in case law, analytics, science, and human behavior, providing deputies with a more strategic and safety-focused framework for handling high-stakes situations.

A major focus of the training includes updated positioning tactics intended to provide deputies with greater protection during dangerous encounters. Rather than relying solely on a patrol car door for cover, deputies are being trained to use the overall structure of their vehicle as a protective barrier when responding to potential threats.

“Through the years, you would see officers get out and take cover behind their doors of their car,” Morgan explained. “This new technique has officers taking positions behind their vehicle. They use the build of the vehicle for protection against gunfire.”

In addition to defensive positioning, deputies are also receiving close-quarter combat instruction to prepare for situations where service weapons may need to be deployed in confined environments, including inside or around vehicles.

Morgan said communication and coordination among deputies are also critical components of the training.

“Logistically, communication when everybody is on the same page is a lot better,” Morgan said. “Overall, if it’s safer for our deputies, it’s safer for the community.”

The sheriff’s office said the training will continue over the coming weeks as all divisions and units complete instruction, with the goal of ensuring every deputy becomes proficient and certified in the updated techniques.

“This is what investing in your law enforcement looks like,” the sheriff’s office stated. “Sheriff Horton and the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office are committed to getting it right.”

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