High School Welding Class Works with Wash. Police Force to Modify Cruisers for Training

Students in an advanced high school welding class are fabricating and installing pit bars to allow two decommissioned Kelso police cruisers to be used to practice PIT maneuvers.
Oct. 20, 2025
3 min read

What to know

  • High school welding students are partnering with the Kelso Police Department to outfit two decommissioned vehicles for PIT maneuver training.

  • Students are fabricating and installing reinforced pit bars to help the vehicles withstand repeated impact.

  • The first vehicle is expected to be completed by late November, with work on the second beginning next trimester.

Kelso High School's advanced welding classes are partnering with the Kelso Police Department to modify two decommissioned vehicles for officers to train with.

Kelso Police will use the vehicles to practice Precision Immobilization Technique maneuvers, or PIT maneuvers, which are used to end vehicle pursuits, according to a district press release.

Students led by welding instructor Steve Mahitka are fabricating and installing pit bars to allow the training vehicles to withstand repeated impacts without being damaged. They expect to finish the first vehicle by late November. Work on the second vehicle will begin next trimester.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to work on something that will be put to good use," said student Dale Pippin in the news release, "not just for a grade."

Kelso High School's advanced welding classes are partnering with the Kelso Police Department to modify two decommissioned vehicles for officers to train with.

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Kelso Police will use the vehicles to practice Precision Immobilization Technique maneuvers, or PIT maneuvers, which are used to end vehicle pursuits, according to a district press release.

Students led by welding instructor Steve Mahitka are fabricating and installing pit bars to allow the training vehicles to withstand repeated impacts without being damaged. They expect to finish the first vehicle by late November. Work on the second vehicle will begin next trimester.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to work on something that will be put to good use," said student Dale Pippin in the news release, "not just for a grade."

Kelso High School's advanced welding classes are partnering with the Kelso Police Department to modify two decommissioned vehicles for officers to train with.

Stay up to date on Lower Columbia news, wherever you go

Access the latest Lower Columbia news in The Daily News app that lets you select the topics that matter most to you.

Kelso Police will use the vehicles to practice Precision Immobilization Technique maneuvers, or PIT maneuvers, which are used to end vehicle pursuits, according to a district press release.

Students led by welding instructor Steve Mahitka are fabricating and installing pit bars to allow the training vehicles to withstand repeated impacts without being damaged. They expect to finish the first vehicle by late November. Work on the second vehicle will begin next trimester.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to work on something that will be put to good use," said student Dale Pippin in the news release, "not just for a grade."

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