Firearms Training

The Law Enforcement Division's firearms training program provides essential training for the Department officers in this critical area of police service. Officers participate in police service sidearm training, off duty weapons training and police shotgun training.

Officers are subjected to inclement weather drills, decision making drills, stress fire drills, and firearms qualification.

The Department firearms staff implemented in 1997 a new training program for all officers. Then Sgt. Frank West (now Director) received training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training facility at Glynco, Georgia in "REALITY BASED SCENARIO TRAINING". West returned from training and then assisted in developing our program with the help of Sgt. James Chapman (retired) and Dep. Director Lynn Cook (retired). The training is based on the need for officers to be trained as realistically as possible when confronted with a potential life or death situation.

Department firearms equipped with training barrels allowing the firing of non-lethal marking cartridges are used by officers in training scenarios. These scenarios employ role players and portray typical situationsn officers may be confronted with during the course of duty. This gives officers the opportunity to practice safe and appropriate tactics, acquire the skills necessary to be able to confront, react and stabilize situations that they will face on a day-to-day basis, and receive coaching from expert trainers.