|
|
County’s police officers can train in real life situations with new computer program
| |
Above, Dwayne Litton, with the Kentucky Associations of Counties, demonstrated how to interact with the computer training program. The program will allow officers in Clinton County to train in real life situations without the use of live ammo. Observing the demonstration are Albany Police Sgt. Johnny Garner and Clinton County Sheriff Rick Riddle.
|
In Thursday, August 19, 2010 issue
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, along with the Albany Police Department, can now train for their jobs in the “comfort of their own home,” at least for the next 30 days.
The Kentucky Association of Counties, or KACo, has given the local law enforcement agencies a tool to help them train in real life situations without the risk of injury or without using live ammo.
The tool is a computer based simulation. When projected on a “smart screen,” officers can interact and fire a special weapon at the screen. The weapon is a Glock 19, 9mm handgun, transformed into a training aid. Live ammo is not used, but rather a laser is projected from the end of the gun in order to connect with what is happening on the screen.
“This type of training saved my life,” Dwayne Litton, KACo Loss Control Specialist, said. “That’s what it’s all about ... to try and get that real life training.”
The simulation is set up in the upstairs of the Albany Police Department. Training can be done with no less than two people, one running the computer program and one person going through the simulations.
The computer program can simulate computer generated targets as well as allow police officers to interact with a real life video.
The real videos were shot and set up by KACo from actual shootings that officers have encountered over the past several years.
One of the videos was recreated from an actual situation Litton was put in one day on the job. Litton was once a law enforcement officer and many of the situations used in the program were of his design. Other than being a former deputy, he is also a firearms instructor and teaches a defensive driving class for law enforcement agencies.
“We are thrilled we are able to provide all the sheriff’s departments through grants, to set up this program,” Litton said. “We are trying to bring everybody into the 21st century. We are trying to provide quality training for law enforcement.”
In addition to being provided at a no-cost basis for the Albany Police Department and Clinton County Sheriff’s Department another benefit is that officers don’t have to buy ammo to go through the training.
“We will still have to qualify on shooting our real weapons, but this training is using the same guns we use on the job, so it helps us get more comfortable handling our weapons,” Sheriff Rick Riddle said. “It’s a good thing. It will help out a lot.”
The computer program is set for mainly one shooter, but the program is compatible with multiple firearms where two officers can go through situations they may encounter while on the job.
“It can do all different things,” Police Chief Ernest Guffey said. “You can pick different scenarios and the police department can use it for target practice.”
During the initial set up of the program last Thursday, August 12, several officers were on hand to view how the program worked, in addition to Mayor Nicky Smith who is retired a law enforcement officer, and Judge/Executive Lyle Huff.
Smith, having a background in law enforcement, tried his hand at the program and completed several different situations.
Both Smith and Huff were in agreement the program will greatly benefit both the Albany Police Department and the sheriff’s department over the next 30 days.
Send this page to a friend
|
|
