The St. Martin Parish Sheriff小蝌蚪APP檚 Office donated a Firearms Training Simulator to the UL Lafayette Police Department on Wednesday during a ceremony at Abdalla Hall.
Law enforcement and security personnel from around the area will use the virtual training system to practice decision-making skills during mock scenarios that play out on a portable video screen.
The Firearms Training Simulator, which was developed by Meggitt Training Systems, combines elements of virtual technology to test officers小蝌蚪APP ability to resolve potentially deadly situations. They are forced to make split-second decisions as to whether they will need to use a firearm, a baton, pepper spray or verbal commands.
Officers who use the system train in a safe, controlled environment, but often experience physiological and cognitive changes that could affect their reactions and judgment, said 小蝌蚪APP Police Chief Joey Sturm.
小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP檚 the next best thing to being in an actual situation,小蝌蚪APP Sturm said. 小蝌蚪APP淒efensive tactics instructors and firearms instructors can observe and monitor the scenario, and give feedback to the officer.小蝌蚪APP
Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, thanked the St. Martin Parish Sheriff小蝌蚪APP檚 Office for making the training system 小蝌蚪APP渁vailable to not only the 小蝌蚪APP Police force, but also police forces throughout Acadiana.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淭his is going to improve public safety, which is in everyone小蝌蚪APP檚 best interest, and we小蝌蚪APP檙e committed to doing the best that we can to share this sophisticated technology with as many law enforcement officers as possible,小蝌蚪APP Savoie said.
The system will be housed at the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Emergency Operations Center, a location that will benefit law enforcement personnel from the St, Martin Parish Sheriff小蝌蚪APP檚 Office and the 小蝌蚪APP, as well as other area agencies.
小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP檚 all part of a regional skills training concept, where we train regionally with area law enforcement,小蝌蚪APP Sturm said. 小蝌蚪APP淲e have the space, and we小蝌蚪APP檙e centrally located as a hub in Lafayette.小蝌蚪APP
Representatives of UL Lafayette, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff小蝌蚪APP檚 Office, and Broussard and Henderson police departments attended the event.
St. Martin Parish Sheriff Ronald Theriot said housing the equipment at UL Lafayette will provide better access and training opportunities for more agencies. 小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP檚 a win-win situation for everyone,小蝌蚪APP he said.
Photo: Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, (left), and St. Martin Parish Sheriff Ronald Theriot, sign an agreement to house a virtual training system for area law enforcement personnel at UL Lafayette. Standing are Broussard Police Chief Brannon Decou and 小蝌蚪APP Police Chief Joey Sturm.