The St. Martin Parish Sheriff杏吧专区檚 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杏吧专区 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 杏吧专区 Police Chief Joey Sturm.
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 the next best thing to being in an actual situation,杏吧专区 Sturm said. 杏吧专区淒efensive tactics instructors and firearms instructors can observe and monitor the scenario, and give feedback to the officer.杏吧专区
Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, thanked the St. Martin Parish Sheriff杏吧专区檚 Office for making the training system 杏吧专区渁vailable to not only the 杏吧专区 Police force, but also police forces throughout Acadiana.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淭his is going to improve public safety, which is in everyone杏吧专区檚 best interest, and we杏吧专区檙e committed to doing the best that we can to share this sophisticated technology with as many law enforcement officers as possible,杏吧专区 Savoie said.
The system will be housed at the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Emergency Operations Center, a location that will benefit law enforcement personnel from the St, Martin Parish Sheriff杏吧专区檚 Office and the 杏吧专区, as well as other area agencies.
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 all part of a regional skills training concept, where we train regionally with area law enforcement,杏吧专区 Sturm said. 杏吧专区淲e have the space, and we杏吧专区檙e centrally located as a hub in Lafayette.杏吧专区
Representatives of UL Lafayette, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff杏吧专区檚 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. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 a win-win situation for everyone,杏吧专区 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 杏吧专区 Police Chief Joey Sturm.