QUITE AN INTERESTING EVENING AT THE SHERIFF'S ACADEMY

[chief38]

Last night was our first of twelve, 3 hour classes at the Sheriff's Citizens Academy. Aside from the normal orientation meeting, we had a very special guest last night.

I don't know how many here have heard, but yesterday morning the Bank of America in Ft. Myers was the scene of an attempted bank robbery and the robber took two hostages at knife point and also claimed he had a bomb. While the bomb threat turned out to be bogus, the knife to the throat of one of the bank employees was very real! BTW, the suspect had an extensive record! Not a surprise!

The Lee County Sheriff's SWAT team started arriving within 6 minutes and surrounded and secured the building. Apparently the Sherrif's negotiating team tried to get this guy to drop the knife, release the hostages and surrender, but failed to accomplish that as hard as they tried. When the suspect seemingly got very physical and agitated, threatening to slit the throat of one of the hostages a SWAT team Sniper took him out with single shot to the head, saving the lives of the two hostages be held in the bank.

So one of the SWAT Team Snipers who was in the bank showed up at the meeting and spent an hour telling us what had happened. He also brought the guns they use and explained some of the equipment attached to them. He explained how they work, their logistics, some of their strategies and how they are used. We got to speak with him, ask questions and get an inside scoop of what had happened that very morning. Needless to say, it was a very interesting and exiting first class! My wife and I are very much looking forward to next week!

So far I have lived here for 2+ years and have been quite impressed with our local Sheriff's dept. They make the PD where I used to live in NY look anemic! So far they truly seem very resident / citizen oriented and go out of their way to have a great relationship with the residents who live in the County.

 

[Bald1]

Chief, after that I can guarantee your next class will be a let down lol….. So was the bad guy shot through a window or something? Or was he dumb enough to come outside?

 

[Eric300]

I was an instructor at our Citizens Police Academy for many years and taught Use of Force classroom training as well as range training and ride-a longs. The range training wasn't live fire, it was conducted on F.A.T.S. (firearm training system) using fully functioning semi-auto pistols that projected a laser beam and the pistol action operated through the use of Co2 tanks connected to the pistols. The training introduced the participants to decision making use of lethal force and shoot/don't shoot scenarios that were projected on a large screen using live actors. 99% of the class had absolutely no clue as to what a LEO is subjected to during the course of their career. They were always impressed and more appreciative of their LEO agencies at the conclusion of the academy.

 

[Wyo]

Very interesting. I'm surprised they were so willing to discuss this with you so quickly. Every agency I'm aware of conducts an investigation into every police involved shooting no matter how appropriate it seems at first glance. And then every one of them goes to the DA for final decision. Cops aren't normally willing to discuss shootings publically (and this was a public discussion even though it was in your class) before everything is finished. I'll bet it was very interesting.

 

[chief38]

Very interesting. I'm surprised they were so willing to discuss this with you so quickly. Every agency I'm aware of conducts an investigation into every police involved shooting no matter how appropriate it seems at first glance. And then every one of them goes to the DA for final decision. Cops aren't normally willing to discuss shootings publically (and this was a public discussion even though it was in your class) before everything is finished. I'll bet it was very interesting.

They gave is the basics. The specifics such as distance, shooting through something, etc. was not released yet because of the on going investigation. No PD can just pop someone and not say anything. At least what we did get was from the source and not redacted. There were also many witnesses, so there are probably not a whole lot of secrets anyway.

 

[chief38]

Chief, after that I can guarantee your next class will be a let down lol….. So was the bad guy shot through a window or something? Or was he dumb enough to come outside?

No, he did not come outside. He had his knife against the throat of the bank employee and would not release her or take the knife away. I don't believe the shot was through any substance.

 

[chief38]

Very interesting. I'm surprised they were so willing to discuss this with you so quickly. Every agency I'm aware of conducts an investigation into every police involved shooting no matter how appropriate it seems at first glance. And then every one of them goes to the DA for final decision. Cops aren't normally willing to discuss shootings publically (and this was a public discussion even though it was in your class) before everything is finished. I'll bet it was very interesting.

Again, they told us what had been witnessed by many anyway. From what I understand, it was a clean shot. Where the Sniper was positioned they did not say.

 

[chief38]

I was an instructor at our Citizens Police Academy for many years and taught Use of Force classroom training as well as range training and ride-a longs. The range training wasn't live fire, it was conducted on F.A.T.S. (firearm training system) using fully functioning semi-auto pistols that projected a laser beam and the pistol action operated through the use of Co2 tanks connected to the pistols. The training introduced the participants to decision making use of lethal force and shoot/don't shoot scenarios that were projected on a large screen using live actors. 99% of the class had absolutely no clue as to what a LEO is subjected to during the course of their career. They were always impressed and more appreciative of their LEO agencies at the conclusion of the academy.

I don't know what type of firearm they will let us use, real or laser. I do know they said something about wearing bullet proof vests at certain times but other than that they were not specific. What ever it is is fine with me. I shoot at least once a week anyway.

 

[ladder13]

If you have Reelz, your Sheriff Dept “along with 8 other depts” is on display with ride a longs, every Fri/Sat night on OnPatrol Live with Dan Abrams and guest officers commenting.

Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.

Currently

Indian River Sheriff, FL
Daytona Beach PD, FL
Toledo Ohio, PD
Fullerton CA, PD
Berkeley County Sheriff SC
Richland County Sheriff SC
Hazen AR, PD
Coweta County Sheriff, GA
Lee County Sheriff, FL

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...usg=AOvVaw3912ZTWGdAAgWAxY3iKgC7&opi=89978449

 

[llowry61]

If you have Reelz, your Sheriff Dept “along with 8 other depts” is on display with ride a longs, every Fri/Sat night on OnPatrol Live with Dan Abrams and guest officers commenting.

Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.

Currently

Indian River Sheriff, FL
Daytona Beach PD, FL
Toledo Ohio, PD
Fullerton CA, PD
Berkeley County Sheriff SC
Richland County Sheriff SC
Hazen AR, PD
Coweta County Sheriff, GA
Lee County Sheriff, FL

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...usg=AOvVaw3912ZTWGdAAgWAxY3iKgC7&opi=89978449

We are in Ohio and watch it all the time. That along with the one that shows the processing when they get them to jail. All I can say is that I knew people were quite feral now and then, but that show verified just how bad it can get and why we should all thank every LE person we come across for what they do every day.

I did a ride along many years ago with a Columbus PD officer. It was a weird shift. I think we started at like 8:30pm and went till around 2am. It was exciting though we were the first car on scene at a silent alarm at some manufacturing plant. When we pulled up there was a glass door shattered and the officer, I was with told me to stay in the car while he and the other officers went inside to clear the building. No one inside or any sign of theft. They surmised it was vandals just breaking the window.

I am surprised the guy was willing to speak so soon afterward as well. That would be a harrowing day that would require a lot of decompressing as far as I am concerned but thank god, we have folks with the skill and nerve to do what needs to be done when we need them. A big responsibility on that snipers shoulders.

Good luck to you and your wife with the rest of the training.

 

[ladder13]

I record it and watch an hour or two each night.

I like the car chase pit maneuvers and the field sobriety checks. “ “ Only had two drinks”


Just watched a segment from last SAT in Lee County FL, 78 folks arrested on warrants, drug possession, the gamut, RICO, etc.
SWAT, a robotic dog, first time I saw one in action, helo circling, etc etc.

 

[jeffrefrig]

"So was the bad guy shot through a window or something?"

I would say right through the gray matter!

 

[Bald1]

Jeff, that would be an incredible shot. I’m guessing he didn’t have much gray matter