Academy participants shoot firearms, talk tough decisions

Editor’s Note: This is one in an occasional series about the Newton Police Department Citizen Police Academy, which spans nine weeks and offers local citizens an opportunity to engage in classroom and hands-on training. 

Participants of the Newton Police Department Citizen’s Police Academy were given the opportunity to shoot a firearm at the NPD’s gun range Tuesday night, and they learned about the tough decisions officers are faced with in dangerous situations.

“This is what we like to call Ron Cook’s hillbilly shoot house,” Lt. Ron Cook said. “I pulled this off with about $25.”

The “hillbilly shoot house” consists of wooden posts and walls of hanging blue tarp and one door. It’s just big enough to fit three or four people inside at a time.

“Basically what a shoot house is, is a place that has walls to absorb bullets so you can go in with a tactical team and practice,” Cook said. “You can go in and shoot at targets right next to other people without it getting out of the building and all the rounds are trapped inside.”

Cook said the shoot house is as real as it can get while training and it helps officers to learn how to stay calm and in control.

“We like to go to a shoot house because when you get in there and shoot a weapon next to your buddy, it’s a whole other mindset and it’s good to practice that,” Cook said. “You don’t want the first time you do that to be the day you’re in a building chasing down a bad guy.”

Just like other exercises in the citizen police academy that have brought on an adrenaline rush, this one was no exception. Each participant had their own chance to take a loaded firearm in one hand and a flashlight in the other as Cook guided them through the house.

First, kick the swinging door, second make sure you move in past the door, and third, shoot at your targets. There were three cardboard targets — a man holding a woman hostage, a man hiding behind a couch and the third was an undercover police officer with a badge.

“If you’re a bad guy and you’re sitting in the room and you know I’m coming in to get ya, you only have to worry about one thing — the door,” Cook said. “But I (the officer) have to worry about everything and we’re always at a disadvantage.”

Almost all academy participants fired three shots, including at the cardboard undercover officer without noticing the badge. The exercise put in perspective the small amount of time allowed in real-life situations, like a hostage situation.

Cook said officers practice for these types of situations as much as they can.

“In real life, two patrol officers would split up and one would go one way and the other would go another way,” Cook said.

The exercise was just one of many that have pushed participants out of their comfort zones and encouraged them to try something new.

“I knew it would be tense because I’m not as comfortable with guns, and it was good for me to try it once and realize that our officers are under a lot of pressure,” participant Evelyn George said. “I would say this whole course has really opened my eyes to all the thoughts officers have to go through when they start with the lowest level of compliance and up to the highest level.”

NPD detective and SWAT team leader, Jon Schuler, told participants about the importance of training. Schuler said officers are trained in knowing appropriate levels of force if the individual isn’t being compliant.

“We try to train for a 10-hour block monthly or a five-hour block,” Schuler said.

Levels of force in SWAT situations include chemical ammunitions and breaking doors and windows when necessary.

“We always give the person time to come out and be compliant, and we are required to knock on their door for at least 15 seconds and announce ourselves,” Schuler said.

The Newton Police Department Citizen Police Academy is a nine-week session that runs from Sept. 19 to Nov. 14 to promote a better relationship between the NPD and the community it serves. Participants were chosen through an application process.

Contact Kayla Singletary
at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533
or ksingletary@newtondailynews.com