Video crime scenarios help train IUPD cadets

When IU Police Department cadet Brian Chomer answered a residential alarm call over the radio, the last thing he said he expected was to be attacked by an angry lady, three times his age, armed with a wooden club. But that's exactly what happened when Chomer failed to react quickly enough with his pepper spray.\nFortunately, this time Chomer was lucky enough to come away from the incident unscathed. Being attacked by an old lady is just one of the hundreds of mock-situations IUPD Training Lt. Greg Butler has put police cadets through with help from the FireArm Training System. \n"(FATS) is a great way to introduce the cadets to situations they've never encountered without putting them in any real danger," IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said. "It makes the cadets more familiar with the firearms, and they get the training and tools they'll need in order to deal with these situations in real life."\nFATS is a computer-operated training program that offers IUPD cadets valuable experience in operating firearms and handling potentially dangerous situations. Video recorded crime scenarios, identical to those which police officers encounter daily, are projected onto a large screen, and the cadets are expected to handle the incident appropriately, according to their police training. Then, based on how well the cadets manage the situation, Butler controls how the persons on screen will react from a computer.\n"There are a lot of different ways I can change around the scenarios," Butler said. "(The cadets) can go through the same scenario a dozen times and each time the outcome will be different. If I wanted to, I could've made that old lady draw a gun instead of a club."\nDuring the week-long training, cadets are armed with pepper spray and an authentic Glock 17 pistol, each of which is modified with acute lasers. To further enhance the reality of the situation, the guns are connected to a compressed air cartridge, causing a realistic recoil action after each fire.\n"The guns are just about as realistic as you can get in a classroom without everybody in the room going deaf," said IUPD cadet Michael Cundiff.\nIf the simulated incident becomes dangerous at any point, the cadets can then fire either weapon at the individuals on screen. When hit, the actors instantly react to the weapon in a highly realistic manner. Depending on the weapon fired, they could fall to the ground in tears if sprayed with mace or could even die when shot with a gun.\nFATS is not just about improving the cadets' marksmanship skills, Butler said.\n"We want them to develop solid police tactics and judgment," Butler said. "A lot of these scenarios are non-shoot situations. They require the cadets to talk with people and to make a hostile situation calm."\nThe lessons cadets take from FATS are designed to prepare them for their summer training at IU Police Academy, one of seven academies in Indiana. Before cadets can become certified police officers they must first exhibit a strong knowledge in law enforcement and demonstrate proficiency in firearms, which at times even includes getting a taste of their own medicine.\n"One of the lessons each cadet goes through in weapon training is getting sprayed with mace," Butler said. "We want them to know how it feels to be sprayed so they know what to expect when they'll eventually have to use the spray."\nBut 20 minutes of burning, tear-filled eyes helps prepare IUPD cadets for professional experience after graduation. \n"When they graduate, not only will they have their degree, but they'll also have their law enforcement certification," Butler said. "And that gives them a leg up on the other students who don't have academy training or job experience."\nBloomington Police Department recruiting officer Tristy Walters, who graduated from the IU Police Academy in 1998, said IUPD recruits are among the best prepared officers in Indiana.\n"Since they've already had the necessary training, they save (BPD) a lot of time and money because we don't have to immediately send them away to an academy," Walters said.\nBut until Cadet Chomer earns his badge and firearm, he'll stick with FATS and continue his preparation training for the academy.\n"FATS really helps you think on your feet," Chomer said. "And for someone like me who has never fired a gun, the training helps you get used to handling the pistol and mace."\nAnd next time when Chomer's attacked by an old lady with a wooden club, his mace will be handy.