Line of Fire

A suspect lunges toward you. You have a split second to decide -- shoot or don't shoot. \nIt's a decision many law enforcement officers face daily, and it became a simulated event for the IU police officers who attended the "Shoot or Don't Shoot" firearm simulator at Ivy Tech State College Wednesday.\nThe event, co-sponsored by Ivy Tech and the IU Police Department, will hold sessions through Friday morning at Ivy Tech. \nThe program is comprised of 15-minute individual sessions with a field training officer where students, faculty and the public are confronted with real life police situations. Participants hold the weapons used in the field by officers, the 9mm Glock model-17 and a 12-gauge shotgun. Participants are required to choose whether the situation requires them to fire or not. \nThe Firearms Training Simulator consists of laser discs with video situations which are projected onto a screen. The guns are also attached to the machine, and although they don't fire real bullets, they provide a real feel and action.\n"The simulator is not only an educational tool, but a learning tool, as well," said Gary M. Dunn, FBI agent and program chair of the criminal justice department at Ivy Tech. "It's very tough at times, and you are talking about the most critical decision a police officer has to make. Whether you shoot or don't, it can involve taking the life of another and that carries a heavy burden -- even for the most experienced officers."\nWhile the simulation is only a video, participants said it had a surprisingly real feel, and they felt actively engaged in the situation.\n"Our goal is to give people a better appreciation for the stress an officer experiences during a deadly encounter," said David Winburn, IU field training officer. "People don't realize it's not as easy as saying 'yes or no'. Many people make the wrong decision, whether it be reacting too slow, or shooting when they shouldn't."\nApproximately 50 to 60 people are scheduled to participate in the simulation over the next few days, and so far it has received positive feedback.\n"I used the FATS before when I was in the military," said Don Skeens, assistant director of facilities at Ivy Tech. "I have found it quite effective, and it has been a big help. I think it is a great tool for cops, and anyone who owns a handgun should be required to use it to train."\nAfter each situation, a computer/video screen shows a replay, and participants must justify their actions. The screen also shows either a message of "good judgement" or "bad judgement" that considers both the success of the shot and whether or not it was lethal.\n"It felt pretty real to me," said Ben Dailey, a freshman at Ivy Tech. "I definitely had a little bit of adrenaline going at the time. It definitely makes you realize that you don't have that much time to think in those situations."\nSituations ranged from confronting a deranged woman, someone spray-painting a wall, a drug bust and even a sniper on top of a building. The situations changed as the operator typed in codes for the suspect to either comply with police or resist verbal commands.\n"I think it is a fantastic program," said Joe Kapsa, director of student support and development at Ivy Tech. "It gives me and those involved more empathy for what a law enforcement officer faces."\nThose who participated left with a different attitude after they experienced the situation than when they first walked into the program.\n"Everyone I've seen come through here has left with a new appreciation of how easy it is to make a wrong decision, and how many chances there are to make the wrong one," said Keith Klein, executive director of resource development. \nThis is the first year the program has been done at Ivy Tech, but it has been an implemented program for the IUPD for nearly five years. The machine, which costs around $8,000, was donated to the IUPD a year-and-a-half ago.\nIn other situations, people can use the machine for target practice and the simulation of gun malfunctions. The machine can also simulate return fire by using a paintball gun.\n"In the academy, the cadets use it very frequently," Winburn said. "In addition, officers use it for in-service training approximately twice a year."\nThe program is particularly relevant given the recent controversy surrounding an officer shooting and death of a student at Ball State University.\n"Everyone has their own opinion as to what happened or what should have been done," Winburn said. "This simulator just shows that even if you have an idea of what you are going to do, anything can change in the heat of the moment"