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How many programs have the learning environment we have at the Santa Rosa Public Safety Training Center' on-site range, EVOC course, simulators, computers and a scenario village complete with a visitor center and campground. Bill Orr was very proud of this program, and taught as long as his health would allow. Bill's pride, was illustrated in the letter submitted to the NPS Signpost, days before he lost his battle with cancer.
Yes there has been some internal turmoil with the program. Much of this has been spawned by instructors who were resistant to complying with way the program is now being administered. A program meeting compliance with new regulations and adult learning concepts. The director's requirement of instructors to update and submit resumes, lesson plans, and handout materials brought an amazing amount of resistance from many of the long-term instructors. Why? Perhaps because they were reluctant to change their old fashion ways, outdated materials and stale lectures. Many of which were still using materials dated from the 70's. One who was even telling students to remove a bottle out of a drunk's hand with a Bruce Lee style spin kick'. It appalls me to see the petty undermining and backstabbing occur due to this resistance to change. During my visits with Bill, weeks before his death, I know this pettiness saddened him too. I see a small group of sour grapes trying to spoil the program because they refuse to get with the program and get with the times.
PS. I do know Mr. Foster and have always gotten along well with him. He is entitled to his opinion, but I don't believe he is speaking for the majority.
However, my experience was not entirely congruous with Captain Foster's article in that my scenario training did include the extensive use of firearms.
One scenario involved a report of a woman attempting to break into a building with a crowbar. The nature of the scenario necessitated responding with our weapons drawn and arresting and removing concealed weapons from the suspect.
Other scenarios where we drew our sidearms involved a suspicious person with a knife and a search of building for robbery suspects. We also participated in felony vehicle stop scenarios, during both night and day, that required the use of firearms, including the shotgun.
Outside of scenario training, we had other forms of training involving the use of firearms. We had extensive instruction on the range, training with both sidearms and shotguns. Along with many other tactics, defensive tactics training taught us weapon retention and felony arrest procedures, both involving drawn weapons.
We trained with the F.A.T.S., or Firearms Training Simulator, which puts the trainee into a multitude of real-life situations and forces him or her to make instantaneous decisions whether or not to use deadly force.
Perhaps the most realistic training involving firearms was the live-fire simunitions training. This involves the use of a real sidearm fitted to fire 9mm "paint" round while responding to various scenarios including hostage situations and armed and intoxicated park guests. During these scenarios, we actually "shot" the actors playing suspects.
I did not write this response to undermine Captain Foster's concern for the quality of training for the rangers. I wrote it to clarify the instruction I received at the Santa Rosa Training Center during my time there, which was overwhelmingly positive.
Andrew Douglass
andydouglass@gmail.com