Frederick Ryan, Chief of Police
112 Mystic St.
Arlington, MA 02474
For Immediate Release
Monday, July 6, 2015
Contact: Captain Richard Flynn, PIO
Office: 781-316-3907
Cell: 781-844-1224
Email: rflynn@town.arlington.ma.us
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Arlington Police Department Conducts Virtual Training on Use of Force and Deescalation
ARLINGTON — Chief Frederick Ryan reports that over the last three weeks, members of the Arlington Police Department have completed a series of training exercises to sharpen their skills when in the field. This year, there has been a special focus on deciding when and how to use force and how to deescalate intense situations.
In partnership with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, every year officers use a state-of-the art Mobile Training Center that’s equipped for live-fire and laser-fire training. One hundred percent of the ammunition discharged is captured, preventing contamination to soil and groundwater that may occur in outdoor ranges.
During the exercises, officers are placed in a realistic environment and must be prepared for situations that arise at night, inside buildings, in crowds, at vehicle stops and other low visibility or high-risk incidents. Lieutenant Brendan Kiernan led officers on how to effectively handle suicide by police scenarios.
Officers focused heavily on deescalation techniques to limit the occurrences when police need to use force.
“Every day police are put in challenging and extraordinary situations,” Chief Ryan said. “This training provides them with the necessary skills to safely respond to a variety of often dangerous circumstances.”
The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office acquired the Mobile Training Center through a federal community policing grant in 2010 — a time when many municipal police offers were killed while serving in rural and suburban jurisdictions. Middlesex County law enforcement community initiated the acquisition of the mobile firing range after local chiefs raised concerns about the availability and affordability of appropriate and effective training for their officers.
“The Mobile Training Center is a valuable piece of equipment utilized by our own officers and our local law enforcement partners. The scenarios available to officers accurately portray real life situations they could one day find themselves in, and the interactive capabilities of the technology allow them the opportunity to not only complete their firearms training, but also work on their verbal skills,” said Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “In addition, the MTC saves cities and towns money by allowing officers to train in their own communities, reducing overtime and eliminating the need to rent time at a range.”
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