Both the University Police and Boone Police Department are currently increasing their crime, firearms and qualifications safety training.
“There’s not really too much going on in Boone right now,” Cpt. Andy Le Beau, commander of investigations, said. “We’re kind of in a dry spell when it comes to crime.”
Due to their “extra time,” the Boone police department is specifically increasing their crime and firearms training, Le Beau said.
Joe Knapp, senior police officer for Boone Police Department, said they are aiming to maintain a 75 percent accuracy score on their firearms training this year, with the state requiring only 70 percent.
However, the Boone Police Department’s SWAT Team has scored with 90 percent accuracy, Knapp said.
Boone PD is also training with their Canine Unit, Knapp said.
“We go to vacant buildings and have two of our guys hide while wearing bite sleeves and protective clothing,” Knapp said.”Then we go in and storm the building with the canines and see how fast we can find them.”
Boone Police Department is hiring for three different positions and will be training for them soon as well, Knapp said.
Officer K.C. Mitchell, lieutenant of investigations for University Police, said this was the first year they were able to have firearms training twice in one year.”
“We usually are only able to hold firearms training once in the spring, but this year we have the extra opportunity for the fall,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said each of their officers will have a 10 to 12 hour day at a firing range in Lenoir, North Carolina beginning Oct. 4 through Oct. 9.
“Our goal is to keep our 80 percent accuracy score on firearms with rifles, pistols and shotguns,” Mitchell said.
Next month, University Police will also have qualifications and safety training, as well as situational crime training.
“It’s good for officers to have more time for crime training and are able to gain experience in various situations, rather than what is only required from the state mandate,” Mitchell said.
Story: KASI MITCHELL, Intern News Reporter