Oxford PD gets new training tool

Oxford police have a new $89,000 "indoor" shooting room where officers can practice firing handguns, rifles, Tasers, and pepper spray at a wall.

The wall can shoot back.

The Firearms Training Simulator, also called FATS, uses interactive high definition video to give officers practice making decisions in drawing a weapon.

Chief Bill Partridge said Oxford started doing this type of training in 2002.   There are similar simulators in portable trailers, and many police departments rent them for training.

Some agencies go through FATS exercises every couple years, but Partridge said having one in-house will allow his officers to do the training every month.  Other law enforcement agencies will be allowed to use it as well.

Unlike many training simulators, this FATS machine can shoot back.  There is an air-powered paintball gun in the corner of the room, adapted to shoot foam rubber bullets.  The training officer can aim and control that gun.

"The shoot back offers the ability to put the officer under real life stress.