2019 DEPARTMENT TRAINING Firearms Training Unit Firearms Training Coordinator: Sergeant Jason Matejcek Certified Firearms Instructors: Sergeants Andrew Drenth, Joshua Sorensen and Jason Petterson, and Officers Benjamin Johnson, Andrew Van Osdale and Alan Callahan The certified firearms instructors train, test, and evaluate the officers under the mandated training requirements set forth by the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (POST). Each licensed officer must qualify with their department issued handgun, their squad shotgun, and patrol rifle. In 2019, the Firearms Training Unit conducted the following trainings: Annual qualification, Chief’s Top Shot/off-duty weapon qualifications, Close Quarter Battle (CQB) - force on force building clearing, and a combined low light / inclement weather training. The instructors strive to replicate realistic situations and scenarios through a variety of ways in order to raise the stress levels in the officers. Training the officers in a controlled environment under stress can help them learn how to mitigate and reduce their stress response during actual situations that they encounter while on-duty. Instructors train officers to have a winning mindset by utilizing scenario-based training where the instructors and officers utilize simunition (non-lethal) rounds and role players.
Department Training
OPD Annual Report—Page 9
