PATROL DIVISION TRAINING
Firearms Training The Owatonna Police Department’s firearms training unit is authorized to have four firearms instructors. These instructors are a portion of the agency’s Use of Force Training Unit. The four certified firearms instructors each have specialized duties within the unit and all serve as armorers for the departments’ weapons. For a portion of 2012, the firearms unit operated with only three instructors. Mid-year, Officer Bata was appointed as the department’s fourth firearms instructor. He attended a firearms instructor course that certified him as an instructor of handgun, shotgun and patrol rifle. Instructors also attended certified armorers courses for Glock and the AR15/M16 weapons platforms. As it stands, Sgt. Sorensen and Officer Fandel are primary instructors for handgun and shotgun. Sgt. Petterson and Officer Bata focus their instruction to the patrol rifle and handgun. Together, the instructors of the Firearms Training Unit work together to train, test and evaluate the licensed peace officers of this agency under the mandated training requirements set forth by the Peace Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.) Board. In 2012, the firearms instructors conducted three mandatory training events. The firearms courses this year consisted of a Winter Cold Weather Training, a Spring Annual Qualification and Evaluation Course, and the Fall Low Light/Night Training Course. Each event is outlined by specific guidelines, training goals and objectives. The agency conducted its Cold Weather Training and Annual Qualification and Evaluation with the use of live ammunition fire. Scenario based training (force on force) was the focus of the Low Light/Night Training Course. This type of training utilizes simunition rounds and actors in predetermined scenarios. All of the trainings were held at the 20 Rifle and Pistol Club, with a paid membership. Generally, each officer received about 8.5 hours of firearms training throughout 2012. This does not include the officer’s personal time training off-duty. OWATONNA POLICE DEPARTMENT 2012 ANNUAL REPORT
