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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2g: Purchase of Firearms Training System with Funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Justice Assistance GrantSTAFF REPORT Police Department DATE: April 6, 2010 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Robert P. Sanderson, Chief of Police By: Robert Guthrie, Lieutenant ( i Nancy Chik, Senior Management Analyse ..--- " SUBJECT: Firearms Training Simulator for the Police Department Recommendation: Waive the formal bid process and approve the purchase of a firearms training simulation system from Laser Shot, Inc. in the amount of $50,000 by utilizing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Justice Assistance Grant funds. SUMMARY The City of Arcadia received $64,197 in grant award from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), and the Police Department recommends spending $50,000 in the purchase of a firearms simulation system from Laser Shot, Inc. BACKGROUND The Arcadia Police Department lacks any significant force-on-force training resources that both challenges and develops a police officer's lethal and less - lethal critical thinking process. The courts have consistently ruled that police firearm training programs are inadequate should they fail to include "shoot/don't shoot" judgment training. The courts have also ruled that police departments need realistic firearm training in order for their programs to be considered valid. That being said, Laser Shot is a leader in the field of live -fire judgment training simulation systems, and would be a needed and significant addition to the Police Department's force - training cadre. DISCUSSION Laser Shot is primarily a live -fire system. While it uses a computerized digital player (CD /DVD drive) and an LCD projector to display video scenarios, much like the other manufacturers, the fundamental difference is that the system was built from the ground up to work in a live -fire environment. It also provides laser technology as a secondary resource, allowing for "shoot/don't shoot" training where the use of live fire training may not be feasible. A video is projected onto a synthetic screen, and the officer reacts to the video scenario. The officer fires live ammunition, using his /her own gun, and makes holes in the screen. The system "maps" the hits by tracking the heat signature of live ammunition, via Thermal Shot technology, and matching the impact of the shots to the video on the synthetic screen. When the scenario is played back for review, it freezes when the shots were fired, and allows the officer (and the trainer) to see the reactive areas of the screen in relation to the images and scenarios played. Accuracy and judgment can then be assessed by the trainer. The synthetic screen closes over the impact areas during initial contact by the bullets and is ready for the next training scenario as soon as the previous training session is complete. The Arcadia Police Department has a five -lane indoor shooting range. The Laser Shot system can be easily integrated with our range and current firearm training program. The primary advantage to this system is that the officer uses his /her own duty weapon and ammunition, for which there is just no substitute. This is as real as it gets without shooting at another person. The other advantage of this lower tech approach is its simplicity. No computer skills are required or proprietary software to master. With the Laser Shot system, you simply project, shoot, and playback. The system is portable and can be used at an indoor range, outdoor range, indoor classroom, or outdoor classroom (utilizing the system's laser technology). It also has over a hundred separate training video scenarios and will allow our agency to produce our own video scenarios to meet our specific needs. Inclusion of the Laser Shot system in the Arcadia Police Department firearm training program will not only meet, but far exceed the courts expectations by providing our officers with "shoot/don't shoot" judgment training; using their own duty guns and ammunition, and validating our firearm training program by enhancing the realism of the training. The simulation program will also incorporate and build upon a multitude of training objectives for officers, to include: critical decision making, attitude and officer safety, technical knowledge, tactical acumen, basic skills, shoot/don't shoot judgment, moving targets, low or adverse lighting conditions, and patrol rifle training. The Laser Shot training system will reduce agency liability while increasing officer safety. With the aid of this level of simulation training, our officers will be better prepared to handle stressful, real life use-of-force situations in the field. FISCAL IMPACT The expenditure of $50,000 of ARRA JAG grant funding has no impact upon the General Fund of the City. RECOMMENDATION Waive the formal bid process and approve the purchase of a firearms training simulation system from Laser Shot, Inc. in the amount of $50,000 by utilizing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Justice Assistance Grant funds. Approved: Donald Penman, City Manager