Officers from the Centre, Cedar Bluff and Leesburg Police Departments along with deputies from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office participated in the FireArms Training Simulator Course otherwise known as F.A.T.S. on Thursday at the Centre Fire Department. Centre Police Kirk Blankenship explains exactly what the course is designed to achieve.

Chief Blankenship explained that in order for the City of Centre to be eligible to receive the training agencies have to apply through the Alabama League of Municipalities several months in advance.

It is an entirely interactive system that uses a computer program, a large screen and very realistic firearms that are loaded with computer chips instead of ammunition. It looks somewhat like a big video game, but it is definitely not a game.

The F.A.T.S system is used in police and military training. It costs upwards of $150,000 and was designed to be used with many types of firearms – however, each type of firearm added to the system costs several thousand dollars. The software on this F.A.T.S system was designed to simulate police calls and stops and the firearms were all corded (i.e. attached) to the computer. There are systems where the firearms are not corded, and the guns have magazines filled with nitrogen gas to simulate recoil.

With certain software, it is also possible to create scenarios where the suspects will not only be shooting back at you from the video screen, but the instructor can launch soft foam projectiles at you from a device called the Hostile Fire Simulator. In this case you would need to make use of available cover in the room to avoid being hit.

Chief Blankenship wished to thank surrounding agencies for sending personnel to participate in the course as it will better each officers ability to react in a real life scenario.