On-the job training

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SIDNEY — Clearing a room has taken on a whole new meaning at the Sidney Police Department.

According to Chief Will Balling, the department has been hosting room clearing techniques training this week.

“The Attorney General’s Office provides training for Law enforcement officers throughout the State of Ohio,” said Balling. “One of the trainings that they offer is a mobile academy which will come to your department to instruct your officers and officers in your area. We took advantage of that and requested their mobile academy to come to Sidney to teach advanced building clearing techniques for law enforcement officers in Ohio.”

The course helps officers learn how to search a building when there is potential for someone to be inside with a gun possibly ready to use it to hurt the officer, said Balling.

“Across the United States violence against law enforcement personnel is on the rise. In 2016 there has already been 19 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Twelve of the 19 have been due to gunfire,” he said.

During the training Glock 17 9mm handguns was used with less lethal marking ammunition for realistic training. A realistic training area with halls and rooms divided by heavy plastic barriers was set up at the department. The barriers are movable, which provide different scenarios for the officers to participate in.

Instructors for the program were Andrew Russell and Jim Green from the Ohio Police Officers Training Academy. The program was established in 2014 for local law enforcement officials.

The program at the Sidney Police Department was offered to all law enforcement officers in Shelby County. There were 50 law enforcement personnel who went through the training.

“We had several different departments attend including officers from Sidney and Troy, Sidney Municipal Court Personnel, and individual from the Wright Patt Air Force Base, including Lt. Colonel Bernie Willis who is the commander of the 178 Security Forces,” said Balling.

Sidney Police Sgt. Jeremy Lorenzo, left, and Sgt. Rob Jameson, right, practice entering a room with potentially armed criminals in it during a training exercise at the Sidney Police Department Thursday, March 10.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/03/web1_SDN031116PoliceTrain-1.jpgSidney Police Sgt. Jeremy Lorenzo, left, and Sgt. Rob Jameson, right, practice entering a room with potentially armed criminals in it during a training exercise at the Sidney Police Department Thursday, March 10.
Sidney Police host room clearing technique programs

By Melanie Speicher

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4822; follow her on Twitter @MelSpeicherSDN. Follow the SDN on Facebook, www.facebook.com/SidneyDailyNews.

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