Members of the public in Anguilla who may have been in doubt, as to whether some young police officers on beat patrol with handguns at their side can use their firearms accurately, safely, and with good judgement, perhaps no longer need to worry.
The main reason is that there is now a high-risk police simulation training system in place which emphasizes accurate shooting with split-second decision-making at the core, while ensuring the safety of the public, the officers themselves and, if possible, avoiding the use of lethal force on an armed person posing a threat. The training equipment costs 100,000 US dollars which was provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London at Anguilla’s request.
The brand new simulation equipment was demonstrated at Police Headquarters on Friday, May 18, by two local trainers, Officers Ralph Johnson and Edison Charles, along with Officer Marvin Holas who served as a trainee.
Commissioner Paul Morrison, who was an Authorised Armed Officer in the Sussex Police Force in the UK, also participated in the event by providing useful explanations about the equipment and the simulation training.
“The firearms threat to Anguilla is well-known,” Commissioner Morris said in his introductory remarks. “Shootings became a regular occurrence between 2007 and 2016. Targeting policing and the restructuring of the police force to target serious gun criminality have seen significant reductions. We have actually seen an over 60 % decrease in the criminal use of firearms. However, the threat of the use of firearms still persists. Officers arrest persons who are carrying firearms and we have a number of cases before the courts… where officers have engaged suspects with loaded firearms. The police need to be properly trained and equipped to deal with those sorts of situations.”
Mr. Morrison said that historically the competency and accuracy of armed police officers in Anguilla were tested by target shooting at a range at Junks Hole. They were required to fire ten practice rounds before having to do a qualification shoot. That was changed at the end of last year with every officer having to fire a minimum of 100 rounds before going on the qualification shoot. He noted, however, that accuracy and weapon-handling were only part of the equation and that decision-making was in fact a most important factor – requiring officers to think before using lethal force (shooting) in a tactical situation.
He explained that the simulation training equipment, which teaches armed officers to think before using lethal force, was first seen at the 2016 Caribbean Police Commissioners’ Conference in Aruba. “When we saw the equipment, we immediately knew it was something we needed here to test our officers,” he told media representatives and others. “The equipment was procured through the FCO and officers Edison Charles and Ralph Johnson were sent to Colorado to be trained in the use of the equipment. In broad terms, it is a fantastic system where there are over 600 scenarios [set in the United States]. It also gives us the option to load scenarios into the machine that are locally-based and so we can fill actual locations in Anguilla.”
The Commissioner stated that, in addition to the simulation equipment, officers were provided with PAVA spray to incapacitate unruly persons. He added that “very soon Taser will be introduced as another less lethal option because Taser gives officers a lot more tactical options when dealing with difficult subjects.”
The demonstration of the equipment provided the media representatives and others in attendance with several crime scenarios. There were tactical scenes where police officers, carefully evaluating the situation, sought to persuade offenders to calm down; only drew their weapons when shot at; returned fire in a measured and safety manner; or used PAVA spray as a controlling or incapacitating method.
It is basically this manner of armed policing, restraint, quick-thinking and decision-making that the simulation police training system is seeking to convey to the public.
Among those at the event was the Leader of the Opposition in the Anguilla House of Assembly, Ms. Palmovan Webster, who was an active participant in the simulation.
“I just want the officers to know that having participated in the simulation, I know how challenged you are going out there everyday with the escalating threats in Anguilla,” she commented. “I just want to say I am grateful for you, and happy that the Commissioner and the Government are facing the responsibility they have for the safety of persons out there – and yours as well.”
