HARTSELLE, Alabama — This week, deputies in Morgan County are going through their annual firearms certification. Once they're done, about 200 will be certified.
As part of their APOST certification, deputies must be proficient in different ranges and stances.
Morgan County Sheriff's Office PIO, Mike Swafford, said, "Depending on what you go through, if you become injured in the line of duty where you need to use the other hand. There are times when you're going to be down behind a barricade, so you're going to be kneeling, so it's to simulate as much of that as possible."
The goal is to make sure these deputies are comfortable with their guns and know how to safely use them.
"This whole thing is built around preparation. No matter what we face, whether it's serving a warrant, knocking on doors, going up on that porch, not knowing what's on the other side of that door or making a hard entry with a drug search warrant, all this prepares you for those elements," said Swafford.
They will use the skills they're getting certified in this week during training and out in the real world.
"We have some other scenarios that we will play out in the weeks to come where it will require some running," said Swafford. "A lot of times in a real life situation, it doesn't just happen and the target stands there. You might be chasing someone, so we try to introduce some stress so that they can function under those situations."
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