Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian today joined Hopkinton Police Chief Joseph Bennett and Sherborn Police Chief Thomas Galvin to announce the completion of interactive, scenario-based training for members of the two local police departments.
The training was completed between March 10-14 in Hopkinton utilizing the MSO’s Mobile Training Center (MTC). In total, 32 officers from the two departments took part.
During the training, officers were put through a series of video-based scenarios that replicated situations they may encounter on any shift. This included traffic stops and responses to situations involving individuals displaying signs of being in mental health crisis. Officers also participated in an active-shooter scenario.
“The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is committed to working with our local law enforcement partners to enhance public safety across our 54 cities and towns,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “By facilitating this interactive, scenario-based training, we are helping officers reinforce skills and techniques that are critical to effective policing – particularly around communication and de-escalation. I want to thank Chiefs Bennett, Galvin and Stone for their continued collaboration.”
“We are grateful to Sheriff Koutoujian for providing this valuable resource to our departments,” said Chief Bennett. “This simulation trainer not only allows officers to functionally train with their service weapons in real time, but officers are also able to practice threat assessment, weapon transition and de-escalation techniques.”
“We can’t thank the Sheriff’s office enough for allowing our officers to participate in this valuable training,” said Chief Galvin. “We are fortunate to provide our officers with a wide variety of skills training throughout the year, but interactive firearms training is difficult to come by. Feedback from our officers was incredibly positive and proved the value of the exercises. We are already planning to utilize the trailer again next year to continue to build our officers’ skills and proficiency.”
(A member of the Hopkinton Police Department participates in an interactive scenario inside the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Mobile Training Center (MTC). Photo courtesy of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office)
