Sheriff's Department Attends Firearm Training

The Edmonson County Sheriff's Department completed one of their yearly firearms training sessions Wednesday at Rock Castle Shooting Center at Park Mammoth. State regulations require all law enforcement officers to pass  firearm qualification tests every year, however, the Sheriff's Department holds training sessions up to four times per year.

"The Sheriff's Office takes training very seriously and firearms training is no exception. With all the scrutiny surrounding law enforcement and questionable shootings, we strive to be highly skilled in our jobs and we want to serve AND protect our citizens."

Tuesday, a South Carolina police officer was fired and charged with murder after shooting a man 8 times during a traffic stop that went horribly wrong. The officer reported that the victim took the officer's Taser, causing the officer to fear for his life, resulting in the shooting. However, a video of the incident surfaced, telling a different story and one that resulted in charges filed against the officer.

"We obviously don't know all the details of the South Carolina shooting," Doyle said. "But the video is disturbing and I don't believe someone had to be shot. This is part of the reason we go through extensive training, and not just shooting at targets. We go through extremely involved exercises under very tough conditions that we believe can keep these incidents from happening here. We believe there's just as much training that goes into when NOT to fire your weapon as there is when you do."

Sheriff Shane Doyle fires during a training exercise on Wednesday. (ECSO)

Court Security Officers Randy Hawks and Paul Miller and Deputy Jordan Jones on the Firing line as Stoney observes.

Deputies Jeff Brooks and Scott Skaggs and Sheriff Shane Doyle train with pistols as Range Instructor Stoney Phillips looks on.

Edmonson Voice Staff