Lauderdale County deputies complete quarterly firearms, annual Taser training

Lauderdale County Sheriff’s deputies completed quarterly firearms training and annual Taser training throughout the week at the Meridian Lauderdale County Public Safety Training Facility, working through scenarios involving both weapons.

The exercises were designed to expose deputies to situations they could encounter on the job. Lt. Andy Matuszewski said Taser scenarios were based on real-life situations previously encountered by deputies and required them to practice de-escalation, consider their own safety and the safety of bystanders, and use judgment during encounters.

“The goal was to give our deputies different scenarios in complex environments and have them manage those things safely, not only for themselves, but also for the person they were engaged with and the general public,” Matuszewski said.

Instructors vary the scenarios for each training session, and some situations do not require deputies to fire their Tasers. Matuszewski said deputies are expected to respond to a subject’s actions and use the lowest level of force appropriate, which can include talking with someone and helping them through a crisis.

Firearms training included navigating an indoor environment in multiple scenarios, Deputy Bolie Stokes said. The exercises focused on how deputies should respond to a threat independently when waiting for backup is not possible.

Next week, deputies, Meridian police officers and other law enforcement personnel are scheduled to participate in a week-long East Mississippi Crisis Intervention Team officer certification course. The 40-hour course will include mental health professionals, advocates and former mental health patients, and will focus on responding to mental health crises. Participants who pass will receive CIT certification and take the training back to their home communities.

Source: Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi.