Houston County deputies see improved scores with advanced firearms training range

The Ed Dunbar Training Range uses computer-controlled moving targets to prepare deputies for real-world situations.

HOUSTON COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –The Houston County Sheriff’s Office says their deputies are increasing their target hits thanks to their new advanced training range.

The Houston County Ed Dunbar Training Range has improved deputy qualification scores. The range showcases unpredictable and realistic scenarios, with a moving target system controlled by a computer system.

The range was built in 2018 and has become one of the best ranges in Georgia. Hundreds of law enforcement deputies have trained at the faculty. Houston County sergeant Guy Fussell says they noticed a decrease in their target scores.

“With the system we’ve got, it increased our officers’ capabilities making judgmental shooting,” Fussell said. “The targeting system is electric and it’s a better system than what we’ve all been trained on in years past. Our officers struggled before to shoot basic firearm courses. With the new technology that came in how, constantly shoots higher scores and have a better judgmental situational shooting.”

Houston County Sgt. Doug Blackmon says deputies were struggling to reach the passing scores and are now performing at much higher levels, which is enhancing their officer’s skills to perform.

“The targets are either shoot or no shoot targets, and once they turn then they have to react to the threat, stop the threat, and then the target turns back,” Blackmon said. “So, when you had stationary targets you had people that kind of reacted to the target facing them, and this is hey you’ve got a stimulus that says hey there’s a threat that just faced you, so you have to deal with it in an amount of time before it goes away.”

Blackmon says this range places their deputies in real life situations they will face.

“There’s a big difference between going out and shooting stationary targets, and this makes you say, ‘Hey, this is something I’m reacting to, it’s a threat that’s facing you, so I reacted to it and then I stopped the threat,'” Blackmon said. “And it has made it more like real life in situations that they would deal with on the streets.”

Sgt. Blackmon says Georgia requires officers to qualify once a year, while Houston County mandates qualifications twice a year.