 In addition, the department has one certified trainer on staff who
works with Adamax at every opportunity.Yanor explained that the
physical facility and the trainings offered are always going to be
evolving and changing to keep up with the times we are living in.
One of the newest concerns for local law enforcement agencies is
the passing of the concealed carry law. As Yanor and Nichols
discussed this, Yanor said he is considering offering a training
course for civilians.
Yanor said that if they do go forward with this, a program will
be developed very similar to what is currently offered to law
enforcement.
"The trainers for Adamax all have background in special
operations and training," Yanor said. "If we do a concealed training
course, it will be with people who have real-life experience."
In addition, Nichols said that local officers are going to need
to learn how to handle concealed carry situations. He has never been
against this kind of law, but he said this version is so watered
down, it makes it difficult for law enforcement. Yanor said the law
contains too much "gray area," and Nichols added that in the law,
there is a paragraph on where one cannot carry a weapon, but he said
that was the more important part of the law for law enforcement. "It
is a watered-down law that is going to confuse people, which is why
we're going to have to have training for law enforcement, so we
handle things in the proper text."
Other courses on the horizon for the facility will include guest
trainers such as Max Joseph of Tactical Firearms Training Team from
California.
There are also plans to bring in Larry Vickers, a former Delta
operator who was involved in hostage rescue operations in the
mid-1980s. Vickers is currently the host of a television show called
"TacTV."
Adamax will also continue in its partnership with Tactical
Energetic Entry Systems and plans to reach out to other
international trainers.
"We have connections with international trainers that are going
to bring to central Illinois experiences that (local officers) are
not going to find anywhere else," Yanor said.
For the Logan County Sheriff's Department, an ongoing part of
their preparedness training is always going to be as the first
responders to school violence.
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Nichols said the local department participates in trainings a
couple of times a year to address immediate response to school
violence situations. He noted that being prepared as a first
responder to these situations is a must, because the instances
of such violence are continually going on.
He said every past occurrence has been different from the one
before, so training in various settings, with various situations, is
vital to helping local officers anticipate what they may encounter
when called to a school.
Nichols said that in his department and others around the
community there is no shortage of officers who want this kind of
education. In the sheriff's department, "we don't have to ask for
volunteers," he said. "When we say we are going to have a training
day, they are there."
The training facility is unique in that they do use live
ammunition during these trainings. Yanor said this is important
because it puts the officers in the reality of the situation. It
comes down to not only do the officers have to be aware of the
situation they are in, they also have to be mindful of their
partners and what they are doing with the guns.
In the event of a school situation, Nichols said that what his
people need is the expertise in rapid deployment.
"Sure, we're going to call the state police, but you're talking
an hour or two for them to get here; it's over," Nichols said. "You
see all these shootings, and in less than a minute, it is a done
deal. So, we are going in."
Nichols also commented that it isn't going to matter if the
situation is in the county or in the city of Lincoln; the sheriff's
department is going to be there.
"If something happens in our city," Nichols said, "we're going to
go and support and help them (the city department)."
According to the Adamax website, there are currently 14
multiple-day trainings scheduled for 2014, with three more yet to be
scheduled.
[By NILA SMITH]
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