2008 News

March 25, 2008

A Moving Target
Commissioner Chairman Jim Cawley Drills with the Staff of the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center

Bucks County Commissioner Chairman Jim Cawley today worked first-hand with the staff of the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center in Doylestown Twp. The center trains public safety officers, including police, fire, EMS and corrections officers, from all portions the southeastern Pennsylvania region. Over 3,000 officers receive training each year.

Commissioner Cawley firing at a simulator.Commissioner Cawley participated with Chalfont Borough police officers as they received training on the Advanced Interactive System (AIS), a firearms simulator where officers react to real-world, interactive scenarios. Commissioner Cawley participated by holding a firearm, and watching a scenario on a large screen.  As the scenario progresses officers articulate the unfolding situation and make decisions to shoot or not shoot. After shooting the weapon, Cawley could analyze where his shots were fired and evaluate why he reacted as he did.

As an officer trains, decisions are based on the use of force continuum and the officer is required to justify any use of force, what adjustments are needed, the tactics used, their articulation and documentation. In preparing for this training the student is encouraged to participate as they would a real encounter and are judged not only on the use of force but actions leading up to the use of force. Verbal commands, movement, use of cover, observation of threat, first shot placement, shooting to stop the threat, the scanning for additional subjects and reaction time are evaluated.

Less lethal training by Commissioner Cawley.Commissioner Cawley also participated in a less-lethal impact munitions program.  This program instructs officers to safely and effectively use less lethal munitions in a tactical environment.  Corp. Charlie Wurst of Buckingham Township showed Cawley how to load a
bean bag into a shotgun, and fire at a target. He instructed Cawley where to aim on the body target for maximum, less-lethal efficiency. 

Officer training in less-lethal methods concentrates on methods of deployment, officer safety concerns, targeting, tactical considerations and the loading and unloading of less-lethal munitions.  Practice rounds are deployed.

Commissioner Cawley then observed a fire suppression and incident command class for Bucks County corrections officers.  The corrections officers where training with full masks and oxygen tanks for response to a fire in the facility.  They then climbed a four-story fire training tower wearing the heavy gear.

Commissioner Cawley listening in on the Corrections fire suppression training.The Bucks County Public Safety Training Center runs over 100 programs over the course of 250 days a year. The classes are free or require a nominal charge, as the center is supported in large part through grant funding. The center is highly respected throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, with approximately 40 percent of those trained coming from departments outside of Bucks County.

Since becoming a commissioner in 2005, Commissioner Cawley has worked in many county departments, experiencing their responsibilities from a first-hand point-of-view. They include ceramist at the Tileworks, fire marshal, security screener, health department inspector, lifeguard at a county pool, naturalist at a county nature center, and Meals on Wheels delivery person.

For more information on the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center and training programs that are offered, please call 215-340-8400, or click here.