Norman Police SWAT Sniper Team to Conduct Rescheduled Training at Stadium
Officers from the Norman Police Department’s SWAT team will hold a training drill inside the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, June 3.
The training was originally scheduled during spring break but was postponed due to COVID-19.
During the training drill, Norman SWAT team officers will conduct live fire sustainment training in the facility to maintain their skills in engaging targets from the varying heights, distances and angles that stadiums present officers. The public is advised that gunfire from inside the stadium may be heard between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. that day.
The OU Police Department and the OU Athletics Department are hosting the exercise to ensure a high level of readiness for stadium events.
“The use of the Norman Police SWAT is a standard part of our OU football game day law enforcement response, so it is critical that the officers get to train inside the venue to replicate game day conditions as closely as possible,” said OUPD Interim Chief Kent Ray.
Officers are required to pass a qualification test before shooting live rounds in the stadium. During the training, officers will be positioned in a variety of locations around the venue. Snipers will target OUPD’s rifle-rated bullet traps – special equipment that captures all bullets and any fragments.
The training exercise is a way for officers to maintain the skills that were taught in last year’s TacFlow Academy training for the OU and Norman police departments.
The training is closed to the public.
By Melissa Caperton
Article Published: Wednesday, May 20, 2020