Sheriff’s deputies train in firing at targets in the dark and dim light to simulate a night-time attack

Reserve Division Deputy Sheriff Chris Dupont fires at a target in the dark, with Lt. Raymond Theriot behind him.

The flash of the firing of a gun by Deputy Sheriff James Norsworthy can be seen as he takes cover during a simulated nighttime attack. Behind him is Assistant Training Director Lt. Raymond Theriot.	Capt. Brian Clark advances on targets in the dark, with Lt. Raymond Theriot behind him.
Lt. Raymond Theriot, left, and Training Director Maj. David DiMaggio. in a blue light cast by a patrol car during low light target training.	Deputy Lance Kramer, fires at a target in a blue light cast by a patrol car during low light shooting, with Lt. Raymond Theriot behind him

More than likely, if police officers are going to have a gun drawn on them it will happen at night, especially if they surprise someone in the act of committing a crime, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“Eighty percent of all shootings involving police, either being shot or having to exchange fire with a suspect, occur at night,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

For that reason, one of the training regimes for sheriff’s deputies involves shooting in “low light,’’ situations, basically firing at targets in the dark or dim light and from different stances or positions to simulate a night attack.

“You have to be prepared for a nighttime confrontation,’’ Sheriff’s Office Training Director Maj. David DiMaggio said. In the past, St. Bernard deputies have been involved in shootings at night.

Deputies and the sheriff’s SWAT team recently worked in different situations involving using weapons in low light situations, led by DiMaggio, Assistant Training Director Lt. Raymond Theriot, and firearms instructors Deputies Tommy Duplessis and David Culpepper.

“You need to be tested in different environments,’’ DiMaggio said. “As officers you have to work in darkness, rain, cold and heat.”

“Lethal weapons are harder to see’’ at night, Theriot said. “Distances are harder to gauge and colors are harder to distinguish.’’

Officers, using a range at Camp Villere in St. Tammany Parish, practiced such things as trying to get a flashlight on an area to provide light with one hand while simultaneously firing.

“They have to position themselves and not give their positions away,’’ Theriot said.

Training includes shooting from different positions, including walking, standing and kneeling.

To prepare for an attack on them while in their vehicle, officers practice getting out and taking cover and moving toward the suspect’s position. “Take the fight to them,’’ Theriot told deputies at one training session.