Natalie Whatley

BAYTOWN — North Main, Tuesday, 9:12 p.m. Two men and a female argue at the rear of a faded red truck. As I approach, the verbal exchange escalates and turns physical. One man is getting the better of the other with the hysterical female fueling the fire. Pulling a Glock 9mm to the front of my body, I move closer and shout, “Stop! Back away from each other!” over the screaming female.

Turning his eyes to me while shoving the object of his anger down and away, the aggressor sneers, and through gritting teeth addresses my intrusion. “Who called you here? This doesn’t concern you!”

The receiver of the brief, but violent beating slumps over at the waist, fighting to catch his breath. The woman, running in small rambling circles between the men, raves, attends to the injured party, and begs for it all to stop.

Before taking swift, boot-clad steps in my direction, the aggressor grabs a tire-iron from the back of the truck and centers it in the narrowing gap between us. “Put the weapon down and BACK UP!” I command. Snarling he raises the iron well above my head and lunges forward. Synapses firing rapidly reach my index finger. BANG! One shot to the center of the chest and he retreats . . . forever.

A little training and time spent at the shooting range saved my life. The whole thing was over in less than five seconds.  

Did the above really happen? Yes and no. You’ll never believe what I’ve been up to in my spare time. (Granny Adcox is probably worried sick. The big ants I mentioned last week caused her to be concerned for my well-being. She wrote and called. I make her concern public because another columnist, I’ll call him “Gaston”, and I have a little non-sibling rivalry going over Granny’s affections. He wants her all to himself –said he’d fight me for her.)

It all happened for real—inside a training room at the Baytown Police Department’s Police Academy building. It was brought to me as part of my participation in the Citizen Police Academy Class. I’m less than a third of the way through the basic curriculum, and there’s also an advanced class. I’ll fill you in on the complete experience after I graduate.

Our group was fortunate enough to be in session when the FATS – Firearm Training Simulator – was in town for BPD’s annual training session. The simulator, a computer with interactive gadgets, places students in realistic confrontations where split-second decisions must be made.

I was the last of my class to take a turn. I’ve never needed any help looking foolish, and being “tested” with about twenty people looking on – some highly trained and seasoned officers – was a little unnerving, but I did it. And I killed the bad guy with one well-placed shot.

While I had a little fun with my make-believe scenario, what I gathered from the evening was that lethal force is no joking matter. No normal human being wants to be put in a position to use it. I got a feel for how quickly things turn bad and how the human mind struggles to function clearly during what’s called an “adrenaline dump”.

It takes training and practice to overcome and effectively use the “fight or flight” mechanism. Often, muscle memory gained through repetitive training must step in while the brain catches up. It was comforting to hear from Instructor Extraordinaire, Crime Prevention Specialist Stewart Beasley, that most officers (and I assume even more civilians) go their entire lives without being in the situations put forth by the simulator.

Thanks, guys, for teaching me some things I hope my muscles never have to remember.

And since I’m such a good shot, “Gaston” probably doesn’t want to tangle with me. No matter. I aim to believe Granny Adcox has room enough in her big heart for the both of us. Another bull’s-eye! 

© 2009 Natalie Whatley 

Tags: Baytown Police Department, Citizen Police Academy, FATS, firearms training