CRESTVIEW — Resident Marie Saccaro has more confidence around firearms following a session at the Shoal River Sporting Clays and Shooting Center.
Under the guidance of Crestview Police Department weapons instructor Lt. Andrew Schneider, Saccaro — representing her homeowners' association — and classmates in the spring Citizens Safety Academy fired guns Thursday morning.
See Citizens Safety Academy range shooting photos here>>
"I've only ever fired a gun once, so I was a little nervous," Saccaro said. "I feel OK, though. But I'm glad the instructors were there; otherwise I wouldn't have done it."
As she gently squeezed the trigger, Saccaro became more familiar with her pistol. But as a poster of Yoda, the "Star Wars" Jedi master, hung over the firing line reminded her, "Range time you need. Practice you must."
Crestview High School senior Gage Bailey had no fear of his 40-caliber, Austrian-made Glock pistol, but the academy's two-part weapons component was his first formal weapons training.
Gage said familiarity with his gun came from friends who had military weapons instruction and shared their knowledge with him.
Gage signed up for the academy to determine if he wanted to pursue a law enforcement career after graduation in June. Now, he knows. "I do," he said. "The class has been real enlightening."
Academy coordinator Officer Sam Kimmons said the spring class has been attentive and responsive to the courses' varied components, which include most aspects of law enforcement. A visit to the state prison south of Crestview was one of the academy's most recent field trips. Crime scene investigation was another well-received subject, Kimmons said, and one that particularly interested Gage.
"A lot of the folks said they're learning things they never realized police dealt with, especially our partnerships with other agencies," Kimmons said.
Some early light-hearted banter broke the seriousness of Thursday morning's exercise.
As Schneider distributed ear plugs and checked each student's eye protection, student Thomas Underwood jokingly asked Kimmons, "Hey Sam, when you're out in the field facing a bad guy, do you stop to put in your ear protection and eye protection?"
"Yes," Kimmons instantly responded. "I call a time out."
But as Schneider began the session, each student diligently followed the officers' safety and shooting instructions.
"The whole point of shooting at the range is safety first," Kimmons said.
The 10-week spring academy concludes April 28. Students will graduate May 5. Kimmons said another academy is in the planning stages for spring 2016, and the police are discussing holding an advanced course for academy graduates.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Police Citizens Safety Aacdemy class trains under weapons instructor