The FBI trainer was talking about “intent” Tuesday at the new Huntsville Firearms Training Center near the Tennessee River. That’s “intent” as in intent to shoot, the critical step a suspect takes that means an agent is justified in using deadly force.
For the FBI in the situation being discussed, he said intent is grasping the grip of the gun in your belt. Wait any longer to respond, the trainer said, and the agent might be not be coming home.
The conversation was one of many as visitors toured the training center. It started with a question about a training poster on the wall showing a man with an already drawn weapon and a hostage. The building is where officers and agents practice “cleaning” rooms and responding to scenarios like that one while trainers observe from overhead catwalks.
The training center is a joint project of the Huntsville Police Department and the FBI, which invested $5 million in its completion. It is located near the town of Triana, and it is the result of 10 years of planning, Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurrary said.
The 40-acre site was studied first for archaeological, historical and environmental impacts, McMurrary said. “We brought our sound engineers (also) to find out how we could reduce the impact on Triana, our neighbors here in this area,” McMurrary said. “We wanted to reduce the sound impact for the houses around here, and we’re continuing to monitor that sound.”
The training center includes a 40-lane outdoor range, a 270-degree “all purpose” range, a 600-yard rifle range and the 7,500-square-foot Tactical Training Building. Its goal is “a police force that is well-trained and knows how to react and knows how to protect and serve,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said, “and that’s what we see on a daily basis.”
“Each police officer, each day when you leave your home, know that you are loved,” City Councilwoman Frances Akridge said. “Love yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
“My staff will be working side by side with HPD at this facility,” said Birmingham FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnny Sharp. “and your FBI will be training here five days a month.”
Sharp said the FBI anticipates special training at the facility such as sniper schools and firearms instructor schools for its agents and law enforcement agencies from across the country. “I want each of you here today as well as the citizens of Huntsville to know how much the partnership with the Huntsville Police Department means to me and to the men and women of the FBI’s Birmingham division,” he said.
Sharp said 40 percent of his division’s resources are currently “invested in Huntsville.” “We don’t just show up when something happens,” he said. He cited the North Alabama Violent Crimes Task Force created in April. Since then, he said the task force has arrested more than 30 people for violations including homicide, armed robbery, carjacking, weapons violations and financial fraud.
“That’s 30 violent offenders off the streets thanks to our partnership,” Sharp said.