After complaints about a sniper training exercise held Monday, May 16, in Pack Square Park, the Asheville Police Department will move remaining training to the APD firing range or the "secluded and empty" former Volvo plant.
"The Asheville Police Department is currently sponsoring a Sniper school for regional SWAT operators throughout WNC. For the remainder of this week training involving this class will be conducted at either the APD Firearms range or the secluded and empty Volvo Plant located on Hendersonville [Road]," the announcement from the APD reads.
Interim APD Chief Wade Wood, responding to questions from Xpress about the incident, writes that "while this training is very beneficial for the officers, the planning should have been much better to include the communication to the public above and beyond the signage."
Members of the public complained about the exercise, expressing surprise at police snipers, SWAT vehicles and explosion noises (as part of the snipers' sight and sound training) in a heavily populated downtown area, and saying they had little warning.
— David Forbes, senior news reporter
"The Asheville Police Department is currently sponsoring a Sniper school for regional SWAT operators throughout WNC. For the remainder of this week training involving this class will be conducted at either the APD Firearms range or the secluded and empty Volvo Plant located on Hendersonville [Road]," the announcement from the APD reads.
Interim APD Chief Wade Wood, responding to questions from Xpress about the incident, writes that "while this training is very beneficial for the officers, the planning should have been much better to include the communication to the public above and beyond the signage."
Members of the public complained about the exercise, expressing surprise at police snipers, SWAT vehicles and explosion noises (as part of the snipers' sight and sound training) in a heavily populated downtown area, and saying they had little warning.
— David Forbes, senior news reporter
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WTF? They were planning to keep this assault on the public space going ALL WEEK!?
By Barry Summers
05/17/2011
What was the "signage" referenced here?
And here's a story I did for Xpress the last time the APD assisted paramilitary shenanigans downtown:
http://www.mountainx.com/news/2005/0420wargames.php
By Jon Elliston
05/17/2011
What was the “signage†referenced here?
Good question. Sort of a non-sequitor... The AC-T story refers to passersby (and interim Chief Welch) commenting that there were not even any signs letting people know what was going on.
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20110517/NEWS/305170035/Police-sniper-exercise-scares-downtown-pedestrians?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage
Maybe this truncated quote was referring to that earlier acknowledgment.
By Barry Summers
05/17/2011
Oh look. Hanging comma up there after "signage."
Jon - I know you're working on your book, but can't you edit for XPress in your free time? There seems to be a need...
By Barry Summers
05/17/2011
Darn. I'm sorry I missed this. Maybe their next downtown excercise will be crowd control. That would be a riot.
By Big Al
05/18/2011
There seems to be a need…
I've offered. And I'm quite available these days.
By mat catastrophe
05/18/2011
I’ve offered. And I’m quite available these days.
Yeah, I've heard that.
Boo-yah!!! You can't lob in the easy ones like that...
By Barry Summers
05/18/2011
There's no substitute for real life situations, however in the interest of not alarming the public, maybe some notice or section could've been corded off?
However, I believe there's an opportunity that's being missed by not inviting the public to these training exercises. Invite the community to come out to a meet & greet, let them observe the training, build community relationships by investing them in the operations. I believe it'd give the community a greater appreciation & understanding of those dedicated Men & Women charged with day to day civil safety.
The opportunity to put the shine back on the APD (free of charge)shouldn't be missed.
By Bjorn
05/18/2011
I don't think all the brasso in the world would "put a shine" back onto the APD or the Buncombe County Sheriff's Department.
By LOKEL
05/18/2011
Maybe their next downtown excercise will be crowd control. That would be a riot.
I dunno. The Republicans in Raleigh are working on a bill that would make it legal for civilians to rush into a riot or other "declared or un-declared state of emergency" with weapons drawn, and the police will be specifically barred from disarming them.
By Barry Summers
05/18/2011
What a bone-headed idea to have this "simulation" and not warn the public.
By cwaster
05/18/2011
The Republicans in Raleigh are working on a bill that would make it legal for civilians to rush into a riot or other “declared or un-declared state of emergency†with weapons drawn, and the police will be specifically barred from disarming them.
source?
By bill smith
05/23/2011