Using funds provided to Ozarka College through the federal Carl D. Perkins grant, the College purchased a firearm training system to provide criminal justice students with hands-on experiences to develop occupational skills needed by most criminal justice professionals.
"It is very important to student learning to not only be growing in academic disciplines, but also to have those interactive, hands-on experiences to develop the skills they need to do their jobs, " said Kay Adkins, Ozarka College student success advising specialist/Perkins. "The range simulator provides valuable experiential learning for our students as they virtually experience !active shooter' situations and practice their observation and reaction skills using non-lethal simulator weapons. "
Criminal Justice program coordinator and faculty member, Allen Wallis, began using this simulator in his curriculum during the fall semester of 2016. On February 21, 2017, Wallis utilized the equipment to host training for the Sharp County Sheriff's office reserve officers at Ozarka College - Ash Flat. "It's very advantageous for my criminal justice students to get to train on the same equipment as officers already working in the field, " said Allen Wallis.
For more information about Ozarka College's criminal justice program, please call Allen Wallis at 870.994.7273 or email: allen.wallis@ozarka.edu.