Once again the Lafayette Police Department is on the cutting edge of excellence in its commitment towards protecting the good citizens of the City of Lafayette.

During the week of September 27 2004, Lt. Matt Looper and Officer William "Buddy" Head underwent an extensive Advanced Police Sniper Training held in Dickson, Tennessee. (See Macon Pride section, 2003 for more info on the Lafayette PD Special Operations Response Team Snipers).

The school was hosted by the Dickson Tennessee Police Departments' Special Operations Response Team and conducted by the Federal Reserve Law Enforcement Unit. Training took place at various locations in and around the city of Dickson

The Advanced Police Sniper Course is designed for those officers who have been assigned as law enforcement snipers and who have been assigned in a SWAT or special operations capacity. The course provided the officers with advanced instruction in tactics and techniques of precision marksmanship, which is applied in a series of mission related exercises.

The instruction included:

Advanced Sniper Marksmanship; Advanced Sniper Team Concepts; Advanced Tactics for Camouflage, Movement; Stalking and Counter Sniper Surveillance; Extended Range Shooting and Ballistics; and Weapon Systems and Maintenance.

Upon completion of this training program, the officers are able to:

Address the challenges of precision engagement of targets at extended ranges in excess of 200 yards;

Appropriately construct or alter a camouflage ghillie suit to match conditions in a series of field exercises;

Appropriately apply camouflage makeup to match conditions in a series of field exercises;

Work in tandem with a second marksman/spotter to estimate target range and apply appropriate adjustment to optical sights to accurately engage targets at distant ranges and demonstrate the ability to apply these techniques and skills in a performance based scenario by live-fire qualification.

"This course enabled us to refine and hone our marksmanship and tactical skills to the point that we are confident that we can engage and neutralize any necessary target or targets, in hostage or terrorist situations in which we might be called into action" said Lt. Matt Looper upon completion of the training. Officer Head added, "We look forward to future courses and training offered to all the Lafayette Police Officers. It's a great asset for the city to have the trained officers that it does."