MERCER ISLAND, Wash. — KIRO 7 got an inside look inside the Mercer Island Police Department, the department’s weapons, and the split-second decisions officers have to make.
Mercer Island is currently hosting a “citizen’s academy” for residents to learn about the department.
On Wednesday night, visitors were allowed to get hands-on with both lethal and non-lethal weapons by firing practice paint rounds.
“It is actually more difficult than I thought,” said Mary Smersh.
“You think of it as a point-and-shoot thing.”
Police also gave the group a long talk about “use of force” and what officers think about as far as the law and reaction times when they make the decision to use deadly force.
Visitors were allowed to run through stressful computer simulations where they had to make “shoot-don’t shoot” decisions.
“Hopefully they realize, not just here on Mercer Island but officers everywhere, make decisions in a split second,” Officer Tim Derr said.?