CENTRAL ILLINOIS POLICE TRAINING CENTER

Brian Fengel, Director

Phone: (309) 690-7350
Fax: (309) 690-7359
Jean Swan: jswan@icc.edu

Heather Grove: hgrove@icc.edu

FOCUS™ – Low Light Engagements with Pistol-Mounted Red Dot Optics

Instructor: Al Bello

October 14, 2024

 8am – 4pm

 Class will meet at: Ottawa Range, 301 W. Lafayette Street, Ottawa, IL

Enrollment Deadline:  October 7, 2024

Course Size:  Maximum – 8

Course Objective

This 8-hour program has been designed to equip police officers with an immersive training program designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use the red dot optics on their duty firearms in low-light environments. This course bridges the gap between traditional iron sights and modern red dot optics, offering practical experience and proficiency for any incident that may require the officer to use his or her firearm in low-light environments.

Course Content

Our 8-hour Low-Light Engagements with Pistol-Mounted Red Dot Optics Course is a meticulously designed program that trains police officers in the application of red dot optics on handguns in low-light environments, focusing on the principles of safety, accuracy, and effectiveness.

This one-day training is taught by our lead instructor, Al, who has 20+ years of military experience in combat operations and firearms. All other firearms instructors working for Offset Police Training Group come from SWAT or military backgrounds. Our one-day course begins with an introduction to red dot optics in low-light environments, exploring different types of red dot sight brightness, and their effects, functionalities, advantages, and limitations in low-light environments.

Transitioning from iron sights to red dot optics can be challenging. Thus, a key component of the course focuses on modifying grip, stance, and sight picture for effective red dot use in low-light environments. This includes acquiring the dot, tracking targets, and transitioning between targets in low-light environments. In addition to this, a new trigger pull process will be taught to students that will give them confidence and proficiency when shooting their firearms.

The course emphasizes practical skills, with a significant portion of the day dedicated to live-fire drills. These exercises are designed to reinforce the classroom instruction, with drills focused on dot acquisition, target transitions, shooting on the move, and engaging multiple targets.

Finally, we cover basic maintenance and troubleshooting for red dot optics. Students will learn to handle common optic malfunctions, maintain their equipment, and manage battery life for optimum performance.

This Low Light Engagements with Pistol-Mounted Red Dot Optics Class is an excellent opportunity for officers with handguns to expand their skill set, embracing modern technology to increase accuracy, speed, and confidence in their shooting ability in low-light environments. This course will enhance officer effectiveness and proficiency.

*Students MUST be sworn police officers

*Students MUST have attended a previous Red-Dot transition, familiarization, or instructor

course as a pre-requisite.

*Students MUST have an appropriate holster for their weapon/optic/light combo.

*Students must have a weapon-mounted light on their firearm with fresh batteries.

*Students MUST bring a Headlamp with fresh batteries.

*Students must bring 500 rds of ammunition for the weapon they will shoot.

*Students must bring their duty belts.

*Students must bring their vests.

*Students must bring eye and ear protection.

*Students must bring 20 “dummy” training rounds for their weapon.

*Students must bring at least 3 training magazines for their weapon.

*Students must have an optic mounted on their handguns prior to arriving to class.

*Students should bring a knee pad.

Mobile In-Service Training Team#7 Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board

MTU 7 request for certification of this course has been approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board

Meets the following mandatory training criteria: De-escalation Techniques 2.50 hours with 2.50 hour scenario based, and Officer Safety Techniques 4.50 hours with 2.50 hours scenario based