Cadets at YSU police academy get specialized rifle training


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Cadets in YSU’s Basic Peace Officer Training Academy spent a portion of Tuesday learning about the safe and proper use of rifles at the Hubbard Gun Range on Elmwood Drive Extension. YSU’s police academy is said to be Ohio’s only academy to provide that sort of specialized training.

By Sean Barron

news@vindy.com

HUBBARD

Like many people who plan a career in law enforcement, Khaled Abu-Ghannam received an early Hollywood-style introduction to his dream.

“As a kid growing up, I watched police shows — ‘CSI,’ ‘Law & Order’ and ‘Starsky & Hutch,’” the Boardman man recalled.

These days, though, he’s doing a lot more to pursue his goal than merely taking in some of TV’s famous crime fighters: He’s aiming to reach it.

To that end, Abu-Ghannam is among 30 cadets who are receiving top-notch training through Youngstown State University’s Basic Peace Officer Training Academy, said to be Ohio’s only such academy to provide training to certify cadets in the safe and proper use of rifles.

On Tuesday, the 30 men and women were at the Hubbard Gun Range on Elmwood Drive Extension, where they learned proper positioning, handling and safety techniques related to the M-16 rifles.

Also appreciative of the specialized training were Michael Cherol of Boardman and Slayman Awadallah, 21, of Austintown, both of whom had early ambitions of becoming police officers.

“This is a big step toward making YSU the premier police academy in the region and the state,” said Ed Villone, the academy’s commander.

In the past, most police officers carried shotguns, but today’s increase in the number of high-powered firearms on the streets necessitates law-enforcement personnel to supplement or replace those weapons with rifles, Villone noted.

Conducting the morning session with 15 of the cadets was Robert Paterniti, a nine-year firearms instructor with YSU’s police academy.

Paterniti, who also spent nine years at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., had his trainees aim at targets from 50 and 25 yards while giving detailed instructions on everything from correct body alignment to dropping and replacing the rifles’ magazines. He also gave individual pointers on aiming the weapons.

“I want you to be smooth, not fast,” Paterniti said.

He also encouraged the cadets to practice what he called “economy of motion,” meaning that they should keep their weapons as stationary as possible while dropping and adding the magazine clips.

The 15-week program also will provide training in the use of pistols and shotguns, Paterniti continued, adding that the participants will meet Ohio Police Officer Training Commission standards.

More than 800 cadets have graduated from the university’s academy since its inception in 2000, Villone noted.

“With the addition of rifle training at the YSU academy, our cadets will be trained and can be placed in a cruiser with a rifle on Day One without any additional training,” he said. “Our guys are ready to go.”

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