Tuesday night, the Meridian City Council approved the purchase of a firearms training simulator for the Meridian Police Department that could help officers make split-second decisions when lives are at stake.

    The cost of the machine is $37,000, but for police chief Benny Dubose, the value for his officers and the general public could be immense.

    “It’s called FATS machine, or firearms training simulator, and it allows us to create different scenarios where we could have a suspect or victims or an unknown when the officer arrives at the scene,” Dubose said.  “These simulations can have the suspect with a gun. They can have a suspect and a victim with a baby or without a baby, or they (the suspects) could have shotguns. The officer is put in a situation where he has to make a split-second decision, just like on the streets.”

    Dubose said the FATS machine will be invaluable to put inexperienced officers into these types of life-and-death situations.

    “You put these young officers in these situations and you don’t know what their reactions are going to be,” Dubose said. “So this sort of gets them in the mindset what do I do in this situation, or what do I do if this happens. It’s a really good tool.”

    Dubose said he was able to acquire the simulator after getting council approval to move funds for purchase of a couple of vehicles to instead buying the simulator.

    “This is training you just can’t do live,” Dubose told council members.

    The council designated Meggitt Training Systems, Inc., as the sole source provider for the simulator.

    In other city business, the council:

    • Appointed Steven Anderson to the Lauderdale County Tourism Commission.

    • Authorized removal of two trees and creek bank repair and acceptance of hold harmless agreements.

    • Authorized submission of application for grant from the United States Tennis Association for $3,000. The grant will allow the city parks and recreation department to hold more 10-and-under tournaments at Northeast Park tennis facility.

    • Authorized payment of claim from Spec.Rescue International for a training class.

    • Authorized execution of Development and Reimbursement Agreement with RCG-Meridian Phase 2.

    •  Approved ad valorem tax exemption requests for Gipson Steel, Inc.,  Mitchell Distributing Company, Inc. (second 5 years), Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church, two for Van Zyverden, Meridian Symphony Association, Inc. and the Phil Hardin Foundation.