SHOT’s Law Enforcement Education Program – 2025

As I write this, we are just over two weeks from the start of SHOT—the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show. The week-long event happens every January in Las Vegas.

For the second year in a row, American COP is partnering with NSSF and the SHOT Show to co-sponsor the Law Enforcement Education Program. And there is still time to register for it – if you are law enforcement.

 

After a meet and greet on Monday evening, there are plenty of sessions to choose from. What are they, you ask? Well, here is the answer to that question.

 

Tuesday

8:15-10:15 AM

Streamlight is sponsoring the first presentation, which addresses Instructor Development for Low-Light Operations. Robert Cole, a former Marine and the director of training for TeamOne Network, is the speaker. Cole will discuss the low-light environment and how to work within it. He will also discuss flashlight choices. His goal is to give attendees a variety of resources for agency training.

9:00-10:00 AM

This block will cover utilizing active and passive aiming techniques with night vision equipment. It will address equipment selection and the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. Adam Aikens and James White will present this session, which is sponsored by Trijicon.

10:30-11:30 AM

Las Vegas Metro PD Officer Charles Huff will address the evolution of law enforcement’s response to active killer events and how equipment has changed along with that. Huff has responded to two of these events since 2017—the Mandalay Bay / Route 91 attack and another event at the University of Nevada—Las Vegas. Blue Force Gear is sponsoring this session.

11:00 AM-12:00 PM

Green Devil Targets is hosting this presentation by John Thorne on developments in range equipment and reactive target systems. Thorne will bring in the variety of experiences that officers in the United Kingdom have had for this session.

12:30-1:30 PM

Finally, Jared Buchanan will talk about suicide in law enforcement and its impact on officers as well as their families. One of his goals is to destigmatize mental health concerns in our world.

 

Wednesday

9:00-10:00 AM

Day two kicks off with a redo of the presentation on the use of both active and passive night vision.

9:15-10:15 AM

Are you designing or re-designing an indoor range? FGM Architects will lead the second discussion on Wednesday. The speakers, Raymond Lee and Mark Price from FGM and Tom Taylor from En. Range Inc., will discuss issues related to planning, building, or renovating an indoor range for your agency.

10:30 AM-12:00 PM

Russ Lyons will address pistol-mounted optics from the perspective of the Modern Samurai Project staff. In addition to discussing available optics, he will cover body mechanics, such as grip and trigger manipulation. Lyons spent his 25-year law enforcement career with Cleveland, Ohio’s Division of Police. Daniel Defense is the sponsor.

 

1:30-3:00 PM

AmericanCop will examine some of the current trends in using force training and where the profession is headed. The session will include both arrest and control and firearms training. Your editor will present.

2:00 -3:30 PM

Want to make your agency’s indoor range as healthy and safe a hearing environment as possible? Then you should attend Troy Acoustics‘ session, “Good Vibrations: The importance of shooting range reverb times and keeping good vibes with OSHA.” Troy’s CEO, Bill Bergiadis, and Dale Krupinski from OnTarget Safety Academy will discuss these concerns.

Thursday

8:00-9:30 AM

Are you interested in running scenario training successfully? Todd Fletcher will discuss this and how to do it in conjunction with MILO’s laser simulator. Their goal is to cover adult learning and how that impacts performance and retention.

8:15-10:15 AM

Bobby Cummings, from Clark Nexsen, will discuss the Training Triangle and the importance of developing facilities that support comprehensive use-of-force training. He defines the Triangle as the combination of the classroom, a range, and a simulation environment. Cummings, a deputy sheriff in Virginia, will focus on the best design and construction practices for all three settings, as well as the shortfalls of each and how the others can address those concerns.

10:15 AM-12:15 PM

Finally, Virta, a manufacturer of very solid force simulators, will have Von Kliem and Lon Bartel talk about the realities of human performance as it relates to the use of force realm. This session will look at how that intersects with constitutional law and current police training. Topics will include reasonableness, officer-created jeopardy, perception, cognition, and decision-making. They intend to leave attendees with an understanding of how immersive simulation training, based on evidence, “can empower officers to perform under pressure, enhance situational awareness, and build resilience for both the field and the courtroom.“

Final Thought

Yes, SHOT is about seeing the new equipment and weapons, establishing relationships with manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and other end users, and transferring information and knowledge. While some of this happens in the aisles and booths, these sessions allow for a greater level of detail. I, for one, am again looking forward to this part of SHOT.

Both NSSF and AmericanCop hope to see you there.

 

REGISTER

https://shotshow.org/leep/