One Micronesia for those sworn to protect and serve. Multiple law enforcement agencies from Guam, the CNMI, and Chuuk recently completed training to keep them safe while on the shooting range.

While on the shooting range, handling a gun can be dangerous for even the most highly trained in any local police force. "Once you discharge a firearm it’s not something that you can take back and make it go away," said Chief of Police Stephen Ignacio.  

It’s why the Guam Police Department, Port Authority Police, Airport Police and Judiciary Court Marshals were on the range at the GCC campus in Mangilao conducting range officer safety training.

But they weren’t the only ones.

Bia Nanoto, the director of public safety in Chuuk, said, "It will allow us to train our local law enforcement officers to protect using the tools that we use such as firearms to protect themselves and protect the communities that they serve."

Officers from the NMI also participated.

Marvin Seman with the Department of Corrections in Saipan, said, "We don’t have our safety officer or firearms instructor so that’s the direction I believe our commissioner Anthony Torres is trying to go."

Lt. Tito Hocog, Department of Public Safety, Rota said, "It may not be as nice as Guam’s but it works for us and we still put down good training. Now with the opportunity that we have training with our partners from Guam…it has enhanced the training capabilities and education and makes us a little better to protect and serve our community. I’d like to say it’s like a mini FestPac because we have our brothers from Micronesia here."

Lt. Ray Cepeda, CNMI Customs and Biosecurity said, "It’s a good opportunity for us as Customs and that way we have multi-agencies that can assist other agencies if they need with manpower."

Sgt. David Hosono, Department of Public Safety, Saipan, said, "We haven’t had a course like this so it’s an opportunity for the three islands to come out. This training is very helpful and resourceful when it comes to training because as a fire instructor it takes a lot of eyes when it comes to handling a weapon most especially talking about safety."

An important lesson that could prevent an officer on the shooting range from getting hurt or worse.