What do golf training and police training have in common?

If you want to play golf, one of the best ways to practice is to go a training class where a simulator puts you on the course in various places. You are presented with scenarios on the tee box, in the “sandbox” or perhaps on the putting green. In each place, the golfer learns to select the right club and hold it the right way to achieve his best swing.

If your objective is to train a law enforcement officer, one of the best ways is to put them in a simulator that places them not only in shooting scenarios but in other areas of split- second decision making.

The David Stern Memorial Golf Tournament is the common denominator. Sponsors and golfers playing in this tournament on Monday, Sept. 12 at the Harbour Pointe Golf Club will be supporting the upgrade of a shooting simulator that is over 15 years old and is no longer serviced by the manufacturer.

This tool has been used by the Edmonds Police Department to both train the officers and for community outreach. Opportunities have been made available for community members to see for themselves what goes into making those split second, life and death decisions. This has often changed perspectives and improved the relationship between the department and the community.

The Edmonds Police Foundation has a website where both sponsors and golfers can register and pay online through PayPal or Visa. You can find the registration or donation form at www.edmondspolicefoundation.org.

Join a team or come along and we’ll find a team for you. Have some sun and fun and share golf stories with one of the law enforcement team members that will be playing. See you at the golf course.

— By Darlene Stern, Edmonds Police Foundation President