Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) launches first cohort of ‘integrated weapons instructors’ to strengthen response to violent crime

[The Financial News] The police will launch a program to train integrated weapons instructors in order to respond more effectively to violent crime and knife attacks and to strengthen the tactical expertise of frontline officers.
The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) announced on the 20th that it will run the “1st Integrated Weapons Instructor Training Course” at the Police Human Resources Development Institute.
The course was established to further advance the practical training program for responding to knife attacks, which was introduced in July last year, and to cultivate key personnel who can quickly adapt to the rapidly changing weapons and equipment environment, including the introduction of low-lethality handguns and new model shields.
Last month, the KNPA selected 200 elite personnel through a rigorous screening process from among 286 applicants recommended by Metropolitan Police Agencies nationwide, and 198 of them will enroll in this first training course.
The core objective of the training is to establish a standard for restrained exercise of state authority that puts human rights and safety first. Based on the legal grounds for the use of weapons and the value of human rights, the program focuses on preventing possible misuse or abuse in the field while at the same time strengthening practical capabilities to respond firmly to crime.
In addition, the course will address the limitations of previous use-of-force training, such as handgun shooting and conducted energy weapon (Taser) training that have been conducted separately, by simultaneously providing training to develop the ability to integrate and employ all available use-of-force options in a manner appropriate to the situation.
A KNPA official said, “This integrated weapons instructor training goes beyond simply teaching how to use weapons and will serve as an opportunity to firmly establish a ‘professional tactical system’ in the field that can protect both citizens’ safety and police officers’ lives,” adding, “We will continue to do our utmost to create a public safety environment in which the people can feel secure.”
welcome@fnnews.com Jang Yu-ha Reporter