CLIENTS
CAPS Live-Fire, Video-Based Systems are the choice of Federal, State, local and private law enforcement agencies as well as leading firearms training institutions such as Smith & Wesson Academy, SIG Arms Academy, Center Mass Inc., Crosshairs and the Police Policy Studies Council.
Their comments speak for themselves:
"On October 15, 2006 I was staring through the scope of my sniper rifle when the suspect emerged from the back door of his residence and aimed his 30-06 at four members of my SWAT Team. The scenario unfolded in seconds. Luckily, I was prepared and my shot broke before his. The threat was stopped and no one else was injured that day.
This was not the first time I had dealt with an armed man emerging from a door. Due to the CAPS training I had taken nine days earlier, I had already experienced that occurrence dozens of times in both shoot, and just as importantly, no-shoot, scenarios. CAPS live-fire training is the most realistic training I have ever experienced and it made me as prepared as I could possibly be for my incident. CAPS training isn't a luxury, it is a necessity."
Officer Eric J. Cusson, Sniper Team Leader
"Under stress you default to the level of your training. The CAPS system allows us to not only tune the physical skills it also adds the much needed dimension of judgment training. The willingness you demonstrated in creating high quality correctional based scenarios in our environment gave relevance to the training that we had previously lacked. The CAPS system allows us the flexibility for use with new staff firearms training as well as more complex high stress emergency team training."
Mike Bennett, Assistant Director, Indiana Department of Correction, Emergency Response Operations, Correctional Training Institute, New Castle, IN
"Brink's Incorporated, a global leader in secure logistic and business services, has been acquiring and integrating CAPS live-fire systems into its comprehensive training programs since 2006. Brink's use CAPS systems throughout North America to improve shooting competency and enhance decision making skills, with CAPS being utilized in both live-fire range training and in classroom settings."
Dennis Casteel, Director of Firearms Training, Brink's USA
"The CAPS Live-Fire Judgment Training System has been a significant enhancement to our firearms training program. Our agency has used both FATS and PRISM in the past and we purchased a CAPS system because it offers several important advantages.
First, the CAPS system is extremely flexible. We have used it with the entire range of officer-deployed firearms from backup handguns at ten feet, to sniper rifles at 100 yards. Second, the level of realism is higher than other systems that do not allow the use of actual firearms. When we conduct training with our officers on the CAPS system they are using the weapon and ammunition they carry on the street. This improves officer confidence, and allows the instructor to recognize and correct problems that might not be apparent using a simulated firearm.
The majority of our officers say that CAPS is the best firearms training that we provide and I agree."
Sgt. Mark Stout, West Bloomfield Police Firearms Training Unit, West Bloomfield, MI
"Our students repeatedly tell us that CAPS is the best form of firearms training they have ever been exposed to. Over the years several of our students have been involved in deadly force encounters and have stated that the CAPS training they received at Center Mass, Inc. played a significant role in their success. We have always known the value of CAPS and wholeheartedly endorse the system and the company. If you're in the market for a firearms training system you are going to be hard pressed to find a system that is as durable, versatile, and economical. For live-fire training as realistic as it gets, CAPS is the best system on the market."
Jeff Felts, President, Center Mass Inc., Canton, MI
“After researching several judgment shooting simulator systems for training, we purchased CAPS. We were looking for a training simulator which would allow our members the most realistic training experience. The fact that our officers could experience realistic live-fire judgment type training with department issued pistols, ammunition, and other non-lethal equipment, was a great advantage to our training program. The versatility of CAPS allows us to train at both our indoor or outdoor training facilities.”
Staff Sergeant Ronald Owen, Training Coordinator & Firearms Instructor, Oneida Indian Nation Police, New York State
“Our CAPS system proves our officers true firearms skills with what they carry on the street. The scenarios produced for our department by CAPS ensure both the relevance and realism of our training. The dependability of the system and after sales support from CAPS make it the system to choose.”
Sgt. Ron Raneri, Range Master, Instructor/Trainer, Waltham Police Department, Waltham, MA
“Weighing all of the factors used in our research criteria including price, ease of operation, availability, realism, and versatility in relation to the entire use of force continuum, the CAPS System rated higher in every category than its peers. We have now had our CAPS System for over two years and have yet to utilize even half of the scenarios included with it.”
We are very happy with our system and would highly recommend it to other law enforcement agencies as the best judgmental system on the market.”
Captain Timothy B. Kentch, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, MO
“We are certainly pleased with the CAPS simulator. This valuable training tool cannot be compared to any other firearms training product on the market. The key point is that officers use their issued duty weapon. The more we train and develop our skills with the system the better prepared we are should we have to respond to a critical incident.”
Captain of Police, Howard L. Mintz, City of Newton, MA Police Department
“What an impressive and versatile training tool. The fact that this system is so portable, allows us to use it indoors and outdoors, with pistols and rifles. The quality of training was exceptional. The pace and surprise of some of the scenarios pushes our officers to their limits.
As a firearms trainer it's not only valuable in teaching combat shooting but also, use of force, judgment, and weapons handling. Since we are firing live rounds from duty weapons, officers get immediate feedback on their strengths and weaknesses. We use it for line officers to snipers and swat. Everybody loves the training and can't wait to train on it again.”
Detective Andy Boisvert, Firearms Instructor, Gillette Police Department, Gillette, Wyoming
“The decision to buy the CAPS machine was an easy one to make for our department. It allows us to provide the decision-making training needed with our duty weapons, and at a greatly reduced cost to the department. The hands on training by the CAPS staff and scenarios provided are right on the mark. As an industrial department, the capability of customizing scenarios for our facility based on previous incidents is an invaluable training tool. I've shot the rest and bought the best.”
Captain Bill Granzow, US Steel Security, Gary Works, Gary, Indiana
“Just wanted to take the time to thank you for the recent update on the CAPS system. I would have written you sooner but I've been so busy with moving the trailer all around the state so it is actually your fault. The reviews on the training with CAPS are incredible.The phase most commonly used is "This is the best training I have ever had". This comes not only from older Officers but also from the recruits I teach in the Academy.
Our Mobile Firearms Trailer has been used by the following Agencies:
Plymouth County Sheriff’s Dept., Federal Marshalls, Brocton P.D., Bridgewater P.D., Ridgewater P.D., East.Bridgewater P.D.,Bridgewater State College, Halifax P.D., Hanover P.D, Hanson P.D., Hingham P.D., Hull P.D., Kingston P.D., Marion P.D., Mattapoisett P.D., Pembroke P.D., Plympton P.D., Rockland P.D.,Whitman P.D.,University of .Massachussetts College Police, Boston, Swansie P.D.Just to name a few.
Call up any one of these agencies and talk to their Firearms Instructors. Many have had the trailer four times already and CAPS never seems to get old or repetitive. Thank You Again!”
Captain Bob Bethoney, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Training Instructor
"We were impressed with several things. First was the simplicity of the entire system. Next was the availability to have a number of home brew scenarios filmed and acted locally using our own staff. We also like the fact that this system was highly portable and could be used both for line personnel as well as our snipers. And finally, probably the most important in my mind, was the ability to use your own firearm in the judgmental training process. By using an actual firearm, we bring back from our static training the fundamental components of flash sight picture and trigger control and implement them at the dynamic level. This makes for a very telling experience."
Sergeant Michael Brian, NPD Training Unit Naperville Police Department, Naperville, Illinois
"I have been in Law Enforcement for 16 years and have been a Firearms Instructor for the past six. The best and only way to train officers in the use of firearms is for the officers to train with the actual weapons they carry on duty. I have used the CAPS simulator to train our complete 60 officer department and have received nothing but positive feedback from them and other officers who have been exposed to our CAPS system. For less than $ 600.00 we built a training building which allows us to use the CAPS system on our outdoor range day and night. The CAPS system is the best thing going."
Sergeant Nat Brown, Firearms Training Section Newnan Police Department, Newnan, Georgia
“The Bridgeview Police Department has always maintained a firearms certification program for their officers, but needed something that would exercise the officers mind as well as to train them in the proficient firing of their duty weapon. CAPS allows us to challenge, and to critique our officers in a live fire situation within a simulated environment.”
Chief Charles Chigas, Bridgeview Police Department, Bridgeview, Illinois
“I have been in Law Enforcement for the past 21 years, 17 of them as a firearms instructor. CAPS is the most realistic “User Friendly” training tool I have seen. Talk about great training with your own weapon system. Everyone of our members look forward to range day.”
Sgt. Mark Mahoney, Hornell Police Department, Hornell, New York
“I have been involved in the law enforcement business for 30 years and have been a weapons trainer for 22 of those years. I have seen us go from a time when we thought bullseye shooting was "state of the art", to using a 16mm projector to run scenarios, to turning targets in "shoot don't shoot" decision-making to the various interactive systems.
CAPS is the most versatile cost-effective method of training a person to deal with use of their weapon. CAPS is real world in real speed, using the officer’s own weapon and live ammo to respond when appropriate. All the training is done in front of an instructor, so that the officer’s actions can be discussed, concerning the use of force, legal relevance as well as departmental policy. In this day and age, I feel it is a “must do” for our officers.”
Bill Porter, Training Coordinator, Smith & Wesson Academy, Springfield, MA
"The CAPS system is what most of us have wanted but until now couldn't afford. This system was conceptualized and operationalized by Dave Young, a deep-thinking firearms training professional who has long recognized the need for just such a system. Dave is also a perfectionist, and this system is but another example of his pursuit of excellence. If you had convinced yourself that you needed the resources of the Federal Reserve to buy a quality video-based firearms training system, it's time to reconsider."
Tom Aveni, Board Member, Police Policy Studies Council, Spofford, NH
“The CAPS Simulator fills a void in judgment and use of force decision making in firearms training. It is currently the only system available which allows the organization to conduct scenarios for patrol rifle and for police snipers. Considering the rising demand for rifle utilization during critical incidents it can give the rifle shooter the ability to deal with video scenarios at realistic, extended distances. For the organization looking for the most low cost, versatile, safe, and effective training simulator for their use of force training the CAPS Simulator can’t be beat.”.
John M. Peterson III Firearms Instructor, New Hampshire