By Shavonne Potts

Salisbury Post

Members of Leadership Rowan got an up-close view of the Salisbury Police Department Thursday at the Rowan County Wildlife Association.

Leadership Rowan is a Rowan Chamber of Commerce initiative designed to enhance professional development and community awareness.

There are nine sessions in the program held once a month that address areas of history and arts, criminal justice and law enforcement, local government, future perspectives, health and human services, education, business industry and finance, and leadership.

Earlier in the day, Leadership Rowan participants toured Piedmont Correctional Institution. They were also given an overview of the services the Salisbury Police provide.

About two dozen participants were able to see the Police Department’s SWAT unit demonstrate many of the tactical maneuvers they’d use in a hostage standoff. The SWAT team members briefly explained their roles and how they got involved.

They are trained to respond quickly to different scenarios through drills and much practice, said Lt. Mike Dummett, who is over the SWAT team.

Dummett spoke to Leadership Rowan members about types of training including hand-to-hand combat, firearms and physical fitness.

Several SWAT team members spoke about the tough training. Many of the members said training wasn’t easy.

“If you’re here, you want to be here,” one member said.

It’s a volunteer program, none of the unit members are paid, except through their regular jobs. Many are emergency medical services personnel, firefighters, police officers and sheriff’s deputies.

Christopher McCoy, a financial adviser with AXA Advisers, and participant with the Leadership Rowan program, said he found the program very valuable.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn what goes on in Rowan County and Salisbury,” he said.

Following the SWAT demonstration and debriefing, McCoy along with others fired a few weapons at a paper target.

“It’s really an eye opening experience,” he said of Salisbury Police SWAT unit demonstration.

He was impressed with the “level of expertise and professionalism” among the SWAT team.

He added as a Salisbury resident he feels comfortable knowing “these professionals are protecting us.”

Laura Lyerly, an employee with Downtown Salisbury Inc., said this day was an eye-opener for her.

“This is a whole new role that I didn’t know existed,” she said of the SWAT unit.

Lyerly said Friday was the most interesting of all the sessions they have been to this year.

“I had no knowledge of what they did,” she said.

Lyerly added this program is the quickest way to learn about “your own community.”

Rashad Smith, a Catawba College employee, said Leadership Rowan is great because it allows those involved to “get in a position to help in the community.”

He now has an in-depth understanding of the services the police department provides.

“In each session you take away a lot of information,” Smith said.

He added that through the Leadership Rowan program the opportunity is there to experience things you might not otherwise experience.

Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.