It’s hard to imagine members of Alabama’s law enforcement officers learning to diffuse a hostage situation or improving their marksmanship without ever firing a live round.

But through Wallace Community College’s Advanced Visualization Center, those things are now possible.

Tuesday, representatives from a number of law enforcement offices were on campus to see demonstrations of the latest technology and receive some hands-on training.

Arts and Science Department Chair Tammie Biggs, who was one of the demonstrators, said the program can lead to improved confidence and increased earning potential for new recruits.

“The program gives significant opportunities for recruits to strive for higher professional and academic goals,” she said. “We have established a goal for moving forward. The goal is to produce better quality individuals for agencies, for the state and for the nation.”

The college has partnered with the Alabama State Trooper Training Center, which is located just off the Wallace campus to offer academic training a well as exercises that can be used in the field. Criminals on a shooting range aren’t the only things being simulated. Through web casts recruits are able to continue their education through a video classroom.

Departments can also host seminars over the web without ever having to leave their offices. This, Wallace Community College president James Mitchell said, saves money and manpower.

Capt. Keith Jackson, who was on hand as a representative of the Alabama State Troopers, said he was blown away by what the college has accomplished.

“I’m overwhelmed right now,” he said. “(Wallace has) done a great job. The vision they have for us leaves people pleasantly surprised.”

The programs relating to fieldwork have the ability to recreate a shooting range and gauge everything from the steadiness of a shooter’s hands to the pressure used on the trigger. Like a live shooting range, the targets also show groupings.

In other instances, live situations similar to those officers might approach in the field are also played out and scored by how the recruit reacts.

New scenarios can be created by actors to deal with a variety of situations that can arise in the field.

AVC director Johnny Moss said the program can benefit everyone.

“We think in the long term we are absolutely sure this can be of benefit to the community and the college,” he said. “This offers tremendous capabilities to acquire new technology. This offers us the option to step up training.”

Mitchell echoed his sentiments.

“If we don’t have it, we can get it,” he said. “The things we’re talking about offering are not just firearm training. We can create things to help with training and day to day operations.”