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Butte Police use old airport terminal for special training

Posted at 8:19 PM, Apr 06, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-06 22:19:42-04

BUTTE, Mont. – On Thursday the Butte-Silver Bow Police Department conducted a special training session at the old Bert Mooney Airport Terminal.

The officers were able to use the vacant building because soon it will be torn down. During the training, they used a special tool called a wall banger. The device allows the officers to connect it to a door and ignite a flashbang to break the handle off.

Undersheriff George Skuletich said it is crucial to work on these drills in case of a crisis situation.

“It is nothing until you get in there and experience the concussion of the grenade or the flashbang going into the room,” said Skuletich. “Looking at the door, seeing how it goes through the door and what you have to do when you get in there. So there is nothing like hands-on experience.”

The wall banger was used during the Jan. 30 hostage standoff on a bus at the Butte bus transfer station. Last week, 52-year old Dane Anthony Gibson pleaded not guilty to felony charges of aggravated kidnapping and assault with a weapon in connection with the incident.