In August, Parsons Police Chief, Jonathan J. Jones attended training in Sissonville and completed the NIMS/ICS (National Incident Management System/Incident Command System) 400 course. This is an advanced system for public safety personnel who require advanced application of the Incident Command System. The course expands upon the information covered in the ICS-100 through 300 courses and provides personnel with the information needed to manage serious incidents that either occur or have already occurred.
In addition, Jones, Parsons City Administrator Jason Myers, Parsons City Council Members Tim Auvil and Phillip Fansler attended a training seminar at Camp Dawson on emergency responses to “mass casualty” incidents. The training included emergency responses to “active shooter” events, similar to the recent events at the movie theater in Aurora, Colo., and the school shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Chardon High School in Chardon, Ohio and Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo.
Jones has attended and successfully completed the West Virginia Recertification and Equivalency Certification Course at the West Virginia State Police Academy in Charleston. The training, which began on Sept. 9 and concluded on Sept. 27, included the topics of: Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC), Defensive Tactics, Domestic Violence, Firearms, Laws of Arrest, Search and Seizure, Criminal Law and Motor Vehicle Law. Instruction was provided by Academy Staff and guest instructors and was attended by law enforcement officers from numerous agencies across the state.
The purpose of the course is to provide approved recertification of officers in the state accordance with requirements established by the West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Services. The training ensures that law enforcement officers throughout the state are knowledgeable in subjects critical to properly and effectively enforcing the laws of the state and
protecting the citizens, their rights and property according to the U.S. and West Virginia Constitution. It is provided for officers who have been either previously certified in the state of West Virginia or who have been certified in another state and have received the required hours of certification and training in the specific subject areas to serve as law enforcement officers in West Virginia.
This three week course is an abbreviated version of the 16 week basic officer certification course and is designed and intended for experienced officers who do not have the need to attend the full certification course.
Jones was initially certified as a law enforcement officer in the state of Georgia in 1999 and served with the Polk County Police Department in the Patrol Division. Positions included Patrol Officer, Patrol Corporal, Patrol Sergeant, shift supervisor and Patrol Division Lieutenant. Prior to his certification as a police officer with the Polk County Police Department, he served as a certified Jail Officer with the Polk County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Department from April 1998 until January 1999.
