FORSYTH COUNTY DEPUTY WINS "TOP GUN" AWARD AT POLICE ACADEMY

A Forsyth County Sheriff's Deputy has won the coveted "Top Gun" shooting excellence award at the Northeast Georgia Police Academy.

Deputy Gregory Cowburn was presented the award during graduation ceremonies this past Friday night when he and 22 other graduates were presented their diplomas from the Basic Peace Officer Mandate Training.

According to academy firearms instructor Lt. Bobby Tribble, Cowburn shot a score of 99.3 out of a possible score of 100 during "Range Week".  Range Week is when the aspiring police officers spend a week learning firearms skills, including how to shoot accurately with a handgun and shotgun.  They are work on a number of shoot or don't shoot scenarios at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, GA.  This segment of training is called, "Judgmental Shooting".  The deputies are placed in a video simulator and have to make split-second decisions on whether or not to fire their weapons either in self-defense or in defense of a third person.

During the firearms competition, each student has to shoot 30 rounds from a handgun, at distances of 3 yards to 25 yards.  The student who scores the highest wins the "Top Gun" award.

In the photo below, Cowburn (r) is presented with his award by Lt. Bobby Tribble (l).  Looking on is Maj. Andy Garrison, Director of the Northeast Georgia Police Academy.