Forty-two armed men gathered in Morris last week, but they were the good guys.

Jefferson State Community College Director of Campus Safety Mark Bailey was teaching a four-day High Risk Warrant course Thursday, taught at various locations including the firing range that the Morris Police Department leases from Jefferson County.

Participants were from the police departments at Morris, Kimberly, Birmingham, Sumiton and Cullman, as well as the Jefferson, Cullman and St. Clair sheriff’s offices.

“They’re learning to execute high-risk search and arrest warrants, and some aspects of hostage rescue,” said Bailey. “You can tie it in to a lot of the events we’ve had recently.”

Morris Police Officer Michael Morris took part in the training, and said it was invaluable.

“You can face these things any day,” he said after he took part in an exercise that simulated a traffic stop where those in the vehicle were threatening officers with guns. “All this training is to keep us from getting complacent. It keeps us trained and on our toes.”

Another officer agreed that the training is critical.

“It’s good for officer safety and

suspect safety,” said Kevin Friday, who works for the Kimberly, Warrior and Jefferson State police departments. “The point is that everyone goes home safe at the end of the day.”

Clyde Johnson, a retired Birmingham Police Department officer who now works for the Kimberly Police Department, agreed that the training “can save officers’ lives.”

Morris Police Chief Brian Cochran said his department was glad to sponsor the training, which also included building assault, chemical munitions assault and hostage rescue mission exercises.

“If this is able to help someone and keep officers safe on the street, that’s what it’s all about,” he said.