WCNC

Officers ran drills and tested out a sniper course for their upcoming police sniper competition.

GASTONIA, N.C. -- It's not everyday you get to see what it takes to be a police sniper. Officers may not use those skills everyday, but they have to be trained and ready to go at a moment's notice.

Thursday, Gastonia police gave WCNC a rare inside look at some of their specialized training. Officers ran drills and tested out a sniper course for their upcoming police sniper competition scheduled for April 5-6 at the Gastonia Police Firearms and Training Center.

Gastonia’s sniper team is one of the most accomplished in the nation.

“It’s probably one of our best kept secrets and we like to keep it that way because this is something you love to have when you need it, but it’s not something we publicize a lot,” said Gastonia Police Captain Steve Duncan.

Officers designed the course based on real-life situations their officers have faced on the streets. Sniper officers may only get called out a dozen times a year, so there’s a reason they do so much highly specialized training: they don’t get a second chance.

“The sniper moves into position. If he’s called upon to do his duty it’s a one-time opportunity and you know if he doesn’t perform or does not respond when called upon, lives are at stake,” said Duncan.

Seventeen teams from as far away as the Caribbean are coming to take part in the sniper competition. The event is open to the public to watch.