NATCHEZ — On Wednesday approximately 60 law enforcement officials from Mississippi and Louisiana ended a three-day training program at the Adams County Sheriff’s Office shooting range.

But the program did not focus on weapons training or the latest in policing technology.

Instead the program focused on report writing and effective testimony presentation.

And while report writing and courtroom testimony don’t sound like glamorous aspects of police work, Sheriff Ronny Brown said they are critical skills any law enforcement officer must have.

“It’s an important part of the job,” he said.

But while it’s an important aspect of the job it’s also not a part of the job that traditionally gets a lot of attention.

Brown said it is not uncommon to have a deputy or officer go their entire career without having to give testimony in court.

“They all need to be ready for that,” he said.

So to ready officers, the sheriff’s office partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice and William Wagner.

Wagner specializes in law enforcement training and spoke at Wednesday’s class.

“We want to enhance the police officer’s ability to document their investigations,” Wagner said. “Then it can be presented in court with effective testimony skills.”

Wagner likened an officer’s ability to provide clear concise testimony to a jury to the way a teacher must educate students.

“It’s a class for the jury from what the officer has learned in the investigation,” he said of an officer’s testimony.

In giving that testimony Wagner also presented attendees with tips on using language that could not be used against them by defense attorneys.

Deputies Gerald Mooney and Tom Borum attended the class, and both said they thought it was extremely helpful.

Borum said the class gave him a new perspective on the importance on report writing.

“It could end up in the supreme court,” he said of any report written. “It’s important. If it’s not documented on paper, then it’s like it did not happen.”

Borum also said while he has not given much courtroom testimony in the past, after the class, he now felt more confident about providing testimony.

Brown said he was particularly grateful to the Department of Justice for their part in coordinating the class.

Brown said the course was very costly, and the sheriff’s office would not have been able to afford it on its own.

“They helped us out a lot,” Brown said.