MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. -- Rather than patrolling in the car, members of Marshall County’s Special Response Team spent the day on the water. It's become an essential part of their training, as they keep a close eye on the local plants.

"You've got Consol, you've got the chemical plants, you've got Bayer, PPG, Columbian Chemical, we're going to have the coal gasification plant on the river," said Chief Deputy Kevin Cecil.

Deputies went out on a motor boat to practice approaching targets placed on land and firing live rounds.

As you can imagine, shooting from the water is no easy task. Officers are dealing with the movement of the boat and sometimes choppy waters.

"They basically have to, as the target approaches their line of sight…that's when they fire the shot," Cecil said.

While it makes for a tough shot, approaching security threats from the river has its advantages.

"Where it might be a half mile from the roadway, we can drop off and be at the plant in seconds," Cecil said. "It provides a whole other access point and sort of a stealthy approach."