February 28, 2010

Simulator helps Neb. cops train for real-life scenarios

The high-tech training program teaches cops how to make better decisions

Lincoln Journal Star

LANCASTER COUNTY, Neb. — Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner points his gun at the suspect in the warehouse and tells him to show his hands.

"I work here," says the man, keeping one hand behind a box.

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Wagner repeats the command several times before the man steps forward, hands in the air.

"It's cool," the suspect says before cursing at the sheriff.

"That's how people talk to us," the sheriff says, laughing.

Wagner isn't actually in a warehouse this Thursday morning. He's in front of a video screen, helping demonstrate his office's new firearms simulator, a high-tech training program that teaches cops how to make better decisions in dangerous scenarios.

"That decision may be simply negotiating with the suspect, or going for cover, or maybe escalating to ... a TASER or pepper spray," Sgt. Andy Stebbing said. "Or even in some of the videos you might use deadly force."

Dan Whitney - better known Larry the Cable Guy - and his wife, Cara, bought the $40,000 Training Lab system from Ti Training Corp. in Golden, Colo., Wagner said.

The system has 200 video scenarios, and additional scenarios with familiar terrain can be made locally, Wagner said.

"It is somewhat similar to the video games you see on TV, except we never want to lose track that this is real life," Stebbing said.

He steps in front of the screen, holding a gun equipped with a laser device. Sgt. Brent Moore operates a computer that controls scenarios on the video screen and tells Stebbing he's been dispatched to a trespassing complaint.

A person on a fourwheeler appears on the screen, face hidden by a helmet. Stebbing asks the person to shut off the vehicle. The person gets off, showing ID to Stebbing.

Minutes later, Moore replays the scenario for Stebbing. This time, the person on the four-wheeler pulls a gun and fires at Stebbing. He fires back, then calls for an ambulance.

"This is a prime example of the split-second decisions officers have to make every day," Chief Deputy Bill Jarrett said. "Deputies don't know what the outcome's going to be.

"They don't know if the person's going to hand over their driver's license or get a gun."

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