Simulator Trains Officers-to-Be to Make Tough Decisions

Simulator trains officers-to-be to make tough decisions
WKOW-TV
Posted: Oct 14, 2009 10:25 PM CDT 

"You're forced to make a decision in milliseconds and under horrible circumstances," says former Dane County Sheriff's Lieutenant Larry Lathrop.

Lathrop now trains officers-to-be at MATC's West Campus with this simulator that puts them in situations like last weeks shooting.

The simulator can put students through more than 250 scenarios.

"What we are able to do in this situation is pick a scenario and put the students through," Lathrop says.

The outcome is always a surprise.

"The person can surrender or he can decide to shoot."

Marisol Lopez is an MATC student hoping to one day become a police officer.

"It just gives you the chills, you feel like you are in the situation. It makes you think, oh no what am I going to do now," Lopez says.

Lathrop says that's the point. 

"This takes it one step further forcing the officer to make that decision, that life or death decision when they are out on the street."Lopez knows its crucial to train for a situation she hopes will never happen. "I hope not, I hope no one has to go through this but it's better to be prepared."

About 15 members of the MATC's recruitment academy will be using the training simulation program in two weeks.

Lathrop says the simulator is also available to law enforcement agencies like the Dane County Sheriff's Department.