Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Colfax Officer Perry Tate draws a pistol simulator during the training.
COLFAX - The Colfax police, Whitman County Sheriff's Office, and Palouse police received their annual "use-of-force decision making" training.
Parked in the lot next to Colfax city hall was a trailer, housing a large video screen and equipment.
An officer goes through five different one-minute simulations, in which they are tasked with deciding on whether to use lethal force. An actor on screen reacts to choices the officer makes. Officers use a handgun and rifle shooting a laser as the scenarios are played out on the screen.
A debriefing follows to determine "whether the decisions they make can be legally justified and articulated," said Ron Huxtable, of Clear Risk Solutions.
He is a retired state patrolman who administers the exercises.
"The most important part is the debrief afterward," he said.
Officers from the Colfax Police Department, Whitman County Sheriff's Office, and Palouse Police Department were involved in the training.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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