no wonder the cops kill so many people. these games teach the police that they are at war with civilians. Original Article High-tech games prepare police for duty By Mike Branom, Tribune December 27, 2005 The newest training equipment for police looks like an elaborate video game but this is deadly serious business. Departments dont want an inexperienced officer behind the trigger of a gun or the steering wheel of a patrol car. But how can officers learn when to shoot or not during a heated hostage situation? How can instructors teach the proper way to execute a highspeed pursuit through city traffic? "You wont unless you do it on a simulator," said Arizona Department of Public Safety driving coordinator Lori Ketron. More and more often, law enforcement authorities across Arizona are using state-of-the-art simulators in their training. With a mock-up of a patrol car and virtual scenery, or a computer-generated "movie" that puts a police officer right in the action, officers can learn the dangerous aspects to their jobs with no threat of harm to themselves or others. Gilbert police Sgt. John Lyle, watching young officers go through simulated shoot/ dont shoot scenarios, said, "Its the closest we can get to real life without getting people down range." Three weeks ago, Gilbert police took ownership of the "MILO Range," a training system that combines highdefinition video with interactive weapons. Its one of more than a dozen bought and distributed throughout the state by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. On a 10-by-10 screen, theres a disheveled man in a parking garage shouting gibberish and scaring women. In front of the screen stands the officer. He holds a mock-up of a Taser stun gun and tells the man to raise his hands. When the computergenerated assailant lunges toward the officer, the Taser is fired. The suspect goes down and begins twitching. Then, the instructor walks the officer through the scenario: Why did you use the Taser instead of your gun? Why did you shoot when you did? "What these interactive systems give us is a way to learn discretion," training director Tom Hammarstrom said. He said lack of discretion can get officers and bystanders killed and agencies sued. The MILO Range can also teach proper aiming techniques. The militarys virtual rifle ranges are so good, soldiers can qualify for marksman certification without firing a real bullet. And, the driving simulations purchased in Arizona can find a highway patrolman who has the skills of a NASCAR racer. But thats not the point. While these may be among the most sophisticated video games, instructors use them less to determine an officers hand-eye coordination and more to determine an officers mental makeup. "Do you have the ability to see, think and breathe?" asks Matt Griffis, who operates the Mobile Tactical Driving Simulator. Contact Mike Branom by email, or phone (480) 898-6536