<p>John Day Police reserve deputies Chris Kennedy, left, and Kevin Miller sharpen their skills with the Milo Range Pro system of simulated scenario training.</p>

CANYON CITY This is Kevin Miller, with the John Day Police Department. You need to drop the baseball bat now, sir.

No, thats not from a recent incident around Grant County. But it could have been.

And thats why Reserve Officer Miller was at the Grant County Sheriffs Office March 30, along with other officers, participating in simulated scenario training through the Milo Range Pro system from IES Interactive Training.

The training method is one tool used by Grant County law enforcement agencies in their continuing efforts to improve skills and awareness while striving to keep our communities safe.

Among the most innovative and cost effective Milo Ranges scenarios run the gamut of potential situations and environments that law enforcement officers might face in Grant County: courthouse trials or hearings, traffic incidents, domestic situations, schools, hospitals, and incidents involving emotionally disturbed persons.

Other training scenarios include military and homeland security settings, terrorist attacks, and border patrol situations.

Each category has several variations, so that officers can fine tune their training by selecting those that best simulate local places and situations. In Grant County, that might mean Seventh Street Complex, the John Day River or the Blue Mountain Hospital parking lot.

The system has some animated videos, but most are real-life with actors playing all the roles. Theres also a selection of target practice videos.

Most of the scenarios require participation by two responding officers, one responsible for lethal cover the weapons replicate Glocks used by most law enforcement agencies and the other with a less lethal back-up weapon such as a taser.

Officers said they have no trouble feeling that they are part of an actual, life-threatening situation. They readily communicate with officers and other people in the videos identifying themselves as law enforcement, asking questions, calling for backup, telling weapon-wielding criminals to drop their weapons, and advising bystanders to call 9-1-1.

As John Day Police Reserve Deputy Chris Kennedy said, Its very realistic. He and Miller agreed that the adrenaline gets running, just as if it were happening live.

The computerized video system uses laser technology, designed to respond according to the police response. The scenarios play out to a different conclusion, depending on whether or not the officers took appropriate and timely action.

If, for example, a lethal shot has been made by police, the perpetrator falls and the video stops. However, a grazed shot to a shoulder might not be enough to take the person down, and the scene will continue with him/her approaching the victim, or forward toward the officers, while continuing the violent behavior, such as swinging a bat or shooting a gun.

Afterward, the participants and trainers, spend a few minutes debriefing, during which they discuss such topics as what could have been done differently and what further action might need to be taken. They can also review the accuracy of their shots; a darkened die zone shows on the screen where lethal shots were made.

John Day Police Sgt. Richard Gray said the system is on loan from Oregons Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. Grant County has use of it about once a year, with all local law enforcement agencies welcome to train with it, Gray said.

The simulated training can help officers sharpen overall situation awareness, improve skills, and track improvement. Officers can also use the target practice videos for a little friendly competition with one another, to rack up high scores or see who can draw to shoot first.

Gray said that some county commissioners, courthouse personnel and city managers have also taken advantage of his invitation to check out the system and test their own skills.

Gray has been a certified trainer for the Milo Range program since 2007. James Burgett, Grant County Sheriff senior patrol deputy, became a trainer two years ago.

Burgett touted the systems cost-effectiveness.

Its cheaper and easier than going to the shooting range, Burgett said.

He said the Sheriffs Office gets about $2,500 annually for range training purposes, a good chunk of which can be spent on just one trip to the local shooting range. Burgett said that while nothing can replace the value of actual, live shooting practice, the Milo Range system offers additional training thats inexpensive and convenient.

And the system makes for a very safe training environment for our officers, Gray said.