Savannah police: ‘This is about as real as it can be with a simulator’
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SAVANNAH, Tenn. — Savannah police are training on new technology that prepares them for what they could come face to face with. “Through these use of force simulators, it helps the officer make those decisions as quickly as possible but also hopefully to avoid a tragedy,” Savannah Police Chief Gary Will Jr. said. This is something community members also will be able to train on. Through more than 500 scenarios, officers have to choose how to react toward a man who may be a possible homicide suspect on the loose, or a neighborhood resident. Adrenaline rises, and there is a lot to think about in a short period of time. “It’s important to do that for us to avoid a tragedy of someone who shouldn’t have been shot to be shot but also to protect the officer’s life so they know when it’s appropriate and when it’s not,” Will said. Officers said this system sharpens skills in a variety of ways so the police force will be well prepared in the field. The system cost the Savannah Police Department about $28,000, which was paid for through the department’s drug fund.
