ECTOR COUNTY, TX (KWES) - The Ector County Sheriff's Office (ECSO) is using technology to train their deputies. The driving simulator is helping learn about safety, reducing the number of deputy involved accidents and even saving some taxpayer dollars.
Lights and sirens come equipped with the driving simulator, it helps give deputies a realistic feel to a dangerous scenario. Don Courtney is a driving simulator consultant, he helps deputies use, understand and improve using the simulator.
"Driving is one of those things where you're driving, you get bored," said Courtney. "Then suddenly something comes up and this way you can act and react towards it when it comes to that."
The simulator is covered for Ector County through their partnership with the Texas Association of Counties, the training is mandatory for every deputy. Sheriff Mike Griffis likes how realistic the training is.
"I think it's very advantageous to all the deputies," said Griffis. "They've got over 250 scenarios they can put in place. Every time we're out in the roadway, there's no two days that are exactly alike and the more of this training we can get the better it'll be for our guys."
Courtney said more deputy lives are lost on the road than in the line of fire, the driving simulator hopes to reduce those numbers.