By Police1 Staff
CHANDLER, Ariz. — The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a VirTra V-100 training simulator as part of the Taskforce Santa project, a joint effort between VirTra and the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST). The initiative aims to equip resource-limited law enforcement agencies with essential training tools to enhance officer readiness and community safety.
Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office was selected from nearly 100 nominations, each highlighting significant training needs due to budgetary or logistical constraints. The department plans to use the simulator to regularly practice vital skills, including de-escalation tactics, interacting with autistic individuals, and red-dot marksmanship drills.
“On any given day, our officers could be deciding if someone is trying to harm us, calling out for help, or needs counseling. It’s a hard job, and we want to give our officers everything they need to be prepared. We all know the solution — simulator training. So, thank you. What an amazing gift,” said Captain Ward of the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office.
The VirTra V-100 is a single-screen simulator equipped with two SIRT training non-guns, OC spray, a flashlight, and a Threat-Fire consequence device. It also includes the V-VICTA curriculum with POST-certified scenarios, tests, and educational materials, enabling Umatilla deputies to begin training immediately.
For Umatilla County, a small rural agency with limited personnel and resources, the new simulator fills critical gaps. Deputies often respond to calls solo, lack access to collaborative training opportunities, and previously trained only to meet minimum certification requirements. With this new resource, the department is not only enhancing its capabilities but also plans to extend training opportunities to neighboring agencies.