BAKER CITY — Police need to be prepared for anything.

To that end, members of the Baker County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies, in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, used a digital simulator Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 4, to hone their skills in scenarios focusing on the use of force and techniques to calm potentially harmful situations.

The Range 3000 system was set up in the former Oregon Department of Transportation maintenance station on South Bridge Street in Baker City.

Baker County Undersheriff Jef Van Arsdall said the main takeaway from the scenarios was how fast things can happen during an encounter.

Among those participating were deputy Eric Colton and the sheriff’s office’s newest patrol deputy, Matt Rosin, along with Lt. Ryan Downing and deputy Rich Kirby of parole and probation.

Colton and Rosin stood before a large video screen that displayed scenarios. They spoke to the people on the screen as though they were having a real encounter during their work.

Kirby and Van Arsdall controlled how the situation played out, including having the simulated subjects react — either aggressively or cooperatively — based on how the deputies responded.

They also judged how the officers handled the circumstances.

In one scenario, Colton and Rosin responded to a trespassing complaint. Colton recognized the male suspect was intoxicated. And although the man grabbed a brick, Colton did not unholster his pistol.

Colton explained because Rosin was there to help, he didn’t feel it was necessary to draw his gun to handle the suspect.

During another scenario, Colton and Rosin responded to two shooters — one shooter behind hostages and a second shooter hiding among them.

“This is a bad situation,” said Kirby, who also is an instructor in tactics.

Kirby also noted people have different reactions in traumatic situations. Although the person who might have been a second shooter didn’t fall to the ground when shots were fired, that could mean the person wasn’t a shooter but an innocent hostage who was too frightened to move.

Colton and Rosin’s final scenario involved a home visit.

The first man was compliant but his friend was aggressive, emboldening the first and causing the situation to go south.

Colton said if the friend had gone out as he was instructed, he would have followed to speak to him calmly.