Sheriff’s Office Deploys High-Tech Training Simulator
MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2026 — It’s 2:30 in the morning on a dark back road. A deputy with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office has just made a routine traffic stop for a broken tail light. As the deputy begins to walk toward the vehicle, the driver’s door opens and a clearly agitated man steps out and begins yelling.
“Why are you always pulling me over? I don’t have to put up with this. I’m warning you. This is going to be your fault.”
The driver quickly ducks back into his vehicle for a moment. When he reemerges, something is glinting in his right hand reflecting the squad car’s blue and red flashing lights. The deputy immediately draws his weapon and issues a clear command.
“Put the gun on the ground and your hands in the air,” he instructs.
After a short pause, the driver complies, tossing the pistol to the ground in front of him and slowly raising his hands above his head. The driver and roadside scene suddenly disappear and the lights come on inside the training room.
A new voice speaks from behind. “That was good. Let’s try the domestic violence scenario next.”
Now, in place of the driver and vehicle stand three eight-foot-tall projector screens powered by a synchronized trio of high-definition projectors, which make up one of the most advanced law enforcement training tools available today. It is called the TI Training RECON 180 Simulation Environment. The technology allows members of the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) to train for real-world, high-pressure situations without ever putting themselves or the public in danger.
The system works by projecting scenarios filmed live in high definition on to the three screens that stand 180 degrees around the trainee. Facilitators can choose from thousands of law enforcement training situations to work through, from common domestic disturbance calls and mental health crisis responses to rapidly evolving active shooter scenarios. Through a facilitator operating the simulator at the back of the room, deputies can interact with these scenes and receive instant feedback based on the decisions they’ve just made. Scenarios branch and adapt depending on their actions, mirroring the unpredictability they often encounter in the real world.
Administrative Sergeant Scott Patterson has worked in law enforcement for the last 15 years and assists with training deputies on the simulator. He said this is by far the most immersive training system he’s seen during his time with the department.
“Before having the simulator, outside of field training, a deputy might never get a traffic stop quite like that,” he said. “Now we can have them come in and run that scenario over and over again until they know exactly how to react. It’s a huge benefit to the department and makes us far more prepared if they ever actually do encounter something similar.”
The LCSO purchased the training simulator through a $150,000 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The investment represents a shift toward modern policing priorities for the department. While the simulator can handle high-intensity, white-knuckle situations, its primary focus for the LCSO’s more than 200 members is practicing de-escalation techniques and proper use of force.
After completing a simulation, trainers debrief deputies to assess the threat level posed and whether they applied the appropriate law enforcement techniques during the encounter. The system also displays benchmark Supreme Court cases and relevant sections of the LCSO’s own specific use-of-force policy to provide instant, scenario-based legal reinforcement.
“The training simulator delivers lifelike scenarios and creates the authentic adrenaline rush that deputies have to navigate while making split second decisions in the streets,” said Sheriff Thomas Dougherty. “We are very fortunate to have this state-of-the-art equipment which is taking our training and overall performance to another level.”
The simulator also delivers significant cost savings. Deputies can complete virtually unlimited live fire and taser repetitions without purchasing ammunition or cartridges. Training weapons use carbon dioxide to replicate the real-world recoil of pistols and rifles. The system also supports less lethal options like tasers and pepper spray.
“We can replicate our range and put it right here in the training room,” said Patterson. “This gives our members a very sterile, safe environment where they can practice first before shooting live ammunition.”
All members of the LCSO will receive a minimum of eight hours of annual simulator training, more for those in special operations and training roles. The Sheriff’s Office will also make the simulator available to other area law enforcement agencies, hosting regional training sessions to build consistent standards across the area. The department sees the simulator as a shared resource that will strengthen the broader law enforcement community.
For Patterson, it’s all about the confidence developed through repetition. The goal is simple, he said; put deputies in difficult situations again and again until the right response becomes instinct, so if they ever do find themselves on that dark back road, they’ve already been there.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.
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