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SANDY — Instructors from the Peace Officers Standards and Training Academy offered a first-hand look Thursday into the challenging situations officers face every day.
They took reporters through simulations intended to give the real-life feel of traffic stops, warrant arrests, suspicious person investigations, trespassing calls and domestic violence situations.
“It looks like one thing on TV, but then to experience it yourself — like to feel your heart rate start increasing — you’re like, ‘Ohhh, okay, so that’s what it feels like,' ” said Tracy Ita, a POST instructor and a cop at Salt Lake City Police Department.
The exercises included wearing body cameras and using training guns with soft bullets filled with soap.
The event was put on by POST and the Utah Honoring Heroes Foundation.
Reporters experienced five scenarios:
- A traffic stop with a testy driver
- A traffic stop that turned into a warrant arrest
- An investigation of a report of a suspicious person
- An investigation into a trespasser who was disturbed
- An investigation into a noise complaint/domestic violence call