CHILLICOTHE, Mo. – Putting the public to the test to show how police officers are trained. We’re taking you inside real-life scenarios to show you just how quickly an officer has to make a decision. The decision to shoot or not to shoot. It’s an exclusive opportunity you’ll only see here on FOX 4.

An inmate gets angry during sentencing. He throws down an officer and goes for his gun. At this point, what would you do?

“Really once he started to take that officer’s gun, that’s a lethal force situation, there’s no other reason to take an officer’s gun,” said Deputy Chris Mueller.

From courtroom chaos to every day traffic stops, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department put FOX 4’s Abby Eden through a number of real-life, heart pumping, palm-sweating scenarios.

Typically in Livingston County, the simulator is used for deputies in training, or continuing training for existing members of the force. This time, the training is being opened up to others to provide insight into these frightening situations.

“Any law enforcement needs to practice, study, and prepare for use of force, whatever it is,” said Sheriff Steve Cox.

According to Sheriff Cox, the first and most common use of force is verbal commands.

“I think all of our deputies would rather kill somebody with kindness than a lethal encounter,” said Cox.

Recent news of alleged police brutality has a dual-effect on some of these officials. They understand how difficult a deadly situation can be, but they also know force often doesn’t have to be lethal.

“One or two bad eggs kind of make us all look like we’re doing the wrong thing,” said Dep. Mueller.

This simulator, and the debrief after each exercise teaches officers how to think about these situations, and make as many as possible turn out non-lethal. Because as Dep. Mueller says, no officer wants to die or be responsible for another person’s death.

“I just want to treat people fairly and I want to uphold the law like I’m supposed to,” he said.