RITZVILLE — Fairgoers in Adams County will get a rare chance this month to step into a deputy’s shoes — virtually — when the Adams County Sheriff’s Office brings its “Taser Tent” to the Wheat Land Communities Fair and the Othello Fair.

The tent uses virtual reality headsets to put adults into realistic law-enforcement call scenarios from a deputy’s perspective. Sheriff Dale Wagner has framed the exhibit as more than a gadget demo: a way for residents to see how quickly situations develop, how decisions are made, and why a TASER is treated as a valuable tool for deputies.

“Now is your chance to experience it for yourself,” Wagner said in announcing the Taser Tent. On social media, he added that visitors “will see firsthand how quickly a situation can develop, experience the decision-making process, and gain a better understanding of why the TASER is such a valuable tool for law enforcement.”

“It’s an opportunity for our community to experience situations from a completely different perspective and learn more about the tools, training, and decisions involved in keeping our communities safe,” he said.

Radio coverage of the same announcement described the simulator as the kind of VR training a growing number of law-enforcement agencies use, with participants facing typical call types — such as a prowler or an altercation — then making choices and learning whether those decisions held up. The stated aim is greater public understanding of how challenging those scenarios can be.

When and where

According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office schedule reported by local papers:

• Wheat Land Communities Fair — Friday, Sept. 4, 3–7 p.m., 811 E. Main Ave., Ritzville
• Othello Fair — Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18–19, 1–7 p.m., Othello Fairgrounds, 1990 Fairgrounds Road

Each simulation lasts about 30 minutes and can include up to four adult participants. The experience is limited to people 18 and older. Space is limited, and reservations are required.

Wagner advised fairgoers to stop by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office booth at the fair to book a time, then return for the scheduled slot. “Come see something new at the fair, meet members of your Sheriff’s Office, and experience a side of law enforcement you normally don’t get the opportunity to see,” he said.

Sources

• ‘Taser Tent’ coming to Ritzville, Othello — Franklin Connection, Aug. 27, 2026
• ‘Taser Tent’ coming to Ritzville, Othello — The Ritzville Adams County Journal
• Adams County Sheriff’s Virtual Reality Fair Booth — NewsTalk870, John McKay