PAINTBALL READIES DEPUTIES FOR DUTY.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Training days for members of the Sheriff's Department are usually more tedious than exhilarating, but give 20 sheriff's deputies and sergeants a protective mask and a paintball gun, and the atmosphere quickly turns giddy.

A team from the Santa Clarita sheriff's station reported for mandatory training Thursday at The Proving Ground, an indoor paintball battle field off Soledad Canyon Road, to familiarize themselves with the department-issue paintball-style guns they will use to fire pepper balls at suspects.

On Thursday, however, the weapons were loaded with paintballs.

``This is a blast - it's fun to be able to fire a gun without consequences,'' said Deputy Tom Drake, still pumped with adrenaline after his battle on the obstacle course. ``It's really intense out there. Fantastic training.''

Grouped in teams of four, two sides battled from behind giant, inflated barriers strategically placed on the former roller rink. Others waiting their turn sat in the bleachers, behind safety glass, and whooped it up as they watched their colleagues nail one another with splatters of white paint.

But using the weapons in the field will elicit no laughter. Law enforcement will use the weapons and ammunition to disable an unruly suspect, often by shooting a pepper ball in the person's vicinity to allow the substance to irritate the suspect's eyes and nose.

As deputies came off the enclosed field, they checked their clothes to see where they would need to add some extra detergent in the next wash.

The department's new weapons are essentially paintball guns, but the guns must be calibrated differently when using the pepper ammunition.

``The mechanics of the gun are the same, but pepper balls are a different consistency than paintballs,'' said Deputy Paul Kobe. ``If you were to fire a pepper ball (in a gun set for paintball use) it probably would break open before it came out.''

Sgt. Deborah Miller was one of the few who avoided being hit, but her reaction to the training session was the same as the rest - a jolt of adrenaline.

``It was over so fast, I wanted to play longer,'' Miller said. ``It's weird, when you're in a (real) situation, you don't think about (the adrenaline). I've been shot at, been in fights with someone trying to get my gun. But you really don't think about what's happening until it's all over.''

Amy Raisin, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

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4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color in SAC edition only -- ran in SAC and Valley edition only) Sheriff deputies spread out during paintball training, meant to help them use pepper balls on the street.

(2 -- color -- ran in SAC edition only) Deputy Kristy Criner has a hard time seeing through the paint covering her helmet and goggles.

(3 -- color -- ran in SAC edition only) Deputies crouch behind inflatable barricades waiting for their opportunity to shoot during paintball training.

(4 -- color -- ran in AV edition only) Sgt. Debra Miller takes cover of a barricade during paintball training for sheriff's deputies and their future use of pepper ball on suspects.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer