Revolutionizing Police Training: The Power of Virtual Reality

Situations unknown, armed suspects, violence, shootings – these are the dangers that police officers must face as soon as they arise. And it is in those critical moments that their training becomes crucial.

In North Platte, the police force is taking their training to a whole new level by incorporating virtual reality (VR) technology. With VR, officers are immersed in hostile scenarios where they become an integral part of the action.

According to the officers who have used this training, the realistic and immersive nature of VR is more effective than classroom exercises when it comes to crisis intervention, deescalation, and decision-making regarding the use of force.

Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that utilizes “pose tracking” and “close-up 3D display technology” to provide users with a complete sense of a virtual world. Its most popular applications, as stated by Wikipedia, include entertainment, particularly video games, as well as educational purposes such as medical, military, and police training.

When an officer puts on the VR headset, they are transported to another reality in real-time, where they have to respond to various situations. These scenarios present unexpected events, allowing officers to test their spontaneous reactions, even if it’s just a training exercise.

In September, the North Platte police department received a grant of $69,500 to cover the cost of the Apex Officer VR training system, as stated by Police Chief Steve Reeves. The department has trained several trainers on how to effectively utilize the system.

Reeves mentioned that all officers in North Platte will undergo VR training several times a year. The system offers a range of programs, including shooting ranges, domestic violence situations, mental health issues, and active shooter scenarios.

In a video shared by Reeves, Detective Kevin Connelly from the Barnstable Police in Massachusetts explained that officers usually become fully immersed in the scene after around five minutes, experiencing an increased heart rate as if they were in a real danger.

Typically, use of force and deescalation training takes place in a classroom setting, where the lack of trained actors makes it difficult for officers to receive constructive feedback on their communication skills, added Reeves.

However, VR training is expected to significantly address this problem, remarked Reeves.

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