Introduction to Virtual Reality Police Training
The state of Washington is taking a groundbreaking approach to police training with the introduction of virtual reality (VR) technology. Roughly 30 recruits on the Burien academy are participating in a pilot program that uses VR to organize them for real-life encounters. This revolutionary approach goals to complement traditional academy lectures with immersive, scenario-based learning.
How Virtual Reality Training Works
The initiative, developed by Axon, the corporate behind Tasers and police body cameras, allows participants to view scenarios from different perspectives, including that of an individual with autism. This is designed to construct empathy and understanding before recent officers ever reply to a call. Instructor Jim Morgan believes that this technology marks a serious shift in how law enforcement training may be delivered. "Instead of putting our recruits through PowerPoint lectures that take hours and hours and hours, we will put these into bits of micro-training," Morgan said.
Benefits of Virtual Reality Training
The immersive approach allows recruits to make mistakes and learn from them in a protected environment. This enables them to develop muscle memory and retain information as much as 4 times greater than from an everyday lecture. For lots of the recruits, the experience is their first exposure to VR. Nate Clemens, a Seattle Police Department recruit, said, "I’ve never used VR before today, [I’m] putting that headset on was the primary time. I used to be impressed. I believe it might be a really helpful training tool."
Real-Life Scenarios and Training
In one simulation, recruits must navigate a mental-health crisis, making quick decisions about communication, de-escalation, and use of force. In one other, they train with virtual Tasers, allowing them to repeat critical steps as again and again as needed. Axon’s goal is to enhance decision-making and empathy amongst officers while reducing risk to each the general public and police. The company has been expanding its virtual reality platform nationally, developing training scenarios with input from psychologists, police trainers, and community advocates.
Expansion and Future Plans
The pilot program, if approved by the state, could change into a everlasting a part of Washington’s police academy curriculum, expanding using virtual reality as one among the most recent tools in modern law enforcement training. The projected cost for outfitting the state’s 212 VR sets is greater than $1.7 million. If successful, this technology might be implemented in all police training centers statewide.
Conclusion
The use of virtual reality in police training has the potential to revolutionize the way in which officers are prepared for real-life encounters. By providing a protected and immersive environment for recruits to learn and make mistakes, VR technology can assist construct empathy, improve decision-making, and reduce risk. As Nate Clemens prepares to graduate and join the Seattle Police Department, he believes that this training will help him change into a greater officer. "It’s different whenever you’re standing there, even virtually, and you’ll be able to see how another person might experience the identical moment," he said. "That’s going to assist me be a greater officer."
