VR Helps Train America’s Law Enforcement
Staffing issues across law enforcement are dramatic, according to M. Hunter Martaindale, director of research at Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT).
The lack of resources plays a significant role in first responder training.
To ensure everyone’s access to training, ALERRT has examined the possibilities of virtual reality (VR).
“One problem that we have is we’re only able to train X number of people based on funding and bandwidth of our organization,” he said.
The training center has investigated VR to help retain basic skills for continuing education.
“We’ve got a study going on right now in Missouri. That agency has one of these systems,” he said. The system is used for a year to check its success rate.
Additionally, the capability will help reach smaller law enforcement agencies, “so, we can deliver the textbook material, the classroom material through an e-learning platform, so they can get all the coursework done ahead of time.”
Only one instructor travels to a location with the VR systems, making the platform cost-effective and limiting the number of personnel needed, as virtual scenarios do not require actors. Though virtual, the developing technology seeks to present hyper-realistic scenarios so that the training accurately mimics the same stress that law enforcement experience during real-world responses.
Additionally, the Bureau of Justice Assistance is providing funds to 11 agencies for VR equipment in de-escalation training.
