Law enforcement using virtual reality training to improve decision-making
Police agents train with virtual reality
Police departments across the country are turning to virtual reality training to help officers make quick decisions under high pressure and potentially dangerous situations.
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AURORA, Colo. – Police departments across the country are turning to virtual reality training to help officers make split-second decisions in difficult and sometimes dangerous situations.
The goal, according to technology company Axon, is to help officers respond to any call quickly and safely. More than 1,500 police agencies in the United States and Canada now use Axon’s virtual reality training program to do this.
Among those receiving training on the technology are troopers with the Aurora Police Department in Colorado.
“You’ll literally be on the scene, walking around, just feeling everything,” said recruit Jose Vazquez Duran.
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Police departments in the U.S. and Canada are increasingly adopting virtual reality training programs to better prepare officers for real-life high-pressure situations. (Kennedy Hayes/FOX News)
Our new recruit Tyler Frick described it as “Almost…like a 3D Movie. Except that’s exactly what we’ll be doing when we graduate from the academy.”
Aurora PD uses Axon’s virtual reality program to prepare new employees for scenarios such as de-escalation, Taser use and other high-stress interactions.
“This movie was shot with live actors re-enacting the scenarios. We also have a lot of content here that focuses on a wide range of topics, from mental health to people experiencing drug overdoses or domestic violence,” said Thi Luu, vice president and general manager of Axon Virtual Reality.
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In Aurora, Colorado, police officers are training with VR to prepare for real-life scenarios including de-escalation, Taser use and other high-stress interactions. (Kennedy Hayes/FOX News)
The Aurora Police Department has been using Axon’s virtual reality training program for three years. Officials say technology is becoming more advanced and easier to use, which is helping to free up other resources.
“It really helps with the manpower of my staff, training staff, you know, we can have 10 or 15 recruits all doing the same scenario at the same time. That means we’re making the most of our training hours and having well-trained, well-rounded officers,” said Aurora Police Sgt. Faith Goodrich.
Axon said the AI in its newest training program can tune how virtual suspects behave, making them friendly, aggressive or somewhere in between. They may answer questions, talk, or even refuse to cooperate, just like in real life.
Each session is different depending on how officers handle the situation.
Police recruits interact with virtual reality to improve their skills. (Kennedy Hayes/FOX News)
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A study by PwC found that virtual reality can speed officer training and increase confidence in executing new skills, compared to classroom-trained counterparts.
According to the study, VR students showed a four times faster training rate and a 275% increase in confidence when applying learned skills, compared to their classroom-trained counterparts.
