(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — As part of the office’s commitment to advancing technology for peace officers, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the launch of a series of immersive virtual reality trainings for law enforcement statewide.
“These VR goggles are the next best thing to real-world experience because officers are immersed in split-second decision-making scenarios,” Yost said, “If someone makes a mistake while using virtual reality, it doesn’t have consequences in the real world.”
Combined with existing training techniques, VR training allows officers to practice responding to and defusing potentially volatile scenarios by using soft skills and crisis-management techniques. It gives peace officers the feel of real-life trauma, distractions, reactions and more.
Currently there are six scenarios available – each lasting eight to 12 minutes – that alone serve as training and may also be integrated into dozens of longer courses. The scenario topics cover:
- Mental health
- Domestic violence
- School violence
- The teen brain
- Suicide prevention
- Irate families
The scenarios, which have been loaded onto 160 headsets, are available to Ohio’s 900 law enforcement agencies through the OPOTA Close to Home program, a partnership between the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and six regional training providers located throughout the state. This strategy allows for low-cost, frequent, and standardized statewide training that can be completed during a peace officer’s shift.
“We want officers to have a shared training foundation across jurisdictions, and this is one way to ensure that,” Yost said. “More consistent training means safer streets for everyone.”
The scenarios were shot on 360-degree cameras and produced in a collaboration with Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication, McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, the Athens Police Department, the Ohio University Police Department and the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Prior to launch, the goggles were tested on a group of law enforcement leaders through the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University.
“The John Glenn College of Public Affairs is committed to equipping future law enforcement leaders with the latest training methods,” said Greg Moody, director of professional development at the college. “We appreciated the opportunity to showcase the VR simulation technology with senior officers enrolled in our Public Safety Leadership Academy. The safe and immersive environment let officers hone their skills and de-escalation techniques, ultimately preparing them to effectively manage complex situations and ensure community safety.”
Video of the goggles in use by a group of law enforcement is available here.