Shooting simulators have long been used to teach police officers when to fire their weapons. Now, police departments are using virtual reality to teach officers when to put their weapons away and show empathy when dealing with mentally ill people.
NYPD Uses VR to Train for Active Shooters and Real-Life Scenarios
All Denver police officers will be required to undergo virtual reality training starting next year, including how to deal with suspects with mental illness. The move comes as police departments across the country face increasing scrutiny over the way they treat people with mental illness. VR could be part of the solution, experts say.
“Police have used VR technology to practice unexpected situations, use-of-force training, and firearms training,” Elizabeth L. Jeglic, a professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said in an email interview. “While much research remains to be done, preliminary evidence suggests that it is well-received, that officers experience greater presence than when using screen- and keyboard-based training methods, and that performance on the tasks improves with repeated sessions.”
Denver police said they would use virtual reality to train officers to deal with conditions including schizophrenia, autism and suicidal thoughts.
