Law enforcement using virtual reality training to improve decision-making

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 is to help officers respond quickly and safely to any call, according to technology company Axon, and more than 1,500 police departments in the United States and Canada are now using Axon’s virtual reality training program to do just that.

Recruits at the Aurora, Colorado Police Department are among those training on the technology.

“You can actually be in the scene, move around, feel everything,” rookie Jose Vazquez Duran said.

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Police departments across the United States and Canada are increasingly adopting virtual reality training programs to better prepare officers for real-world, high-pressure situations. (Kennedy Hayes/FOX News)

Tyler Frick, another recruit, described it as “almost like… a 3D movie. Except that’s exactly what we’re going to do when we graduate from the academy.”

Aurora PD uses Axon’s virtual reality program to prepare recruits for scenarios such as de-escalation, Taser use and other high-stress interactions.

“It’s filmed with live actors re-enacting scenarios. And we have a lot of content there focused on a wide range of topics, from mental health to people experiencing drug overdoses or dealing with domestic violence,” said Thi Luu, vice president and general manager of Axon Virtual Reality.

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In Aurora, Colorado, police recruits train in virtual reality to prepare for real-world 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, freeing up other resources.

“It really helps my staff, the training staff, when we can have, you know, 10 or 15 recruits all doing the exact same scenario at the same time. That means we’re getting the most out of our training hours and it’s really important to have well-trained, well-rounded officers,” said Aurora Police Sgt. Faith Goodrich.

Axon said the artificial intelligence in its new training program can adjust the way virtual suspects act – making them friendly, aggressive or anything in between. They can answer questions, respond or even refuse to cooperate, just like in real life.

Each session is different, depending on how the officers handle the situation.

Police recruits interact with virtual reality to hone their skills. (Kennedy Hayes/FOX News)

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A PwC study found that virtual reality can speed up agent training and increase confidence in applying new skills compared to their classroom-trained counterparts.

According to the study, VR learners showed a four times faster training rate and 275% increased confidence in applying learned skills compared to their classroom-trained counterparts.