The Brief
- Washington police recruits are using virtual reality headsets in a pilot program at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission locations in Burien and Arlington, allowing them to experience life-like scenarios such as taser training and crisis intervention without a classroom setting.
- TAC Officer Jim Morgan highlights the benefits of VR training, emphasizing its role in crisis intervention and communication skills, which are crucial for handling situations without resorting to firearms.
- The program aims to expand by purchasing 212 VR units for all five training commission locations, offering a cost-effective and resource-efficient method for training recruits in various scenarios.
BURIEN, Wash. – In Washington, police recruits are using virtual reality headsets to get hands-on experience without even the classroom.
The pilot program provides 32 VR headsets to recruits at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission locations in Burien and Arlington.
The recruits get to experience life-like scenarios featuring taser training, dealing with people in mental health crisis or who are suicidal, and domestic situations.
Virtual reality training for police in WA
The backstory:…