Firearms Training Simulator

By Thomas F. Murphy, President

In last month’s newsletter I mentioned that the Police Foundation was funding the purchase of a Firearms Training Simulator for the Juno Beach Police Department.

The equipment, manufactured by DART, a leading provider of 3D training and simulation software, has now been received and Officers are beginning to learn how to set up and use the high-tech, portable, virtual reality simulator. They will soon receive formal training at the manufacturer’s facility in Lake Mary, Florida. This new equipment offers our law enforcement personnel the ability to practice a multitude of skills in a controlled, life-like environment to prepare them for a situation that we all hope will never occur.

In making the Grant Request to the Foundation, Chief Smith noted that law enforcement has been using simulation for training purpose over the last few decades. By putting Officers in front of a virtual reality screen it allows them to make split second, life and death decisions. – The “Do I shoot or do I not shoot” decision.

A system such as this is immersive and includes scenarios that have a high level of sensory stimuli in an artificial yet sufficiently life-like environment. While it can help sharpen the Officer’s marksmanship skills and trigger control, it perhaps more importantly offers judgmental training through life-like scenarios which have a multitude of outcomes based on the Officer’s response. For both the Officer and the instructor, the system comes with “after-action” reviews that can help prepare both the recruit as well as seasoned veteran in a highly controlled and safe environment.

The system also allows our Police Officers to be put under stress and forced to make critical decisions and practice their de-escalation techniques, the outcome of which will hopefully include no injury and no use of force.

The stressful act and react scenarios will give our Officers the opportunity to test their skills before encountering real life situations on the street. The simulator allows them and their instructors to experience the consequences of their actions in a highly controlled third-party environment. Immersed in scenarios, the Officers must use their situational awareness and make life altering shoot/don’t shoot decisions.

While the primary purpose of the Grant and subsequent purchase of the simulator is to provide our Officers with another training tool, Chief Smith has a plan to use the system in community outreach. By inviting members of the community and Town staff to participate in simulated firearms training, civilians will get a better idea of just what situations our Officers may face in their everyday patrols. “Enhanced training is the key to having the most effective, highly skilled law enforcement officers” Chief Smith said.

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COFFEE WITH A COP

Once again, the ever popular “Coffee With A Cop” program that has taken place on the first Wednesday of every month will remain halted. The event, sponsored by the Town of Juno Beach, will hopefully resume soon.

The event typically brings out a large crowd of residents, business owners and interested parties to meet Chief of Police Brian Smith and many of his Officers and Volunteers.

The Chief updates the participants on recent crime statistics as well as areas of concern and answers the many questions that the attendees have. We hope to see this program restart soon.