How New London police use virtual reality system to train officers on de-escalation tactics - WTNH.com

by: Tina Detelj

Posted: Dec 7, 2022 / 02:39 PM EST

Updated: Dec 7, 2022 / 02:39 PM EST

NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) — The New London Police Department is the archetypal successful Connecticut to usage the virtual world APEX Officer grooming system, which allows officers to immerse themselves successful confrontational situations but successful a harmless space.

Officers deterioration headgear and transportation simulated weapons, which are the aforesaid value arsenic the existent ones, and they travel face-to-face with radical who whitethorn person intelligence wellness issues oregon go combative.

As portion of the constabulary accountability law, officers are tasked with de-escalating situations earlier utilizing carnal oregon deadly force. This grooming allows them to effort to bash truthful successful a virtual world situation, truthful they are amended prepared for a existent one.

“This strategy is designed for de-escalation, which is fundamentally conscionable utilizing interpersonal skills, biology skills,” New London Police Sgt. Matt Cassiere said. “Even conscionable your assemblage connection to effort to bring idiosyncratic down, and the eventual extremity is to summation voluntary compliance with somebody.”

The New London Police Department has had this grooming strategy for astir six months now, and eventually, different departments volition beryllium capable to travel successful and spell done these scenarios arsenic well.