Few forces are impacting law enforcement like video. Policing in the Video Age, P1’s yearlong special editorial focus on video in law enforcement, aims to address all facets of the topic with expanded analysis and reporting.
In the final installment of this four-part signature coverage effort, we take a look at the future of video in policing. Click here to learn more about the project.
Also be sure to check out our latest PoliceOne Digital Edition – 2018 Police Video Guide: The emerging tech, training and tactics shaping law enforcement – in which we explore how departments can best utilize emerging video technologies to enhance police officer safety and improve operational efficiencies. Download the free guide here.
One of the most promising emerging video technologies is the virtual reality (VR) headset. While most of the attention on VR has been focused on the entertainment industry, the potential applications of the tech aren’t just limited to gamers or moviegoers. From training to recruitment, VR has the potential to transform law enforcement operations in the very near future.
MOVING THE STREETS INTO THE CLASSROOM
The value of real-world drills for scenarios such as hostage negotiation or active shooter response is undeniable. But whether it’s large-scale gatherings like Urban Shield or localized events like a SWAT team exercise, the cost and logistical challenges that come with on-the-ground training means agencies can only realistically participate in them sporadically. A slew of VR companies offer or are developing solutions to this issue designed to be cost-effective while maintaining one of the keys to why real-world scenario training works: immersion.
From building-clearing exercises to shoot-no-shoot scenarios, virtual reality enables trainers to transport officers from the police station, the classroom, or even their own home, to the streets without setting a foot outside.
Some companies, like GovRED, offer solutions that allow officers to move freely within the virtual environment and use force options. Others, like D.I.R.T. (Digital Immersion Response Training), feature VR video simulations in which the officer plays the role of observer.
DIRT’s Co-founder and CEO Darren Heater said his company’s VR training was born out of his involvement with the FBI’s INLETS(INtelligence and Law Enforcement Training Seminar), a training conference that brings counter-terrorism case studies and tactics to agencies nationwide.
“When you’re in a conference, you hear amazing case studies and get great training, but a lot of it is presented via PowerPoint presentations where you just get tons of information thrown at you,” Heater said. “I’ve always been passionate about scenario-based training and narrative, so I started brainstorming the idea: ‘How do we get law enforcement to learn these principles, but then also get them immersed into a real scenario?’”
DIRT offers scenarios on topics ranging from school shootings to terrorism prevention and response. In the “Path to Radicalization” course, the viewer puts on a set of VR goggles and plays the role of a narcotics officer taking part in a hotel raid. The user can look around the environment in full 360 degrees to search for indicators of possible terrorist activity. After the video ends, a subject matter expert reviews what the user just saw (or the things they missed) and provides training takeaways. From there, users take an assessment test before moving on to the next VR training clip.
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Source: Police One