On October 10, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) announced the installation of a new virtual reality training system designed to elevate the immersive experience of the National Law Enforcement Museum’s Decision Simulator. This advanced system was created to enhance how officers respond to active shooter situations, domestic violence incidents and other high-stress scenarios.

The Museum’s Decision Simulator,which is sponsored by Glock, provides visitors with a variety of situations officers may face on the job and allows for better understanding of the decision-making process they need to quickly assess a situation and either avoid further conflict through de-escalation or engage appropriate force to ensure safety. The new training system, VirTra, takes that a step further.

The VirTra^® technology aims to save lives by allowing officers to train in realistic environments, such as movie theaters, courthouses and school campuses. The V-100^® solution features a portable single-screen setup that creates a unique and dynamic training environment, where outcomes are determined by the officer’s real-time actions and the varied responses from on-screen participants. This immersive experience replicates the psychological stressors — such as increased heart rate and adrenaline — that officers encounter during intense training sessions.

Hundreds of law enforcement and military locations spanning local police and the federal government use VirTra to improve judgment, critical thinking, communication skills and decision making during highly stressful encounters. With this enhancement to its flagship experience, NLEOMF is proud to incorporate this powerful new tool into the National Law Enforcement Museum as part of its commitment to offering an engaging and educational experience for all visitors, as it provides hands-on simulations that demonstrate de-escalation, use of force and techniques for interacting with individuals with mental or physical disabilities. Additionally, it offers museum visitors a unique opportunity to witness the split-second decision-making processes that officers undergo in critical situations.

“This new training system will give museum visitors a rare, immersive experience that allows them to step into the shoes of law enforcement officers,” said William Alexander, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “Through this experience, we hope to foster greater understanding and appreciation for the difficult, split-second decisions officers must make to protect our communities. We’re grateful for VirTra’s system that will make a great experience even better, and for Glock’s sponsorship in making this important addition possible.”

For more information about the Decision Simulator at the National Law Enforcement Museum, visit nleomf.org/museum/exhibits/decision-simulator.

—www.NLEOMF.org—