The O’Fallon, Missouri Police Department recently opened a world-class Justice Center that includes a VirTra V-300 use of force simulator. O’Fallon Police Department range master and training officer Ed Smith wasted no time in developing innovative training curriculums for O’Fallon’s officers featuring their V-300 that will maximize training time and help conserve department resources.
Smith designed two, four, and eight hour training courses, but is especially proud of the two-hour training block, as it is a curriculum that involves two simulated sessions in the V-300 along with live fire training and is designed to give officers confidence that they can handle any volatile situation that could come their way. The program takes place during an officer’s shift and only requires two trainers to run – a marked departure from the days of all-day range training that stretched his training staff to its limit.
For the two-hour program Smith calls in officers during their shifts to meet him in the V-300 training room, and from there they get a simulated dispatch call and go immediately into their first VirTra scenario, which could involve a Glock, Axon® TASER® or rifle. Smith uses this session to evaluate the officer’s fundamentals and tactical skills, including trigger squeeze, sightline issues and body position. He then makes any necessary corrections and adjustments before the officer goes to the indoor firing range to internalize the feedback and practice any adjustments using live ammo. After the officer cleans their weapon, they go immediately into their second scenario in the V-300, where the officers are again placed into a situation that mirrors a real-life encounter that forces them to make split-second decisions under stress.
During the debriefing process that follows, the instructor quizzes the trainee on how they dealt with subjects using verbal commands, and on department use of force policy and relevant case law. Because the V-300 scenarios are so incredibly life-like, they allow Smith’s training curriculum to not only satisfy state firearms skills training requirements, but also interpersonal and legal training hours as well. The two-hour sessions also allow instructors to spot potential trouble spots in individuals’ performance that could suggest something problematic in the way an officer makes decisions and reacts in a potential use of force situation. They can then flag these to an officer’s superior and schedule the officer for additional training to correct any shortcomings and ensure that O’Fallon is putting the best-trained officers on the street to keep fellow officers and the public safe.
Since the entire three-part curriculum can take place in a two-hour block during an officer’s scheduled shift, it helps address the challenges of finding time to keep up with the state-required skills training. Officer Smith was also able to use a VirTra-provided library of scenarios that “saved a ton of time and made it easy” for him to get the program registered with the state, and the department no longer has to send its officers to an academy to get legal and interpersonal skills training done, greatly simplifying the process for officers and the department alike. “Now we just do it here on a VirTra system,” says Smith, who has gotten great feedback from officers that have gone through the training. One officer couldn’t believe they squeezed in so much learning into one two-hour session, and another said he would “definitely feel better about going out on the next call” after being put through the paces in a VirTra system.
Smith is pleased that O’Fallon’s officers have found the new curriculum helpful, and in time he even sees developing similar training curriculums for officers from other local law enforcement agencies, which could allow for the department to see a further return on its investment through cost-sharing arrangements for facility use and staff time.
New Sale Means VirTra is Now Represented in 24 Countries Worldwide.
Tempe, Ariz. — January 9th, 2018 — VirTra, Inc. (OTCQX: VTSI), a global provider of training simulators for the law enforcement, military, educational and commercial markets, today announced further expansion of its international business with the receipt of an order valued at $1.38 million with delivery to occur to a country in Africa.
“This expansion into a new country for VirTra in Africa is the latest step forward in our international growth strategy,” commented Jason Mulcahy, VirTra’s General Manager. “The selection of VirTra products by this new customer in a new market will help us to establish a base from which we believe we can further grow our presence in the region. We have a proven and successful track record of expanding our footprint following an initial sale in a number of countries, and we plan to leverage the success of this installation, and the benefits our industry leading system provides, to target additional opportunities.”
Bob Ferris, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of VirTra, added, “I am increasingly confident about VirTra’s near-term and long-term prospects. Our plan to uplist to the Nasdaq Capital continues to progress, though the process is taking longer than we anticipated.”
About VirTra
VirTra is a global provider of training simulators for the law enforcement, military, educational and commercial markets. The Company’s patented technologies, software and scenarios provide intense training for de-escalation, judgmental use-of-force, marksmanship and related training that mimics real world situations. VirTra’s mission is to save and improve lives worldwide through realistic and highly-effective virtual reality and simulator technology. Learn more about the company at www.VirTra.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This news release includes certain information that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by terminology such as “could,” “may,” “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “proposed,” “planned,” “potential” and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including statements about VirTra’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although VirTra believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. VirTra cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Accordingly, due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions inherent in forward-looking information, readers and prospective investors in the Company’s securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof, and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof and is subject to change. The Company assumes no obligation to revise or update forward-looking information to reflect new circumstances, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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Do barbers & Cosmetologists need more training than police?
Individuals in almost any profession must be properly trained if they are to do their jobs well, safely, and legally. For example, a cosmetologist in California must undergo approximately 1,000 hours of training. However, in that same state, a law enforcement officer—one who has permission to wield and utilize deadly weapons—requires only 664 training hours. For many, this is an obvious issue that needs to be immediately addressed.
The Startling Reality of Police Training Hours
Although it is difficult to believe an individual needs more training time to provide manicuring services than legally pointing a weapon at a suspect, it is true and startling. Do barbers & Cosmetologists need more training than police? What is more startling is that California is not the only state requiring fewer law enforcement training hours than other professions:
- North Carolina –Barbers need 1,520 hours of training; police officers only need 620.
- California – Licensed cosmetologists need 1,000 hours of training; police officers in training need 664.
- Florida – Interior designers must have 1,760 hours of training, but police officers only need 770.
- Massachusetts – Licensed HVAC technicians need 1,000 hours of training and policemen need 900.
- Michigan –Licensed electric sign specialists need 4,000 hours of training; policemen need 594.
- Louisiana –Manicurists need 500 hours of training while police officers in training only need 360.
The Obvious Problem for Officers
Law enforcement officers find themselves in a variety of difficult situations each shift. Even traffic cops—those simply stopping people for speeding or failing to stop completely at stop signs—put themselves in potentially deadly situations every day. The sheer number of police-involved deaths is overwhelming, yet this number continues to climb each year.
Do barbers and Cosmetologists need more training than police? It makes sense that law enforcement training should be just as extensive and thorough—if not more so—than the training it takes to become a licensed interior designer. However, for many states, this is not the case. People nationwide argue that something should be done to change this.
Decreasing Risk with Supplemental and Ongoing Police Training Hours
Although it is true that law enforcement officers require significantly less training than those in other professions in many states nationwide, it is worth noting that training does not stop once an officer receives their badge. In addition, the quality and type of police training will also play a role in adequately preparing the officer to do their job. Do barbers & Cosmetologists need more training than police?
For example, some methods of teaching are a linear, step-by-step process. In regard to cutting hair or applying makeup, this is a linear function: everything has an order and can be routinely followed. But for officers, de-escalation and use of force is not linear. There are so many different factors simultaneously in play in each scenario that a simple to-do list cannot be followed. As such, police officer training should not occur as blocks or silos—following the linear ideology. So why continue to train after this linear manner?
Instead, supplemental, and ongoing police training hours—such as a realistic judgmental use of force simulator, virtual marksmanship range and de-escalation scenarios—can go a long way towards better preparing officers because of their intricate nature. This is because simulators provide a complex training environment, mimicking the real world. Additionally, because it is a science-based approach to teaching and improving human performance, do barbers and cosmetologists need more training than police, it is easier to develop lifelong skills and transfer them to the field.
If you are bothered by the fact that, in many states, barbers require more training than law enforcement officers, you are not alone. Many people nationwide believe that police forces should be better trained to fully protect and serve. Fortunately, with state-of-the-art, science-based realistic training simulators such as the ones VirTra provides, it is possible for departments and academies to better prepare their officers in even the shortest amount of time.
For more information about our simulators and how they maximize training time and realism, talk to one of our VirTra specialists today.