Firearms qualification? Check. First aid cert? Check. Reality-based scenario training?
Simulators have long been used to test decision making their use for training one of the de facto methods law enforcement professionals use to refine their skills. It provides peace officers with a safe environment to learn from mistakes and encounter scenarios they might not otherwise face. As the training adage goes, The body can’t go where the mind hasn’t been. Options like the V-300 simulator provide truly life-like scenario immersion and ballistic accuracy, and simulator training is highly compelling.
However, police budgets are limited and vary significantly between departments. And some departments do not have the space for room-scale simulation. Fortunately, some astute agencies have found a way around barriers to secure the training they need – by working together.
Simulator Training – A Collaborative Approach
The Utah Attorney General’s Office works closely with local law enforcement agencies, serving as a key resource in the state. Since 2016, it has trained officers from over 100 different agencies, including 30 in 2024 alone. When the Utah State Legislature required police officers to receive autism awareness training, the office created an award-winning program using V-VICTA. This was added to the agency’s V-300 simulator system, allowing visiting officers to learn the course in a hands-on, accessible way.
Collaborative training efforts have also proven effective on a smaller scale. The Center for Behavior Analysis and the University of West Florida Police Department invested in a V-300 simulator in 2021, making it available for local and federal agencies to use for training. The University of West Florida has even used the simulator to train its Army ROTC cadets.
Perhaps rural departments have the most to gain from collaborative training. Limited budgets, smaller teams, and limited training space can be significant obstacles to training – obstacles that the Umatilla Sheriff’s Office swiftly cleared. The agency received a V-100 training simulator in 2024 from the Taskforce Santa initiative and set out to share the good fortune. Umatilla announced partnerships to provide training opportunities to several nearby agencies in need:
- Pendleton Police in Oregon
- Umatilla PD
- Pilot Rock PD
- Umatilla Tribal Police Department
- Hermiston Police Department
- Milton-Freewater Police Department
- Oregon State Police
- Morrow County Sheriff’s Office
Law enforcement agencies are increasingly proving that teamwork gets the job done regarding high-quality training. Whether it’s a state-wide push for autism awareness, a university opening its doors to officers and cadets, or a sheriff’s office sharing resources with neighbors, these initiatives make one thing clear. When departments collaborate, training improves for everyone.
Cost-Effective Simulator Options Now Available
Nothing should come between your officers and the training they need. VirTra offers the S.T.E.P. Training and Equipment Partnership to ease upfront expenses with an annual agreement. Click here to learn more.
