VirTra’s use-of-force simulators have a vast number of scenarios covering everything from de-escalation to active threats. The scope broadens even more when the number of branching options is considered, allowing multiple ways to reach a resolution. With an average of 85 branching options per scenario, no single event is guaranteed to go a certain way – just like in the field, where  unpredictability is part of the job.

The Instructor Takes the Lead on Scenarios

Instructors can drive a scenario in any direction based on the student’s interaction with the on-screen character. VirTra’s branching features allow for instructors to manipulate the evolution to achieve any manner of training objective. The objective could be based upon policy, best practices, or vital training like de-escalation. Trainers can reward good behavior by having an aggressive character become compliant because proper de-escalation techniques were used. On the other hand, students who are not performing well can be encouraged to step up their game.

Usually, departmental policy dictates what skillset trainees will be developing during recurrent training. With our branching options, instructors can accomplish departmental training objectives by running each trainee through the same scenario, however using our branching function the scenario can play out differently based on individual performance. If the same scenario with the same pathway to resolution is run multiple times, students learn to “game” the system and recall what happens next. Giving an instructor to change things up prevents trainees from becoming complacent.

Branching Scenarios

An example of a VirTra scenario is “Midnight Madness,” where the officer is responding to an active threat in a theater. They chase an armed male suspect after navigating the theater and seeing injured victims. In the end, what will the suspect do? Will he give up or will he begin to fire his weapon? Will the trainee fire back in time or be hit by gunfire? What if an innocent person pops out and startles the trainee, causing them to fire their weapon? Each action has different consequences – just like in reality.

Another scenario called “Teacher’s Pet” features a broad array of branching options. The image below shows only a portion of the available options.

As VirTra aims to create a realistic experience during training, the content must not be brushed over. Screens and hardware may be impressive, but what the trainee gets out of the experience could save lives.

For more information about VirTra’s intense and effective simulator training options, contact a product specialist.

The human brain is a complex system that allows us to focus our attention, process information, generate responses, and carry out behaviors. These processes are critical to our ability to perform various tasks and interact and perform within the world around us. Officers must rely on this to make rapid and high-impact decisions daily. Anxiety can significantly impact our cognitive processing and attentional control, ultimately affecting our performance. In this article, we will explore the mechanisms involved in cognitive processing, attentional control, and the impact of anxiety on these systems.

What Does Anxiety Do?

Anxiety can have a significant impact on performance by interfering with attentional processing and altering the neural mechanisms involved in cognitive processing. It increases distractibility, decreases the ability to focus selectively on important information, and generates negative thoughts and emotions that distract from the task at hand. Anxiety has also been shown to activate the amygdala, which processes emotional information and interferes with the normal functioning of the prefrontal cortex. This can lead to increased sensitivity to errors and decreased performance.

How Training in a Simulated Environment Can Help

The VirTra simulators provide a critical, experimental, controlled environment where we can develop confidence in our skills and coping strategies to negate anxiety. The Behavior Analysis Threat Recognition course is a perfect example. This NCP-certified course provides the ability to increase the difficulty and threat to match the participant level. Instructors can continue to push it or back it down if needed. This allows for techniques such as positive self-talk, cyclic sighing, or forced attentional drive to be honed.

The neural mechanisms involved in cognitive processing and attentional control play a critical role in our ability to perform various tasks and interact with the world. Anxiety can significantly impact performance by altering these systems. Understanding how anxiety affects attentional and cognitive processes is essential for developing strategies to mitigate its negative impact on performance. The VirTra simulators provide a highly flexible and adaptable tool to build the mitigation skills.

You may have heard the story of Deputy Kyle Dinkheller’s murder during an officer-involved shooting. The event was tragic, but Dinkheller lives on with how his story has helped train recruits and officers alike.

The original dashcam footage gave insight into a few tactics that were not properly used – or in some cases, not used at all. Some of the training points to look at include vehicle contact and approach, utilizing the radio for backup, and force options.

Vehicle Approach and Driver Exit

When Dinkheller pulled over Andrew Brannan, he asked him to step out of his vehicle to talk to him. This was what his agency’s training had officers do, however it is generally agreed upon that it is easier to control a person inside a vehicle.

A situation that seems mindless but can have serious consequences is how you approach the vehicle. There are many things to be aware of, such as:

• Not positioning yourself or walking between the two vehicles. If the subject is in the car, they may shift to reverse. If the squad car is rear ended while you speak to the subject between the cars, you and the subject could be pinned between them.
• Where to use the vehicle for cover and concealment. Using the length of the vehicle can provide cover.
• Use the passenger side approach when possible, as it is typically the safest.

During vehicle approach, staying within the mitigation zone¹ and maintaining control of where the subject is positioned can greatly increase safety.

“Man With a Gun” – When to Call for Backup

When Dinkheller used his radio to request backup, it caused Brannan to become more agitated. Sometimes negative reactions occur when a call is made within earshot of a subject, so officers should be mindful of when and where they use their radio.

Additionally, if you are engaged in the threat, your priority should be addressing it. Teaching officers to call for backup during a use of force event should be avoided. It can create a training scar with serious effects, such as not addressing the current situation, but relying on other units that may not arrive immediately.

The Right Tools, The Right Way

During the time of Dinkheller’s murder, ECW devices were not widely used. Dinkheller used a collapsible baton to get Brannan to stop his actions, but it was not used with full force. The hit combined with the fact that Brannan had a contaminated mindset made it so the strike had no effect. When a subject is mentally ill or under the influence of a substance, they do not always respond to pain compliance techniques.

Another less-lethal option would be going hands-on. If a subject is not listening to the commands given, an officer may start by grabbing the subject and trying to restrain them. Dinkheller, unfortunately, did not attempt to go hands-on although he could have based on Brannan’s actions.

Finally, there is the lethal option which could have been utilized at a certain point into the encounter. Dinkheller had a rifle available to him in the trunk of his squad car – a storage position that was normal for his agency at that time. Long guns should ideally be kept in the driver area of the squad for easier and faster access.

Putting the Techniques into Practice

The newest curriculum by VirTra – “My Story: Dinkheller” – gives officers of all experience levels a chance to learn from this past event. Instructors have access to training materials such as an instructor manual, slide presentation, testing material, and more. It can easily be taught to students right out of the box and is free for VirTra customers.

Along with the coursework is a brand-new scenario that puts you in a similar situation to what Dinkheller went through. You are on a rural road on a traffic stop with a mentally ill subject. What will you do in that position? Will you use de-escalation and be able to verbally calm the man, or possibly use a less lethal device? There are 80+ branching options depending on the user’s actions or the instructor’s choice.

See the video below for a glimpse at what this scenario is like. If you would like more information on this course, visit this page here.

References

1. Lewinksi, W. D. (2013). The influence of officer positioning on movement during a threatening traffic stop scenario. Law Enforcement Executive Forum, 13(1), 98-109.

Since 1962, every May on the week of the 15^th we celebrate National Police Week. It is a time where everyone pays respects to law enforcement members who have lost their lives in the line of duty, as well as honoring those who serve in the present and past. May 15th is also Peace Officer Memorial Day.

According to last year’s data compiled by National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 226 members of law enforcement died in the line of duty in 2022. Compared to 568 who lost their lives in 2021, this is thankfully a significant decrease. You can view the data report here for a detailed breakdown.

Our mission that we keep at the forefront of our minds is to help police officers return home safely every day. We hope that our training can provide not only safer communities but safer members of law enforcement. While we cannot possibly stop every incident from happening, our goal is to reduce the frequency of the unfortunate injuries and deaths of our heroes.

As an annual tradition, NLEOMF schedules various events throughout the week and days prior that engage communities in commemorating officers. One way this is done is through the Annual Candlelight Vigil at the National Mall in Washington, DC that took place Saturday, May 13. We believe this is a beautiful way to express appreciation and remembrance.

The staff at VirTra want to express our gratitude to all U.S. police officers for protecting our communities. It is also just as important to remember the lives lost on duty. So, we say once again to all active and retired first responders at local, tribal, state and federal levels: Thank you.

 

 

References:

https://nleomf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2021-EOY-Fatality-Report-Final-web.pdf

CHANDLER, Ariz. — May 15, 2023 — VirTra, Inc. (Nasdaq: VTSI) (“VirTra”), a global provider of judgmental use of force training simulators, firearms training simulators for the law enforcement and military markets, reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. The financial statements are available on VirTra’s website and here.

 

First Quarter 2023 Financial Summary:

• Total revenue increased 48% to a record $10.0 million
• Gross profit increased 88% to $6.9 million, or 69% of total revenue
• Net income increased by $2.4 million to $2.9 million
• Adjusted EBITDA increased to $4.0 million
• Improved strong balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents of $14.3 million at March 31, 2023

 

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights:

 

Management Commentary

“Coming off our 17^th consecutive year of revenue growth in 2022, in Q1 we worked from our record backlog to deliver VirTra’s first ever quarterly revenue performance in the double-digit millions,” said Bob Ferris, chairman and co-CEO of VirTra. “Simultaneously, our actions to improve internal processes and streamline the overall business have significantly enhanced the efficiency of our operations, leading to the strongest bottom-line performance in the Company’s history. To build on our market-leading position and expand our revenue pathways, we are pursuing additional product and content development to make VirTra’s training capabilities even stronger.”

John Givens, co-CEO of VirTra added: “We remain committed to optimizing our business operations and driving profitability while ramping up our sales efforts as we move into the second quarter and beyond. While we are making strides in clearing our backlog and fulfilling orders more efficiently, we recognize that there are still many untapped opportunities in the market, both domestic and international. To capitalize on this potential, we are implementing sales initiatives to maximize our market penetration and prioritize areas with the greatest growth potential. We are focused on continued success in the coming quarters as we execute our growth strategies.”

 

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Total revenue increased 48% to $10.0 million from $6.8 million in the first quarter of 2022. The increase in revenue was the result of the deliveries of two major government contracts and one large international contract.

Gross profit increased 88% to $6.9 million from $3.7 million in the first quarter of 2022. Gross profit margin, defined as total revenue less cost of sales, was 69.3%, an improvement compared to 54.6% in the first quarter of 2022. The increase in gross profit was primarily due to the increased sales achieved while maintaining cost of sales in line with 2022 levels. The increased gross margins resulted from the favorable product mix of systems, accessories and services sold in the quarter.

Net operating expense was $3.5 million, compared to $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2022. The increase in net operating expenses was due to increased R&D expenses additional costs related to the Orlando facility and one-time costs in payroll and related expenses.

Operating income increased by $2.8 million to $3.5 million from $0.7 million in the first quarter of 2022.

Net income was $2.9 million, or $0.27 per diluted share (based on 10.9 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding), compared to net income of $0.6 million, or $0.05 per diluted share (based on 10.8 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding), in the first quarter of 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP metric, increased to $4.0 million from $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2022.

 

Financial Commentary

“Our first quarter financial results represent vast year-over-year improvements and demonstrate the success of our ongoing efforts to drive growth and profitability,” said CFO Alanna Boudreau. “We achieved a strong gross profit margin of 69%, a reflection of our focus on maintaining cost of sales while effectively selling a favorable mix of simulators, accessories, and services. Our record net income of $2.9 million and adjusted EBITDA of $4.0 million highlight our ability to execute even amidst operational transformations. These strong results put us on track to meet our financial targets for 2023 and position us well for continued success in the law enforcement and military simulator markets.”

 

Conference Call

VirTra’s management will hold a conference call today (May 15, 2023) at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss these results. VirTra’s chairman and co-CEO, Bob Ferris, co-CEO John Givens and Chief Financial Officer Alanna Boudreau, will host the call, followed by a question-and-answer period.

 

U.S. dial-in number: 1-877-407-9208

International number: 1-201-493-6784

Conference ID: 13738125

–

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Investor Relations at 949-574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast simultaneously and is available for replay here and via the investor relations section of the company’s website.

A replay of the call will be available after 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through May 29, 2023.

 

Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921

International replay number: 1-412-317-6671

Replay ID: 13738125

 

About VirTra, Inc.

VirTra (Nasdaq: VTSI) is a global provider of judgmental use of force training simulators, firearms training simulators and driving 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 practical and highly effective virtual reality and simulator technology. Learn more about the company at www.VirTra.com.

 

About the Presentation of Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization and before other non-operating costs and income (“Adjusted EBITDA”) is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA also includes non-cash stock option expense and other than temporary impairment loss on investments. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently. VirTra calculates its Adjusted EBITDA to eliminate the impact of certain items it does not consider to be indicative of its performance and its ongoing operations. Adjusted EBITDA is presented herein because management believes the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to VirTra’s investors regarding VirTra’s financial condition and results of operations and because Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in VirTra’s industry, several of which present a form of Adjusted EBITDA when reporting their results. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of VirTra’s results as reported under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative for net income, cash flows from operating activities and other consolidated income or cash flows statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP or as a measure of profitability or liquidity. A reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA is provided in the following tables:

 

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this discussion contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that we make. The forward-looking statements are applicable only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this document are made based on our current expectations, forecasts, estimates and assumptions, and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider various factors, uncertainties and risks that could affect our future results or operations. These factors, uncertainties and risks may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement set forth in the reports we file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You should carefully consider these risk and uncertainties described and other information contained in the reports we file with or furnish to the SEC before making any investment decision with respect to our securities. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 

Investor Relations Contact:

Matt Glover and Tom Colton

Gateway Group, Inc.

VTSI@gatewayir.com

949-574-3860

 

VirTra, Inc.

Condensed Balance Sheets

 

VirTra, Inc.

Condensed Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

 

VirTra, Inc.

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

If you have been following VirTra for any amount of time, you may have noticed that we put great emphasis on our content. High-definition video and advanced hardware are not the only aspects that aid in training law enforcement. Most important is the training content that ensures effective knowledge transfer. VirTra’s efforts even go beyond intense and realistic scenarios – the VirTra content team of subject matter experts create curriculum for instructors to utilize in a fast, simple way.

This curriculum, known as V-VICTA® (VirTra – Virtual Interactive Coursework Training Academy) pairs VirTra’s immersive scenarios with actual NCP certified materials. VirTra customers receive lesson plans, scoring rubrics, presentations, class surveys and more. We know that it is time-consuming and difficult to create your own curriculum and have it certified, so VirTra has done all the legwork for its training partners.

 

Training that Transfers

V-VICTA has proven to be effective for Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC). Todd Brophy, the Firearms Range Training Coordinator, has incorporated the curriculum into his force options instruction classes. Brophy allows the CJTC students to learn in a classroom setting first, then coaches them while they practice in one of the 10 units, they use VirTra simulations for in their Firearms Program.

“The feedback we are consistently getting from the students is ‘we need more of this,’” said Brophy, who likes to allow his students to work in pairs for practice in communication skills and contact & cover concepts. “The students seem to enjoy the training and provide feedback of what they are taking away at the end of the session consistent with the learning goals and objectives we have identified for each training segment.”

Brophy’s successful method of using the curriculum combines his existing teaching modalities with V-VICTA’s. V-VICTA can be used in tandem with pre-developed ideas, or just used right out of the box. Some of the certified courses offered include:

• Autism Awareness
• Active Threat / Active Killer
• De-Escalation
• Duty to Intervene
• Mental Illness: A Practical Approach
• Red Dot Optics Training
• Weapon Transitions
• And more.

Beyond VirTra’s in-house subject matter experts, we also partner with industry experts to ensure the quality of content. Before becoming available to customers, every course is submitted to IADLEST for NCP certification. IADLEST rigorously reviews every course to ensure it meets standards before it ever meets customer systems.

To receive V-VICTA and its updated content, you must be a current VirTra customer on an Annual Service Plan. To find out more about how to obtain V-VICTA curriculum, contact a product specialist here.

In 1998, Deputy Kyle Dinkheller was fatally shot during a traffic stop. The aftermath left his family and colleagues heartbroken, but his death was not in vain. The incident brought on a deeper look into police training, agency culture, and much more. In this way, Deputy Dinkheller has saved lives even after his passing.

The Incident and How it Became an Important Training Lesson

One of the first officer involved critical incidents recorded on a dashcam, 22-year-old Dinkheller struggled to control Vietnam combat veteran Andrew Brannan. Eventually Brannan retrieved a gun from his vehicle and ultimately shot and killed Dinkheller. You can watch the full video here.

It is important to keep in mind that officers had different tools in 1998. Almost no officers carried ECW / CEW devices and the use of a baton (like the one Dinkheller used) was more common. Still, there were several lessons to be learned by future officers, making this event more than just an unfortunate story.

Lessons Learned

• Take care when calling for backup. Do it at an appropriate time and not when you should be addressing the threat. You may also want to call when a subject is not within earshot, if possible. During this incident, Brannan flew into a rage when he heard Dinkheller request backup on his radio.
• Do not allow the subject to move around freely. Unless you have stated they can get back in their vehicle, they should not have the opportunity to walk back to their car – let alone reach in to retrieve something.
• Command with Confidence. When reviewing the dashcam footage, it is apparent that Dinkheller’s voice sounds shaky and unsure. With a more commanding approach, you may be less likely to be challenged.
• Position yourself and the subject appropriately. When speaking with the subject outside of the vehicle, standing between the two cars could put you both at risk. If a car were to rear end your squad, you may be pinned between the two cars. Be sure to allow space for reaction time in case the subject decides to run towards their vehicle or you.
• Leadership and policies can impact officers’ actions. At one time, Dinkheller was forced to write an apology letter after stopping someone who was friends with the Sheriff. Unnecessary or inappropriate discipline like this can cause an officer to hesitate to take action.

VirTra’s “My Story”

The new course “My Story: Kyle Dinkheller” gives officers a different perspective of the incident that has been in so many training videos. The coursework is accompanied by a true-to-life scenario with more than 50 branching options. The traffic stop scenario allows for the officer to use de-escalation, less lethal tools, or lethal force depending on what the situation requires.

To obtain this coursework, you must be a current VirTra customer and on an Annual Service Plan. For more information, visit this webpage.

 

CHANDLER, Ariz. — May 1, 2023 — VirTra, Inc. (Nasdaq: VTSI) (“VirTra” or the “Company”), a global provider of judgmental use of force training simulators, and firearms training simulators for the law enforcement and military markets, will hold a conference call on Monday, May 15, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. Financial results will be issued in a press release prior to the call.

 

VirTra management will host the presentation, followed by a question-and-answer period.

Date: Monday, May 15, 2023
Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time)
U.S. dial-in: 1-877-407-9208
International dial-in: 1-201-493-6784

Conference ID: 13738125

 

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 949-574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the investor relations section of the Company’s website.

A replay of the call will be available after 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through May 29, 2023.

Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921
International replay number: 1-412-317-6671
Replay ID: 13738125

 

About VirTra, Inc.

VirTra (Nasdaq: VTSI) is a global provider of judgmental use of force training simulators, firearms training simulators and driving 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 practical and highly effective virtual reality and simulator technology. Learn more about the company at www.VirTra.com.

 

Investor Relations Contact:

Matt Glover and Tom Colton

Gateway Group, Inc.

VTSI@gatewayir.com

949-574-3860

Originally published by Police1

The science behind simulation training is robust and well-established. However, many police trainers are not taking full advantage of simulators to not only impact outcomes but to improve the use of law enforcement’s limited training time.

There are many ways agencies can leverage these advantages. Accounting for the critical influence of the spacing effect and interleaving can have positive impacts on training efficacy.

Spacing

The spacing effect is an established phenomenon in psychology that has been supported by several studies. [1-3]

By spacing out study sessions, the brain can consolidate information more effectively and transfer it from short-term memory to long-term memory enhancing learning and retention. [1,4]

Rather than cramming (massing) all necessary training into a single session, spread it out over several sessions. This will give officers time to process and consolidate the information they are learning, which can improve their retention of the material. [4]

Research has shown that spaced training sessions can improve the retention of skills and knowledge, [4] as well as reduce the risk of errors and accidents. This effect can be particularly useful in police firearms training, as it can help officers to learn and retain the necessary skills to use their weapons safely and effectively.

Many agencies engage in a quarterly 10-hour training day, or some type of massed practice. The reality is a half hour each week spread over that same quarter provides more training value.

I recommend a method called “extended briefing training.” This concept maximizes the value of the overlap that often occurs when one shift is coming to work while another is still on the road. This shift overlap provides a training opportunity that can mitigate overtime and staffing issues connected to training and bring significant results. These micro-training moments are impactful. When the simulator is available for this extended briefing training it can facilitate spaced practice. The VirTra simulator and certified VICTA content would allow for a 15-20min firearms practice session on Monday, work on contact and cover on Tuesday, threat discrimination on Wednesday, and de-escalation on Thursday. The following week these and other skills can be worked in.

Interleaving

Interleaving training involves mixing up different types and practice exercises rather than focusing on just one type at a time.

For example, rather than spending an entire session practicing one shooting technique, officers could alternate between practicing different techniques, engaging in scenario-based training, and reviewing relevant policies and procedures. This can help enhance learning by forcing officers to apply their skills and knowledge in a more varied and challenging context. [5,6]

Simulation training is a powerful way to create interleaving. Using a three-screen or five-screen simulator, concepts such as contact and cover, less-lethal deployment, de-escalation, active shooter and basic firearms skills can all be mixed into the training session. This prevents Maslow’s Hammer problem, where if you are over-reliant on a hammer, you are more apt to treat everything as if it is a nail. It also forces a key piece of all law enforcement contacts: decision-making.

This type of practice involves breaking training sessions into shorter, more frequent sessions, rather than one long session. For example, rather than conducting a four-hour training session, or that 10-hour session mentioned earlier, officers could instead have four one-hour training sessions spread out over several weeks. This can help to minimize the effects of fatigue and enhance learning. [7] Allowing officers to train with a deliberate focus on it, minus the fatigue that sets in mentally and physically within an hour for most, provides advantages over longer, less focused sessions.

Overall, by using the spacing effect and interleaving to enhance police training, officers can improve their ability to use their weapons safely and effectively and train in decision-making while reducing the risk of accidents and errors on the job. This can ultimately contribute to the safety and well-being of both officers and the communities they serve.

 

References

1. Cepeda NJ, Pashler H, Vul E, Wixted JT, Rohrer D. (2006.) Distribute practice in verbal recall tasks: A review of quantitiative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380.

2. Donovan JJ, Radosevich DJ. (1999.) A meta-analytic review of the distribution of practice effect: Now you see it, now you don’t. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84(5), 795-805.

3. Roediger HL, Karpicke JD. (2006.) The Power of Testing Memory: Basic Research and Implications for Educational Practice. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 1(3), 181–210.

4. Anderson R, Sebaldt A, Lin Y, Cheng A. (2019.) Optimal training frequency for acquisition and retention of high-quality CPR skills: a randomized trial. Resuscitation, 135, 153-161.

5. Shea JB, Morgan RL. (1979.) Contextual Interference Effects on the Acquisition, Retention, and Transfer of a Motor Skill. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 5, 179-187.

6. Taylor K, Rohrer D. (2010.) The effects of interleaved practice. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 24(6), 837-848.

7. Dempster FN. (1989.) Distributing and managing the conditions of encoding and practice. In L. S. Cermak & F. I. M. Craik (Eds.), Levels of processing in human memory (pp. 317-344). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

April is National Autism Awareness Month. Around this time in 2020, VirTra released the “Autism Awareness” course to help law enforcement recognize the signs of autism. This would not have been achieved without the partnership and expertise of SARRC – Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center.

Since the inception of this training program, agencies all around the country have received the coursework and scenarios. Some agencies such as Utah Attorney General’s (UAG) Office have made VirTra’s Autism Awareness training a requirement. So, what has happened with VirTra, SARRC, and the autism community since 2020?

Autism Training Program Adoption

The UAG inspired Utah agencies to adopt the Autism Awareness training program. In fact, Utah Governor Cox signed H.B. 162 (peace officer training amendments) and H.B. 334 (special needs training for law enforcement). These two bills required POST training to include 16 hours of training on autism and mental illnesses. The training programs include the use of classwork, bodycam review, and VirTra’s simulated scenarios to familiarize officers with autism spectrum disorder.

Additionally, the UAG received the Best of State award for their Virtual Reality Training Center and the lessons officers learn from it – including Autism Awareness. Sean Reyes of the UAG even received the First Annual Autism Award in 2021 for the impact they’ve made by teaching officers about autism.

Even in 2020 when the program was barely released to the public, VirTra received positive feedback from Chief Muma of Jerome Police Department in AZ. “I really thought it was well developed,” said Muma during a video interview. “It brought forth something that I don’t think we’ve had in the field… It’s provided something that has been lacking in the industry for a long time.”

SARRC’s Major Achievements

A lot has happened since SARRC was formed in 1997. What was once considered a 1 in 500 diagnosis has shifted due to further research. Now, it is reported that 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism. According to SARRC’s recent statistics, here is what they have provided for the autism community and their families just over the past year:

• Provided 151K clinical intervention hours with those on the autism spectrum and their families.
• Served 1.1K individuals with autism through clinical and research programs.
• Screened 251 individuals through the Diagnostics Services program.
• Educated 125 children with and without autism in SARRC’s Community School program.

VirTra values our partnership with SARRC not only because of the great assistance they have provided us in releasing our coursework to law enforcement. We also truly believe in their mission and drive to make the world a better place for those with autism spectrum disorder.

The Future of Autism Awareness

The country has made great strides in not only diagnosis, but in educating the public about the signs of autism and how to communicate with someone on the spectrum. People who are communicating with a wide variety of citizens every day – such as police officers – are especially deserving of this type of training.

In the past, there have been unfortunate instances where officers have mistaken autistic behaviors as “suspicious” or even drug-related. With the number of agencies now receiving training and the general public awareness of the disorder, we hope to see the number of these situations decrease significantly.

To learn how to obtain the Autism Awareness course, contact a VirTra specialist.