Herkimer College unveils new Law Enforcement Training Center featuring virtual simulator for training police officers in de-escalation and crisis situations

Herkimer College Police Academy Program Director Mike Masi is excited to have this additional training tool for training cadets to become police officers. Located in the Technology Center on campus, The VirTra® system will be able to provide realistic training to cadets in a safe environment where they can pause the scenario and learn from their instructor. Masi announced that local law enforcement agencies will be able to use the system as well.

“We are appreciative of this new training tool that will help our cadets develop the best skills and be prepared for the field. I am also pleased that this tool will be made available to local law enforcement agencies and other organizations to support their training needs as well,” Masi said.

The new VirTra® system will help provide training on areas like de-escalation, use of force, interacting with mentally ill or disabled people, and communication and decision-making.

The VirTra® simulator is designed to save the lives of first responders and citizens by allowing officers to train in real-world scenarios in locations such as a movie theater, a courthouse, and a school campus. Herkimer’s V-300® solution includes five large screens for a 300-degree immersive training environment. Outcomes are based on the actions taken by the police officer in real-time with multiple responses from on-screen persons. The immersive environment recreates psychological stressors like an elevated heart rate and high levels of adrenaline that officers experience during intense training.

Funding to create the dedicated training space and purchase the VirTra® system was obtained through a New York State grant awarded through SUNY to campuses for enrollment initiatives. “Herkimer is grateful to Governor Hochul, state legislators, and to the SUNY Board of Trustees for investing in and supporting innovation on our campus,” said Officer-in-Charge/Sr. Vice President for Administration and Finance Nicholas Laino. “This investment will benefit our campus, our students, and our community in significant ways.”

In addition to the purchase of the VirTra® system, the new facility has been outfitted with a smartboard interactive flat panel instructional system, as well as safety and security features such as card access technology; a security camera connected to the Campus Safety department’s camera system; and gun storage lockers for visiting law enforcement agencies to house live weapons.

More than 400 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. By using this system, training officers will have more dynamic high-impact training results.

Herkimer College offers Phase I Pre-Employment Police Basic Training in partnership with the Little Falls Police Department. This first phase of pre-employment training is open to civilians and sworn police officers as an alternative to the conventional manner of conducting the Basic Course for Police Officers. The program prepares students to begin preparation for a career as a police officer prior to being hired by a law enforcement agency. Five classes have graduated from the program since its inception, with the majority of graduates employed by law enforcement agencies upon graduation. More information about the program is available at www.herkimer.edu/police.