This award supports training officers in DE-escalation, mental health crisis, and autism awareness to allow for effective response and assessment

The City of Saint James, Minnesota was awarded a $155,159.89 project grant from the Department of Justice Offices Boards and Divisions Community Oriented Policing Program to support training for law enforcement officers. The funding will allow the city to utilize virtual reality and classroom-based training modules from the VirTra LE180 simulator system and V-VICTA Training Academy program to improve de-escalation techniques and use of force.

The grant award supports the objectives of the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710) by providing resources for organizational transformation and problem-solving strategies. Specifically, the training aims to enhance officers' abilities to effectively respond to and assess situations involving mental health crises and interactions with individuals who have autism. The two-year grant period extends from September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2024.

The project seeks to utilize training and virtra LE180 simulator system and v-victa training academy program modules to support improved DE-escalation and use of force techniques.