THE FALL RIVER POLICE DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO USE FUNDING FROM THE COPS FY23 DE-ESCALATION TRAINING GRANT TO PURCHASE AN APEX OFFICER PRO TRAINING SIMULATOR, WHICH IS A STATE-OF-THE-ART TRAINING SYSTEM THAT USES VIRTUAL REALITY TO DELIVER IMMERSIVE, INTERACTIVE TRAINING ON DE-ESCALATION, USE OF FORCE, CRISIS INTERVENTION, IMPLICIT BIAS, AND MUCH MORE. THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WILL BECOME A MANDATORY PART OF THE TRAINING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL FRPD OFFICERS AS THE NEED FOR DE-ESCALATION AND USE OF FORCE TRAINING BECOMES INCREASINGLY PRESSING ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. IN ADDITION, WHILE NO MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE, THE FRPD IS OPEN TO PARTNERING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS ACROSS SOUTH COAST NEW ENGLAND IN ORDER TO SHARE THIS PROMISING TECHNOLOGY AND STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY POLICING CAPACITY OF THE REGION OVERALL.