DE-ESCALATION TRAINING IS USED BY DEPARTMENTS TO EFFECTIVELY TEACH OFFICERS TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE TO RESPOND TO DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. IT IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR OFFICERS TRAINING. DURING THE SUMMER, OUR CITY'S POPULATION GOES FROM 18,000 RESIDENTS TO OVER 100,000 INCLUDING VACATIONERS IN ANY GIVEN WEEK. EACH WEEK IS A DIFFERENT GROUP WITH DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS AND DIFFERENT ISSUES. THIS REALITY MAKES PROPER DE-ESCALATION TRAINING VITAL FOR OUR OFFICERS. CURRENTLY, THEY RECEIVE THEIR ANNUAL TRAINING ONLINE. THIS, HOWEVER, DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO PRACTICE THEIR DE-ESCALATION SKILLS IN A REAL LIFE SCENARIO. VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINING IS THE KEY TO MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. THIS GRANT WILL ALLOW US TO SET UP A VR TRAINING CENTER RIGHT IN OUR OWN STATION. OFFICERS WILL BE ABLE TO PRACTICE "REAL LIFE" SCENARIOS AND KEEP IN PRACTICE FOR WHEN THESE DIFFICULT MOMENTS OCCUR. THIS CENTER WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ALLOW THIS TRAINING FREE TO OUR MUTUAL AID PARTNERS, SO THEY IN TURN CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS WONDERFUL TRAINING OPPORTUNITY.