The clinton police department (CPD) will use FY24 safer outcomes funding seeks funding to procure a state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) training system

The Clinton Police Department (CPD) was awarded a $130,720 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710). The funding will be used to procure a state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) training system to enhance CPD's training programs. This advanced VR technology will provide immersive, scenario-based exercises that mirror real-world situations faced by officers, ultimately improving their decision-making skills, situational awareness, and de-escalation techniques. The goal is to train officers to obtain compliance using less force, leading to safer outcomes for both personnel and the community. The award has a performance period from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026.

This advanced technology will significantly enhance our training programs by providing immersive, scenario-based exercises that mirror real-world situations faced by officers in the field and ultimately train our officers to obtain compliance using less force. The proposed street smarts VR training system will address critical public safety needs by improving decision-making skills, situational awareness, and DE-escalation techniques among our officers, ultimately leading to safer outcomes for both our personnel and the community.