The lancaster county sheriff's office (lcso) proposes to strengthen DE-escalation and crisis response capabilities across the agency

The Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Program awarded Lancaster County Administration Building $196,784 on October 1, 2025, under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710) to implement crisis response and de-escalation training for law enforcement across Lancaster County, South Carolina.

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office will deploy the MILO VR system to deliver immersive, scenario-based training to strengthen deputies' de-escalation capabilities and decision-making in high-stress encounters involving individuals in crisis or displaying signs of mental illness. The training curriculum includes modules addressing mental health and emotionally disturbed person (EDP) responses designed to reduce use-of-force incidents, improve officer recognition of behavioral health crises, and promote trauma-informed crisis resolution. The program will serve all sworn deputies and applicable support staff within the Sheriff's Office, and will extend training to officers from the Lancaster City Police Department and all first responders within Lancaster County.

The award runs through September 30, 2027, with place of performance in Lancaster, South Carolina.

The primary goal of this project is to enhance deputies' abilities to safely manage high-stress encounters - particularly those involving individuals in crisis or displaying signs of mental illness - through immersive, scenario-based training using the milo VR system. This project will improve officers' decision-making, reduce the likelihood of use-of-force incidents, and reinforce public trust in law enforcement by integrating advanced, realistic simulations that reflect the most common and complex situations officers face. The training will also improve recognition and handling of mental and behavioral health crises, with an emphasis on preserving life and promoting calm resolutions. This initiative will serve all sworn deputies and applicable support staff within the agency, as well as extend the training to officers from the lancaster city police department and all first responder within lancaster county. Lcso recognizes the evolving expectations of law enforcement and the need for accountability, compassion, and adaptability. This project leverages evidence-based training to address gaps in real-time decision-making and provides deputies with a risk-free environment to practice and refine DE-escalation techniques. The inclusion of mental health and emotionally disturbed person (EDP) modules will support safer outcomes and a more trauma-informed response to crises in the field.