The honolulu police department (HPD) DE-escalation virtual reality training (devrt) project is a technology enhancement proposal that focuses on improving the hpds ability to train how officers…

The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) was awarded a $800,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program (CFDA 16.738). The grant will fund the "DE-escalation Virtual Reality Training (DEVRT) Project", which aims to improve HPD officers' de-escalation skills when responding to individuals in crisis. Key project activities include partnering with a university research team to develop course content and scenarios, purchasing virtual reality equipment, implementing the training program, and conducting data collection and assessment. The goal is to enhance the safety of HPD officers and the community through this technology-enabled de-escalation training initiative. The award period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

The honolulu police department (HPD) DE-escalation virtual reality training (devrt) project is a technology enhancement proposal that focuses on improving the hpds ability to train how officers respond to people in crisis by improving officer DE-escalation skills. The devrt project will build upon the hpds existing crisis intervention team (CIT), and mental health first aid (mhfa) training provided to sworn officers and civilian staff. The honolulu police department (HPD) intends to implement the devrt project upon award notification. The goal of this project is plan, develop, and implement a virtual reality site-based DE-escalation training program to improve the safety of HPD officers and the community. Project objectives and activities are divided into two phases: the planning phase and implementation phase. Project activities within the planning phase include, partnering with a university research team to develop course content and scenarios, developing the curriculum, and purchasing virtual reality equipment. Project activities within the implementation phase include training implementation, data collection and assessment, and after-action review.