The Soldotna City Council met on Wednesday, October 25th, to discuss an ordinance that would allow a grant to go towards purchasing a very special item for the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
The ordinance would increase estimated revenues and appropriations by $69,500 in the Homeland Security Grant Fund for a Grant Received from the State of Alaska for the Purchase of a Virtual Reality Firearms Training Simulator.
Chief Gene Meek speaks about how this device is more than just a firearms training simulator, but it can actually do so much more. Officers can enter a simulation wear a special pair of goggles, that then transports them into various situations, include ones that are not seen on the daily.
“We can do de-escalation techniques as far as dealing with those with mentally who are mentally ill or having mental wellness issues. You can test your knowledge of use of force topics. You can have almost an unlimited situational environment where you can train on current concepts by creating a simulation of those current topics within the system. And it allows the officers to train and interact and get advanced training through a system where they don’t have to experience this on the street. It’s protected and it develops them experience and the ability to perform under high stress situations within the simulator,” said Meek.
The device is portable, and only takes up about a quarter of a large room, so it’s mobile as well. Meek explains that he plans to be using this device on a monthly basis, so the officers can constantly train and prepare for any situation.
“The mobility of the device also allows us to bring in other agencies so that we can cross train with the Alaska State Troopers Kenai Police Department, other agencies that we would have a a multi agency interaction with,” says Meek.
This device will actually end up saving money in the long run too! Typically, it would take 10 to 12 officers to create an accurate simulation, all while they receive overtime pay creating practice situations. If the police department choose to run simulations, at the same rate once or twice a month, it would cost a pretty penny. In this scenario, everyone can receive training while being able to reduce the cost as a whole.
Meek says that he has used this device before, and it made to be a great training opportunity, and it allows the officers to simulate dangerous or high stakes situations without the risk of individuals getting hurt.
“We brought one in May for all the officers and for our police explorer program. And during that time, we actually focused on mental wellness calls, dealing with suicidal subjects. And if we’re explorers we did more of a less stressful situations and put them into traffic stop scenarios and dealing with difficult people in supermarkets.”
After a vote was taken, the ordinance passed with 5 in-favor and one absent.
