The Grand Junction Police Department has embraced virtual reality technology to enhance officer training, offering a cost-effective and immersive way to prepare law enforcement for real-world situations. The shift aims to supplement traditional field training while improving efficiency and safety.
How VR Is Changing Police Training
For the past year, the GJPD has integrated VR simulations into its training program. Officers are placed in interactive environments that mimic real-world scenarios, allowing them to react as they would on duty.
Scenarios range from routine traffic stops to high-risk situations, providing a controlled setting for officers to practice decision-making, de-escalation techniques, and tactical responses. The virtual platform allows officers to train without requiring additional personnel or extensive resources.
A Supplemental Tool, Not a Replacement
Despite its effectiveness, VR training does not replace traditional field exercises. Instead, it serves as a supplemental tool that officers can use during downtime.
“This is just one of the many caveats that we utilize in order to make sure officers are continually training throughout the year,” said Trent Rundquist, Civilian Manager Over Crime Lab and Technology at GJPD.
Officers can engage with the VR system independently, eliminating the need for large-scale training exercises and reducing logistical constraints.
Financial and Logistical Benefits
The department has found VR training to be more cost-effective compared to traditional role-playing scenarios.
- Officers no longer need to rely on additional personnel to stage training exercises.
- The department avoids paying overtime for scenario-based training.
- A single annual fee for the VR program replaces recurring costs for in-person training setups.
Beyond cost savings, the technology also ensures consistency in training, providing officers with repeated exposure to challenging situations.
Enhancing Readiness and Public Safety
According to Rundquist, VR training has improved officers’ preparedness for unpredictable encounters.
“These just help us be able to realize a few of the different scenarios in which they may encounter,” he explained. “It helps our officers just continually work on their abilities and be able to just refresh everything in which they’ve been taught throughout, which just makes us all safer and the community safer.”
With law enforcement facing increasing scrutiny and evolving challenges, the GJPD believes VR will play a crucial role in modernizing police training while reinforcing community safety.
