KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Officers at the Kansas City Regional Police Academy are getting as close to real-life training as possible.
The academy received a $70,000 upgrade to its virtual training system, VirTra, in mid-August.
Sgt. Tom Clark oversees much of the training recruits go through while at the academy. He said the old system just wasn't cutting it anymore.
"This new system is like going from driving a 1970s car to something brand new," Clark said.
The old system, which was installed when the academy was built in 2007, was last upgraded in 2012.
The new and improved system doesn't require officers to be tethered to a certain point because there are no more cords attached to the simulated firearms.
Clark said the training focuses primarily on use of force.
"You don't always have to shoot somebody," Clark said. "You don't even have to put your hands on somebody. It's all about giving commands, knowing when you should and when you shouldn't."
The new system lets officers use weapons almost exactly like their real ones. They'll face a variety of "shoot/don't shoot" scenarios.
As if the simulation wasn't 'real' enough, there also is a threat fire system, which delivers a microburst of electricity to a user who gets shot during a simulation.
Instructors are able to play back video and audio and offer feedback.
Entrant Officer Alex Votaw said he appreciates KCPD's intense training. The VirTra system, according to Votaw, hits key points officers in training need to know.
"Having to adjust on the fly and knowing that these possibilities are very real out in the world," Votaw said.
Clark said every sworn department member will use the system during in-service training. He hopes to one day have a smaller, portable version of VirTra to use at community events and help recruit new people to the academy.
