EDMOND —
It’s about as real as fiction can be. You are making a traffic stop. A man and a woman get out of a pickup. You shout commands. You see that the male on the opposite side of the truck is holding a gun. You draw your department-issued handgun. Another order is ignored. The male turns toward you. You fire. He falls to the ground. But no bullets are used.
Thursday afternoon, the Edmond Police Department invited reporters to its training site east of Interstate 35 along Danforth Road to witness a demonstration of its new use of force simulator. Reporters also were invited to give it a try themselves.
Edmond Police spokeswoman Jenny Monroe said the simulator takes officers through live action scenarios with weapons currently being used within the department — Taser, pepper spray, rifle, pistols and shotgun.
Monroe said the benefits of live action training range from meeting U.S. Supreme Court training requirements to saving 35 percent on the Edmond Police Department’s ammunition budget.
IES Interactive Training makes the MILO training system, which uses cutting-edge technology to deliver graphic-based firearm drills, a unique firing range simulator and more than 450 interactive training scenarios with new full HD media content, according to the company.
Edmond Police Sgt. Jeff Richardson said money seized at drug scenes paid for the simulator, which cost just under $50,000. It was ordered in July 2011 and has been used to train officers and cadets in its in-house academy, Richardson said.
In addition to saving on ammunition cost, the simulator also reduces Taser training by 50 percent by reducing the number of cartridges used during recertification, Richardson said. About 80 Edmond officers have Tasers.
Richardson said the simulator significantly increases the number of scenarios an officer can experience in a given period of time.
“Our officers are better trained and more responsive to use of force encounters,” he said. “The machine’s been a terrific addition to our training regiment out here and we’re blessed to have it.”
Since 1994, IES Interactive Training has been making interactive firearms training systems and HD multimedia use of force simulators.
marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108
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