Sheriff’s Office Training With Virtual Reality Technology
(By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Coordinator)
Being a deputy isn’t a predictable profession. Every day is different, every situation is different, and the people the deputies serve react to traumatic events differently. That means that the only way to be prepared to meet the varied emergency needs in the community is to train as much as possible and be as innovative as possible.
The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office is using a unique way to help its deputies prepare for the unexpected: virtual reality (VR) technology.
“The Sheriff’s Office is actively integrating virtual reality technology into our training curriculum to better equip our deputies for complex field encounters,” said Chief Deputy Charles Boyer. “This cutting-edge platform places deputies into hyper-realistic, 3D simulations that replicate high-stress situations, including active threats, mental health crises, and de-escalation scenarios.”
During training, the deputies wear VR simulator headsets that take them step-by-step through real-life situations, helping them think through and practice effective responses so that similar real-life situations won’t be completely unfamiliar.
“By triggering the physiological responses of a real emergency in a controlled environment, this tool sharpens critical split-second decision-making and reinforces de-escalation techniques,” Chief Boyer said.
Chief Boyer, Detective Cassidy Smith, and Deputy Christopher Potter also trained to be VR instructors through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (O.P.O.T.A.) which provides the VR training scenarios and are keeping them updated.
Once the VR training is completed, the deputies can then go on-line and take a test over what they have learned. Both the VR training and the on-line rehash of the training and the test provide Continuing Professional Training (CPT’s) credits for the deputies that are required annually to keep their peace officer certification.
“Developing an in-house team of certified VR instructors significantly reduces long-term training costs for the county by eliminating recurring vendor fees and external travel expenses. Instead of continually paying outside contractors to facilitate sessions, our office can conduct unlimited, flexible training blocks on our own schedule,” Chief Boyer said. “This train-the-trainer model maximizes our initial technology investment and keeps taxpayer dollars within the community.”
In-house instructor teams also allows the office to tailor training to fit local needs.
“Having internal instructors allows us to customize scenarios immediately to address specific, localized trends as they arise,” Chief Boyer said.
Seneca County Sheriff Fredrick Stevens has prioritized training since he took office in 2021 because training saves lives.
“Our investment in this advanced training underscores our commitment to community safety, ensuring our deputies are prepared to resolve incidents with the highest level of safety, confidence, and professionalism,” Chief Boyer said.