>> HERKIMER COLLEGE HAS HAD BASIC COURSE FOR POLICE HERE FOR FIVE YEARS NOW, AND OVER THE FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT RAMPING UP OUR TRAINING FOR STUDENTS AND CADETS TO BETTER PREPARE THEM FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON ON THE STREET IN TODAY'S DAY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO, IN THAT DISCUSSION, THE VIRTUAL SIMULATOR WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA TO PURCHASE AND THIS YEAR BECAME A REALITY.

>> THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THIS SIMULATOR CAME FROM A GRANT FROM SUNY.

IT WAS ROUGHLY ABOUT $400,000, SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE.

THAT WHOLE TOTAL GRANT MONEY WE GOT WENT TO NOT JUST THE SIMULATOR BUT ALSO ALL THE EQUIPMENT, THE FURNITURE.

AND NOW WE HAVE A DEDICATED CLASS FOR THE ACADEMY WHICH WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.

VIRTUAL TRAINING SIMULATOR HAS OVER 500 SKILL SETS, MARKSMANSHIP AND SCENARIO-BASED TRAINING TO FULLY IMMERSE THE RECRUIT INTO REAL LIFE SCENARIO.

THE MANY SCENARIOS THAT ARE IN THE SYSTEM, SCHOOLS, BYESES.

PARK, STREETS, ALL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, AND THE SYSTEM ALSO PROVIDES THE ABILITY TO BUILD A SCENARIO WITH WHATEVER ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU WANT TO ALSO.

SO WE CAN BASICALLY RECREATE AN ACTUAL INCIDENT ON THE STREET.

WE CAN CHANGE UP A LOT OF THE VAIRATIONS OF HOW THAT, THE OUTCOMES OF THAT INCIDENT, BASED ON THE ACTIONS OF THE CADET.

>> DROP THE KNIFE.

THERE YOU.

>> >> WE JUST WANT TO HELP YOU.

DROP THE KNIFE.

>> BUT IT ON THE GROUND.

PUT THE KNIFE ON THE GROUND.

>> IT'S OKAY.

>> USING THE CELL PHONES AND TABLETS AND COMPUTERS, THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE REAL LIFE IS SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY NEED TO TRAIN.

THIS SIMULATOR ALLOWS US TO CREATE THAT AND WE BASICALLY FORCE THEM TO HAVE TO, IF THEY DON'T INTERACT AND LEARN HOW TO TALK TO SOMEBODY AND LEARN HOW TO DEESCALATE THAT, BAD THINGS HAPPEN.

>> BEING ABLE TO IMMERSE YOURSELF INTO A SITUATION THAT IS REALISTIC BUT YET NOT REAL, I MEAN HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T EVER HAVE TO GO INTO A REAL SCENARIO TO TRAIN.

SO BEING ABLE TO TRAIN IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS, I THINK, WILL DEFINITELY GIVE US THE UPPER HAND TO REPEATEDLY GO IN AND GO AT IT TO REHEARSE AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

>> SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DECISION AND THEN HAVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ON HOW TO MAKE A BETTER DECISION.

>> ABLE TO CRITIQUE THAT AFTERWARDS AND CHANGE THE WAY THEY HANDLED THE SITUATION AND GIVE THEM OTHER OPTIONS.

LETHAL FORCE IS A GO-TO, ALWAYS HISTORICALLY TRAINED.

TEACHING THEM LESS LETHAL, POSSIBLY LESS LETHAL OPTIONS AND BEING ABLE TO GO BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE SOMETIMES LESS LETHAL IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> KNOWING YOU ARE GOING HAVE A SPLIT SECOND TO MAKE A DECISION.

IT'S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEBODY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION THAT IS SO LIKE, YOU NEED TO CHOOSE WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO USE LETHAL OPTION OR NON-LETHAL OPTION.

AND THAT COULD ALSO COST YOU YOUR LIFE, YOUR JOB OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE IMPORTANTLY.

>> IT IS INEVITABLE THERE IS GOING TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT BY THE TIME THEY GET TO THE SECOND PHASE OF THE PROGRAM, AND THE END AND TO THE STREET.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, I GUARANTEE WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT IN THE END.