NYPD Uses Location-Based VR For Active Shooter Training

When it comes to the NYPD’s Counterterrorism Bureau—New York Cities primary local resource to guard against international and domestic terrorism—there’s no such thing as being overly prepared. Now, through the help of location-based VR technology, the NYPD is training hundreds of officers in multiple scenarios that would be impossible to recreate in real-life.During a week-long pilot program in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, hundreds of NYPD officers underwent location-based VR training that took them through a variety of highly-realistic active shooter scenarios; all of which based on real incidences. Developed by V-Armed—an immersive development team dedicated to creating large-scale 3D VR training for law enforcement, first responders, and engineers—the freeroam VR simulation recreates several real-life shooter and hostage scenarios in which officers must subdue a virtual target without endangering the lives of any civilians.“It adds another whole component. You can change the scenarios. You don’t need that much space. So we’re taking a good look at,” says NYPD Counterterrorism Deputy Chief John O’Connell while speaking to ABC7.