Statesboro PD Shooting Simulator Opportunity
In collaboration with Statesboro PD, the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology is proud to be able to offer a select number of students an opportunity to participate in a shooting simulator (described by the police department below). Due to space restrictions this session can only accommodate a total of 10 students. The event will take place on 3/14 (a Thursday) at 3 p.m. and will take roughly 90 to 120 minutes. Only students seriously interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement will be considered for this activity. Please complete the Google Application Form if you are wanting to participate in this simulator. If you are not selected for this first opportunity we are hoping to be able to offer more in the future. If you have any specific questions please email Dr. Jonathan Grubb.
The SPD shooting simulator is a state-of-the-art piece of equipment that uses actual Glock handguns (modified to fire a laser and with a compressed gas recoil system) to make Use of Force decisions in realistic scenarios. The scenarios are projected videos onto a screen that can read the laser impulses from the handgun when the student discharges the pistol. The videos are from the student “officer” perspective, to put the student in the decision making role, seeing what the officer would see. Also, there is a replay function that allows the scenario to be evaluated after the fact and can show where the impacts would have hit the actors in the video, if they in fact had been actual shots. There is the option to have the scenario launch paint balls at the students as a response from the “bad guys” (this will not be used with students).
While the simulator can be used for accuracy assessments, the real value in the simulator is in evaluating decision making. The student is expected to interact with the video and to give verbal commands to the screen. The instructor has the ability to select from various scenario outcomes based upon the interaction from the student. As an example, if an armed subject is encountered in the video, and the student is “passive”, the instructor can have the subject fire on the student (again, without the paint ball gun turned on, this will simply be seen as the video actor shooting at the student). Conversely, if the student gives appropriate commands, etc to the screen, the instructor can have the subject surrender. Using the replay function, all of the students can watch the performance of the student…if, as an example, the situation turns into a deadly force encounter, all of the students will get to watch the replay and determine if the student fired first, too early, too late, etc.
The simulator is a great tool and can lead to effective discussions around use of force, decision making, appropriate responses to threats, etc.
Posted in criminal-justice, criminology, Opportunity
Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Georgia Southern University
P.O. Box: 8105
Statesboro, GA 30460
Phone: 912-478-8007
Fax: 912-478-4999
Email: cjcrim@georgiasouthern.edu
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