Toledo City Council is preparing to vote on approving new virtual reality technology for the city’s police force.
The new equipment would help prepare law enforcement for real-world situations by creating unique interactions through artificial intelligence.
On Tuesday, police Lt. James Brown addressed the council with the details of what the program would bring, including taser, weapons, and de-escalation training.
“It provides different scenarios where de-escalation is part of the training, so you don’t use force every time,” he said. “The system knows what you should do in certain situations, so if you use force too quickly it’s going to correct you.”
The legislation would create a 27-month trial period for the equipment and would be used by the current force and in the Citizen Police Academy, Lt. Brown said. If the Toledo Police Department finds that the training has been beneficial, it potentially could become a part of its long-term plan, if it isn’t already outdated.
“Technology changes so fast, so more than likely it’ll be obsolete, and hopefully there’s something even better,” he said.
Councilmen were excited about the prospect of bringing the new training to the department, as well as wanting to try it out themselves.
“I would like to see how that operates and see how that training would go,” Councilman Cerssandra McPherson said. “Very interesting with technology and how we used it.”
When Councilman Vanice Williams asked if the technology was similar to a video game, Lt. Brown said that it could be even more realistic, with a headset that would provide immersion into the artificial situations.
Councilman Theresa Morris expressed her excitement for the project as well, noting the importance of giving the public a chance to try it through the Citizen Police Academy.
“I would urge any member of city council or the public, if you are able to participate in the Citizen Police Academy, I would advise you to do this,” she said. “It’s really a remarkable program, and we’re lucky to have it.”
The council, which has budgeted up to $137,000 for the virtual reality program, is expected to vote on it Dec. 7.
First Published November 30, 2021, 11:33 p.m.
