Police shootings have been a hot-button issue in the U.S. for quite some time, especially with the advent of the internet, smartphone cameras, and live streaming features by social media sites. Now, police are also adopting emerging VR technology to help train officers in dealing with tense situations without automatically resorting to their firearms.
VR is already in use in several legal and crime cases, helping juries, lawyers, and prosecutors look at the evidence, crime scenes, and environments that can give them a better idea of exactly what happened. Now, police are doing the same thing in order to re-train their officers and avoid unnecessary use of deadly force.
The company providing the VR simulation that’s meant to reduce police shootings is BEST and according to Jed Merrill from the company, more immersive training might be the key to addressing this grave social issue, Engadget reports. With casualties among civilians going as high as 2.6 victims shot by police on a daily basis, it’s an issue that desperately needs to be solved.
The whole concept of the simulation is to remind officers that they are first and foremost “peace officers,” Merrill says. By training the men and women in blue to have a broader perspective when it comes to this concept, they will find it easier to stop from jumping to conclusions and just going with what is increasingly looking like ingrained, institutional habit.
The simulation itself is focused on the idea of de-escalation, where instead of using methods that antagonize suspects and make them more aggressive, police can use more diplomatic tactics. The key points that the training will emphasize are behavior, ethics, strategy, and tactics or B.E.S.T.
Aside from the fact that the training may pay off by actually reducing casualties and improving police-civilian relations, the results of the simulation could also include reduced cost for the government. With compensation, among other payments that will be given to families of the victims, each case can cost up $2 million. With this VR training method, everyone wins.


U.S.-EU Tensions Rise After $140 Million Fine on Elon Musk’s X Platform
SK Hynix Shares Surge on Hopes for Upcoming ADR Issuance
Nvidia Develops New Location-Verification Technology for AI Chips
Trello Outage Disrupts Users as Access Issues Hit Atlassian’s Work Management Platform
International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project
US Charges Two Men in Alleged Nvidia Chip Smuggling Scheme to China
U.S. Pressures ICC to Limit Authority as Washington Threatens New Sanctions
SK Hynix Labeled “Investment Warning Stock” After Extraordinary 200% Share Surge
SpaceX Reportedly Preparing Record-Breaking IPO Targeting $1.5 Trillion Valuation
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule
New Epstein Photos Surface Showing Trump as Lawmakers Near Document Release Deadline
DOJ Sues Loudoun County School Board Over Transgender Locker Room Policy
Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools Raises U.S. National Security Concerns
Evercore Reaffirms Alphabet’s Search Dominance as AI Competition Intensifies
Malaysia Airlines Ordered to Compensate Families of MH370 Passengers 



