LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Private security companies come across all kinds of people on a daily basis.
Though they are allowed to use their firearms, they focus on de-escalating a situation before it gets out of hand. To do this, they have to go through a lot of training.
Recently, we showed you how Protective Force International gears up and goes into vacant apartment units to clear out squatters. However, they are always training for any kind of situation.
One of their training tools is with a virtual reality system called Virtra. They showed FOX5 how they train for the different scenarios.
One scenario had to do with Protective Force International responding to a disturbance call.
“This is as close as you can get to the environment to prepare yourself for,” Officer Jaymon Cleary said.
The virtual reality system allows them to train for an unexpected call of an active threat. The plastic firearms that come with the system have sensors that react and let the system know when pepper spray or a firearm is discharged.
“Scenario-based training allows you to make a decision in a split second,” Officer Cleary said.
When the team is not doing their real-life training scenarios, they are also able to take part in a virtual gun range, which helps them keep up with their training and their muscle memory when it comes to using their firearms.
“Somebody who’s never used a firearm or doesn’t know much about firearms will go through a mentorship program, come in here, and get acquainted with one,” Chief Jonathan Alvarez said.
Chief Alvarez said the new officers get comfortable with firearms using this virtual reality and that it allows them to move onto a gun range.
“We have to sign off on officers to carry the firearm, and are essentially saying, ‘That individual is qualified for training,’” Chief Alvarez said.
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