Wexford Sheriff's Deputies Utilize Apex Officer Platform for Mental Health Training

Wexford County Sheriff's Office has invested in the Apex Officer virtual reality (VR) training platform to provide their deputies with cutting-edge training. The platform is designed to simulate real-life scenarios, allowing deputies to practice their communication and de-escalation techniques in a safe environment. The sheriff's office is using the Apex Officer platform to provide mental health training to all deputies, as well as training new recruits on how to handle challenging situations.

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Training New Deputies on the Simulator

New recruits are now being trained using the Apex Officer platform to help them develop the skills necessary for their role. The virtual reality scenarios range from traffic stops to active shooter situations, providing new deputies with the opportunity to practice their responses to a variety of situations. This immersive training allows new deputies to build their confidence and experience before being deployed on active duty.

In a recent interview with Cadillac News, Wexford County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Richard Denison said:

"while the county may serve a rural area, they still have the same crimes that metropolitan areas do. It’s just not as frequent. So in their current course of training, deputies may not encounter certain situations. The virtual reality simulation allows them to put deputies in those situations but in a controlled environment."

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Providing Mental Health Training to All Deputies

Mental health issues can be a significant challenge for law enforcement officers, who often find themselves in high-stress situations. To address this, the Wexford County Sheriff's Office is using the Apex Officer platform to provide mental health training to all deputies. The virtual reality scenarios simulate mental health crises, allowing deputies to practice their communication and de-escalation techniques. This training is helping deputies to handle mental health situations with more confidence and empathy, reducing the need for use-of-force incidents.

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Training Deputies on New De-Escalation Techniques

The Wexford County Sheriff's Office is also using the Apex Officer platform to train deputies on new de-escalation techniques. The platform allows deputies to practice their responses to a range of situations, including domestic violence and aggressive confrontations. The immersive training provided by the platform is helping deputies to develop their communication skills and improve their ability to defuse tense situations. This training is an important step in ensuring that deputies can handle challenging situations safely and effectively, reducing the risk of harm to both officers and members of the public.

Deputy Alexis Howard (pictured above) went through the training and it was her first time using virtual reality ever. After going through using the simulator, Deputy Howard, said:

"this is probably as close to real-life scenarios as you can get for training. Everything is there and you are immersed in the situation. It just gets you that much closer to actually being in it and the closest thing to a real-life scenario. I feel like the learning from these scenarios is going to be better. I think it is going to help you to realize what you can and can’t do, what not to do, or give you little tips or tricks.”

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Conclusion

The Wexford County Sheriff's Office's investment in the Apex Officer platform is a significant step forward in providing their deputies with the best possible training. The platform's virtual reality scenarios allow deputies to practice their responses to a range of situations, from mental health crises to de-escalation techniques. This training is helping deputies to build their confidence and experience, reducing the need for use-of-force incidents and promoting the safety of both officers and members of the public.

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