Apex Police show off officer training simulator: 'Better prepared'
APEX, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Apex Police Department gave a rare inside look on Monday into its training program that seeks to ensure officers are well-prepared when out in the field.
Located within the APD facility, the relatively small training space features a projector and screen that is capable of showcasing approximately 800 different scenarios officers can choose from.
Additionally, officers are taught how to discern the difference between compliant and noncompliant, examples of when and when not to use deadly force, along with the legal authority to do so.
"I think that helps us to expect a better outcome from typical policing scenarios day to day because we're just better prepared," said police chief Ryan Johansen. "It is difficult to watch incidents all across the country, of course, and have very little information beyond the same information the public has, and passing judgment as to how and why things happen. But a healthy part of being a good police department is to look at those things with a scrutinizing lens and think, well, if the same situation happened here, how could we expect a better outcome?"
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The questions and answers come amid public outcry and scrutiny about the decisions that law enforcement officers make.
Training staff and officers can choose from situations such as traffic stops, armed robberies, hostages, workplace violence incidents, domestic disputes, school shootings, and hundreds of other examples.
"Here we can test and repeat those outcomes over and over and over again," said Johansen. "Which should give us a reasonable expectation of them coming out better when it's occurring in the real world."
Johansen said his officers complete more training than what's required by state law. Staffers also refrain from using live weapons and ammunition within the classroom for safety purposes.
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