A new firearms training simulator is in the works for the Carrboro Police Department.
The department has proposed adding a firearms training simulator to the town’s fiscal budget for 2016-17, according to an email by Arche McAdoo, finance director for the town of Carrboro. The training simulator would cost about $90,000, according to Carrboro Police Chief Walter Horton.
If Carrboro approves the plans for the new training simulator, training for Carrboro police will enter a new era in the digital age. The simulator would make it easier to train officers how to respond to specific scenarios they would face while on the job.
“What the machine does is it basically puts the officer in a simulated environment where they have to use decision skills, de-escalation skills and communication skills,” Horton said.
He said training officers in how to respond to certain situations is important to the safety of the officers, the community and even the suspect. He said this was worth the money the town would spend on the technology.
Horton added that having a training simulator at the police department would allow officers to train during their work hours instead of accruing overtime or extra driving time.
“It will be very convenient for (the officers),” Horton said.
Longtime Carrboro resident William Madden said he was critical of the police department's decision to spend so much money on a computerized training simulator.
“I think it’s an absolute waste of money,” Madden said.
