The evolution of virtual reality has gone over the past few decades from stick figures in pixilated settings to multi-dimensional environments with realistic scenarios. Its applications and benefits accelerated over the past year have become an essential addition to the law enforcement training toolbox.
I experienced several training simulations while wearing Axon VR headsets at Axon Week 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, and was amazed at the realism and thought-provoking situations I was placed in. The realism and complexity of some of the scenarios were impressive. It reinforced what I already knew – that VR is a valuable tool in the toolbox of trainers.
Training with virtual reality (VR) headsets has demonstrated advantages over traditional forms of training for several reasons. Before all the law enforcement academy trainers stop reading, I am not claiming virtual reality training should replace live training with instructors, role players, rangemasters and staff, emergency vehicle trainers (EVOC) or any other live training aspects. VR is not intended to replace instructor-led training. Instead, it should be seen as a valuable complement to real live training. It should be seen as an efficient, cost-effective and consistent form of training that maximizes the trainer’s availability to students.
Equipped with a simulated gun belt with replica firearm and TASER energy weapon options, I navigated a series of encounters with individuals exhibiting a full range of behaviors – from passively benign or cooperative to aggressive and attacking, sometimes armed with weapons. Meanwhile, a trainer/supervisor stood by with a portable screen to monitor the scenario from my perspective in the headset.
As law enforcement professional with 30 years of experience, I had the option of experiencing medium-to-complex situations I could often quell with appropriate verbal commands. As in real life situations, however, some of the scenario suspects were unwilling to listen to commands to the point where TASER 10 or even a firearm had to be used.
The Axon VR simulations displayed range as one of my civilian colleagues, Kelly Bisco, donned the equipment and VR headset and appropriately handled all challenges she faced in the entry-level situations, as would a new recruit at the academy.
Conversation with Axon experts in VR training
I spoke with Axon Vice President of Training and Tactical Ecosystems, Andy Wrenn, and Vice President of Virtual Reality, Thi Luu at an Axon Training Pod. The 40- by 8-foot cargo container is outfitted with five modular training rooms and one supervisor control room outfitted with video screens of each of the four training pods for supervision, monitoring and post-exercise review and critique. Each pod is outfitted with air conditioning and heating, Cradlepoint-enabled WiFi, video camera and VR equipment.
Luu explained how AI allows different scenarios and possible outcomes. “We continue to evolve the VR platform. We now offer full patrol scenarios, which include traffic stops, domestic violence calls, behavioral health crises and even active shooter response training. And then we customize how the subject reacts to what you do with your weapons.
“So, let’s say that suspicious person with a knife, you might play through it once and you draw your TASER energy weapon and you aim at them and they’re compliant. So, they drop the knife, hands up, and then you don’t have to deploy. Maybe in a different scenario, when you play it through again, you might have a different compliance level for the subject. So, this time you point your TASER energy weapon at them and they decide to get more aggressive and come at you. Then you have to react differently. We’ve built it so you can customize all these different parameters.”
“We’re also developing modules that focus on critical areas like communication skills, de-escalation tactics, tactical decision-making and use-of-force judgment,” Wrenn added. “It’s not just about TASER energy weapon training anymore. It’s about preparing officers comprehensively for the wide range of complex, real-world situations they may encounter out in the field.”
Benefits of virtual reality training over traditional live methods include:
- Enhanced safety. No live-fire firearms or activated TASER energy weapon force are used.
- A lower trainer-to-trainee ratio. Fewer trainers are needed to supervise and participate in scenarios and no actors or role players are needed for VR training. Departments also have the option to have trainees train without a trainer in solo mode.
- Opportunity to repeat. The trainee has the benefit of multiple chances at a scenario, with remediation opportunities for trainees requiring additional training.
- Dynamic scenarios. The thought-provoking scenarios aid in enhancing decision making. Trainers can change the video response to the actions (or lack thereof) by the trainee.
- Cost. VR training is less expensive than live-fire ammunition, marking rounds, or live TASER 10 cartridges. But the real value goes beyond cost savings: this technology makes it possible for officers to train as often as needed to build and maintain proficiency, not just meet certification requirements. In the past, that level of repetition would have been cost-prohibitive and extremely difficult to achieve.
- Consistency. Standardized VR training aids the trainers as well. The scenarios are consistent across sessions, ensuring the same for challenges and experiences for each trainee. Luu emphasized that new trainers could immediately be familiarized with operating the system and scenarios quickly. Assessing objectivity can help remove bias in performance ratings.
- Opportunity for critique. Using cameras to record the trainee’s performance offers trainers the opportunity to critique the scenario response. The trainer can ask the trainee about their thought process and decision choices at different points in the video playback.
Scenarios designed to specifically target verbal skills and decisions can be aided by artificial intelligence (AI) that responds verbally to the actions by the trainee.
As the scenarios are scalable, the VR system may be used to train beginning recruit candidate trainees through levels of advanced officer training or to address skills need for specialty units.
The power of instant feedback
Immediate feedback is essential for both trainee and trainer alike. One of VR’s most valuable and important features is the ability to review camera recordings of each trainee’s performance. Trainers can pause scenarios and have trainees explain their thought processes and reactions. It gives them a different perspective to reconcile with their observations and reactions they experienced in the previous moments. Mistakes are immediately corrected and replaced with appropriate responses to drive the training message home.
Virtual reality training is an enhancement – not a replacement to live training
While live, in-person training remains irreplaceable in law enforcement education, VR training like Axon VR Training offers innovative, effective and cost-efficient solutions. It is effectively used to complement live training, rather than agencies needing to choose one method exclusively.
Agencies invest so much in recruiting and training candidates, yet attrition can be high when asking trainees to show proficiency in essential learning domains. VR is an excellent option to better prepare future officers, improve retention in academies and standardize training options for trainers.
