Carroll Police Department officers have a new tool to assist with training for various scenarios thanks to a new immersive system. City officials allocated $15,000 to the department in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 to purchase the DART Simulation Trainer, which puts officers in interactive scenarios using a projector, response vest, and training pistol. Captain Ethan Kathol says it is a cost-effective way to introduce officers, whether they are brand new to law enforcement or veteran officers, to new scenarios.
The system uses a laser-emitting pistol that tracks where a bullet would impact if firing a real gun. It projects a scenario onto a screen, from simple target practice and firing drills to realistic scenarios like traffic stops or domestic assault calls. Kathol says it prepares them for a wide range of interactions.
The DART system comes pre-loaded with dozens of scenarios, but Kathol says it also allows the department to design their own custom situations.
The system can also incorporate photos from local locations, such as a parking lot, school, or bank, and is portable for on-site training. The DART Simulation Trainer has only been operational for about a month, but the department plans to incorporate it more frequently into its training regimen as officers become more familiar with its operation and scenario designer.
