National Law Enforcement Center on Animal Abuse, National Sheriffs’ Association and VirTra Launch New Law Enforcement Train...
June 05 2018 - 8:00AM
The National Law Enforcement Center on Animal Abuse (NLECAA), its
parent organization, the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), and
VirTra, Inc. (Nasdaq:VTSI) today announced the Law Enforcement Dog
Encounters Training (LEDET) focused on police training for dog
encounters. LEDET is the first of its kind training program and
includes structured coursework on engaging and deescalating dog
encounters, along with simulation training with VirTra’s immersive,
high-definition video training system. Together, the new training
protocols help law enforcement officers learn safe interactions
with domestic dogs. The LEDET program is a culmination of two years
of collaboration between the National Sheriffs’ Association and law
enforcement executives, legal consultants, and behavior experts to
develop a gold standard for protecting officers, pets, and the
public.
An agency-wide demonstration of the scenario-based trainings
will be given by the Harford County (Maryland) Sheriff’s Department
on Wednesday June 6, following a press conference at 10:30 a.m. ET.
The Sheriff’s Office is located at 1305 Pulaski Highway, Edgewood,
MD.
The LEDET scenario package will be officially rolled out in
VirTra’s booth at the 2018 National Sheriffs’ Association Annual
Education and Technology Expo, June 15-19 in New Orleans, LA.
Additional pilot programs are scheduled to occur in Orange
County, Florida, and Oakland County, Michigan.
The LEDET program is based on canine behavior science paired
with advanced officer safety measures. The combination will enable
officers to make compassionate, safe decisions when interacting
with pets under stressful circumstances. The course includes
interactive scenarios where officers and dogs are placed in common
situations. Using VirTra’s branched decision-making technology,
these interactions will enable officers to experience conflict and
make choices in real-time. The course focuses on the use of less-
and non-lethal methods of keeping officers, the public, and pets
safe during contact.
“LEDET is unique because it is the first dog training course
developed by law enforcement officers, for law enforcement
officers,” said Sheriff Harold Eavenson of Rockwall, Texas and
President of the National Sheriffs’ Association. “Our subject
matter experts are the most experienced consultants in the animal,
law enforcement and legal fields when it comes to these kinds of
cases and have guided policy and accountability using a combination
of extensive canine behavior training and law enforcement
experience. This has given us the perspective of working street
cops coupled with cutting edge behavioral science and extensive
experience with truly dangerous dogs.”
“Law enforcement officers want to handle their calls safely and
go home at the end of their shift, while not causing any needless
harm,” said John Thompson, Deputy Executive Director of the NSA.
“This course will give them much needed tools to recognize and
address possible conflict with dogs instead of simply shooting an
animal.”
This state of the art program will be complementary to the full
Law Enforcement Dog Encounters Training (LEDET) course in
development by NLECAA in coordination with the Department of
Justice’s COPS Office. This is the only canine encounter course
endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association.
“Many conflicts can be defused or even avoided by understanding
dog behavior,” said James Crosby, Director, Canine Encounters
Training, NCLEAA. “Keeping officers and pets safe is the focus of
the course. Large liability awards have resulted from officers
needlessly using lethal force. We aim to keep the officers safe
while reducing those deadly conflicts.”
The content package includes five interactive scenarios and an
additional training module that covers the basics of canine
behavior. All six scenarios/modules are available in VirTra’s
content library for the V-300™ training simulator, and four modules
are available for the V-180™ and V-100™ training simulators. The
complementary training program is under final review, with an
anticipated release later this year.
About NLECAAThe National Law Enforcement Center
on Animal Abuse was established by the National Sheriffs’
Association to provide law enforcement officers information on the
realities of animal abuse and to promote their proactive
involvement in the enforcement of animal abuse laws in their
communities. Through its partners, the Center serves as an
information clearinghouse and forum for law enforcement on the
growing problem of animal abuse and its link to other types of
crimes, including violence against humans. Additionally, the Center
seeks to improve officer safety in dog encounters through
continuing education and training.
About National Sheriffs’ AssociationThe
National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) is one of the largest
associations of law enforcement professionals in the United States,
representing more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the nation,
and a total membership of more than 20,000. NSA is a non-profit
organization dedicated to raising the level of professionalism
among sheriffs, their deputies, and others in the field of criminal
justice and public safety. Throughout its 78-year history, NSA has
served as an information clearinghouse for sheriffs, deputies,
chiefs of police, other law enforcement professionals, state
governments and the federal government.
About VirTraVirTra is a global provider of
training simulators for the law enforcement, military, educational
and commercial markets. The Company’s patented technologies,
software and scenarios provide intense training for de-escalation,
judgmental use-of-force, marksmanship and related training that
mimics real world situations. VirTra’s mission is to save and
improve lives worldwide through realistic and highly-effective
virtual reality and simulator technology. Learn more about the
company at www.VirTra.com.
Contacts:
National Sheriffs’ Association:John Thompson Deputy
Executive Director / COO1.800.424.7827jthompson@sheriffs.org
NCLEAAJames Crosby M.S., CBCC-KA, Director, Canine Encounters
Training1.800.424.7827jimcrosby@sheriffs.org
VirTraSusan LehmanMedia
relations510-599-6555slehman@virtra.com
VirTraBrett MaasInvestor Relations 646)
536-7331vtsi@haydenir.com
Virtra (NASDAQ:VTSI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Virtra (NASDAQ:VTSI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024