VirTra, Inc. (NASDAQ: VTSI), a global provider of
training simulators for the law enforcement, military, educational,
and commercial markets, announced that the U.S. Department of
Justice (DOJ) has approved and published the Law Enforcement Dog
Encounters Training (LEDET) toolkit developed by VirTra and the
National Sheriff’s Association (NSA).
The LEDET program is the first law enforcement dog training
program the DOJ has approved since 2009. The toolkit compliments
the full Law Enforcement Dog Encounter Training course created by
VirTra, NSA and National Law Enforcement Center on Animal Abuse
(NLECAA), which has set the standard for police-dog encounters
across the United States. The LEDET training program is focused on
police training for domestic dog encounters and includes a scenario
kit that helps law enforcement officers safely interact with
domestic dogs.
The full LEDET course is an eight-hour training program that
uses VirTra’s interactive scenarios to both train and test
students. The LEDET program pairs canine behavior science with
advanced officer safety measures to help officers make quick, safe,
and compassionate decisions when dealing with dogs under stressful
circumstances. The program helps officers recognize cues that
inform them quickly when a dog is truly aggressive. It focuses on
de-escalation and less-than-lethal methods to keep the officer safe
and prevent the needless shooting of a family pet.
NLECAA and the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented
Policing Services (COPS) office have been developing the written
toolkit for three years, and VirTra’s in-house experts developed
the scenario kit to be used on VirTra’s immersive training
simulators. The 70+ page LEDET toolkit includes a Review of
Literature, model policies, and a quick reference guide to dog
behavior. The toolkit was co-authored by James Crosby M.S.,
Director of Canine Encounters Training for the National Law
Enforcement Center on Animal Abuse (NLECAA) and Chelsea Rider,
Director of NLECAA. Crosby, who is a retired Police Lieutenant, a
Certified Behavior Consultant, and an internationally recognized
expert on dog aggression and behavior, is also the author of the
full LEDET Training Course.
“This is really new ground,” said Crosby. “The collaboration
between VirTra and our team places dog encounter training right up
there with state-of-the-art use-of-force training, as it should be.
The ability to have officers experience dog body language – the
whole spectrum of sights, movement, and sounds – is a tremendous
step forward. There is no similar training with the interactive
aspect anywhere. With our team we were able to produce training by
law enforcement, for law enforcement, based on years of direct
personal experience on the street and backed by the academic
foundation of the science behind dog actions and motivations.”
VirTra General Manager, Jason Mulcahy added: “VirTra continues
to succeed by working alongside leading industry experts on
developing curriculum for a growing number of real-world
challenges. Not only do we believe this program will improve
officer safety, but also reduce the chances of tragically shooting
someone’s pet when it is unnecessary. To have this course certified
by the DOJ is a significant feat for any company, and we are
honored that VirTra now has this certification.”
The DOJ’s publication of this toolkit also recognizes the vast
range of input and experience behind the LEDET course. Not only is
the training set in real situations that law enforcement officers
face every day, it also incorporates current advanced canine
behavioral science, shelter handling and interaction skills, real
life animal control, and practices grounded in the latest
situational awareness training for Law Enforcement.
The LEDET scenarios debuted at NSA’s Annual Education and
Technology in June 2018.The content package, which goes along with
the newly published toolkit, includes five interactive scenarios
and an additional training module that covers the fundamentals of
dog behavior. All six of the certified training modules are
available in VirTra’s content library for the V-300®, and four are
available for the V-180® and V-100®. Law enforcement agencies will
now be able to use the scenario kits in tandem with the written
LEDET toolkit for maximum training value. For more information or
to download the free guide, please visit here.
About VirTra: VirTra (NASDAQ: VTSI) is a global
provider of judgmental use of force training simulators, firearms
training simulators and driving 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 practical
and highly-effective virtual reality and simulator technology.
Learn more about the company at www.VirTra.com.
About NLECAA The 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. Learn more at
www.sheriffs.org/nlecaa.
About National Sheriffs’ Association The
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. Learn more at
www.sheriffs.org.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release
includes certain information that may constitute forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements are typically identified by terminology such as “could”,
“may”, “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,”
“plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “proposed,” “planned,”
“potential” and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their
nature, refer to future events. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, included herein, including
statements about VirTra’s beliefs and expectations, are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is
necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while
considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results
and future events to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking information. Although VirTra
believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no
assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be
accurate. VirTra cautions investors that any forward-looking
statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or
performance, and that actual results may differ materially from
those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.
Accordingly, due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions
inherent in forward-looking information, readers and prospective
investors in the Company’s securities should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking
information contained in this press release is given as of the date
hereof, is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and
information available to management as at the date hereof and is
subject to change. The Company assumes no obligation to revise or
update forward-looking information to reflect new circumstances,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as required by law.
Investor Relations Contact: Matt Glover or
Charlie SchumacherVTSI@gatewayir.com 949-574-3860
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