Proposal

Narrative

The School of Criminology & Criminal Justice (SCCJ) has partnered with the FAU Police Department to purchase and install a police simulation lab from Ji Training in the fall of 2020 the FAU Police Department secured funds for a Police Simulator Lab Police Simulators are a valuable training tool to measure law enforcement officers' (LEO) decision-making skills, expose LEO to various real-life situations, and provides a training library with more than 700 scenarios The F.A.U Police Department secured the funding for the simulator and the SCCJ has provided a permanent secured and School-controlled space to house the simulation lab. In October 2020, six (6) individuals participated in a two­-day training by a representative from Ti-Training: two FAU LEO, the Deputy Chief from Coral Springs who is also an adjunct faculty member for the SCCJ, and three SCCJ faculty members. These faculty members conduct research and teach our policing courses. One of the faculty members is also a member of a volunteer police force in Indian River County. This proposal seeks technology, training, and equipment that will enhance the police simulation lab. The SCCJ is positioned to conduct research and deliver instruction that will provide a unique opportunity for students and the broader LEO community. Our plan includes developing a full-semester and/or intercession course that will incorporate the police simulation lab. This will help students understand the tensions and difficult decisions police officers make in the moment of an interaction. A particularly valuable feature is that the training library also include de-escalation scenarios, the simulator can be applicable to students in social work, psychology, and other disciplines. The SCCJ and FAU PD have already invested and committed resources to this advanced training and research tool. These funds will enhance the capacity and opportunities for our students, faculty, the FAU PD, and local law enforcement agencies.

Facilities

No. In order to install the Police Simulator equipment, facilities renovations were already completed and absorbed by the FAU Police department and/or the SCCJ.

Hardware Requirements

One-time hardware cost of $8,911 for the following: Equipment to be purchased from Ti-Training for use with the Police Simulator: Flashlight--1 ($250) VRG BLUE Training (replica) Gun with Laser--2 ($425) **This is not a real weapon** Stand alone vibration vest--1 ($2,500) Equipment to be purchased from Apple for biometrics research with students: Apple Watches with AppleCare plans ($5,736 total) 12 Apple Series 6 GPS Watches ($4,788) + 12 AppleCare plans ($948)

Software Requirements

N/A

Personnel Costs

N/A

Other Costs

Two-day training on-site (at FAU) with certified trainer from Ti-Training for 6-8 people.

Timeline

The training will take place in the spring or summer of 2021 with course development to follow. The course, or courses, would be offered in calendar year 2022. Research grant opportunities will be responded to as they are released and appropriate (see Sustainability section for additional information).

Sustainability

The Department (SCCJ) and the FAU PD will maintain the police simulator lab. In addition, there are numerous grant funding opportunities to use this type of simulator. For example, the National Science Foundation awarded a project through the Division of Social and Economic Sciences, titled, Understanding Race Bias in the Decision to Shoot with an Integrated Model of Decision Making for $620,000. This type of grant funded research project would include collaborations with our local law enforcement agencies, provide research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, and could be incorporated into experiential learning opportunities. We anticipate a life span of several years for the police simulator software.

Resource Matching

In order to install the Police Simulator equipment, facilities renovations were already completed and absorbed by the FAU Police department and/or the SCCJ. In this way, resource matching could be characterized as being provided as seed funding.

Implementing Organization

The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice in conjunction with the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice and the FAU Police Department will implement the project.