The Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation’s new state-of-the art firearms training simulator, PRISim Portable Trainer Pro, provides realistic use-of-force training for law enforcement departments throughout the state. The already-popular system, free for member counties and Community Insurance Corporation member municipalities, develops the skills required for law enforcement in high-risk environments.

 

The interactive video system involves real people in real-life situations, such as traffic stops and courtroom backups. There is an extensive library in the system of professionally produced scenarios to enhance training goals. The system has a capture feature which records both audio and video participant reactions to make the most of training debriefing.

 

Participants in the training are given their choice of a rifle or handgun, which simulate firearm recoil and cycle of operation, including reloads, jams and malfunctions. While situations play out on the large screen, the officers must make quick assessments and decisions on how to act. The actors on the video may pull a weapon and the training participants may fire back.

 

Once the scenario is over, the training officer or other qualified person running the system has the ability to replay the scene, showing where hits were made, what the officers may have missed and discuss what occurred.

 

To help a county or municipality provide the optimum learning environment through effective debriefing, the County Mutual will be providing additional debriefing training services via a video free to training officers. The debriefing video will feature Peter Pfau, a law enforcement training partner to the County Mutual and expert in firearms safety training. He is with the City of Milwaukee Police Department and is a full-time instructor with the Training Division-Firearms Section.

 

“This type of training is extremely effective when utilized with proper debriefing,” said Peter. “These types of debriefings will facilitate excellent discussions on current officer safety, training and legal issues. It allows the student to understand and articulate their perceptions during use of force encounters.” 

Once a county or municipality completes training on PRISim, the additional video featuring Peter will provide an in-depth analysis and facilitate discussion with training officers on how they can interact with participants to discover their perceptions of situations and how instructors can glean information from participants. His services essentially “train-the-trainer” so law enforcement using the PRISim system are getting the most out of their experience.

 

“The use of simulator training allows for a wide variety of effective training objectives to be achieved. These goals range from the use of professional communication to deadly force,” said Peter. “Simulator training offers realism and allows the students to interact in a variety of use of force encounters in a safe environment. This has reduced student injuries that have occurred in other methods of use of force training.”   

 

In addition to the interactive video, the PRISim system also has a patented “Shootback Cannon” which simulates return fire and increases the realism of the training environment. The optional-use cannon fires a .68 caliber nylon ball and provides a realistic reminder of the importance of cover and concealment for law enforcement.

 

“This firearms training simulator has so many benefits. Those using the system are able to fine tune their skills right within their department. They don’t need to travel to a training school to do it,” said Bruce Scott of Custom Confidential, a law enforcement training partner of the County Mutual who is responsible for the system “You can choose from many different scenarios and it helps with decision making abilities and verbalization skills, as two people can participate at one time.”

 

The firearm training simulator is already scheduling out through the end of 2009. The system typically stays in a location from two-to-four weeks, depending on the size of the department. The County Mutual also encourages the county or municipality to train with other law enforcement in their area of which they invoke mutual aid.

 

The system is set up by Bruce Scott and the County Mutual. He provides training on the system on site to the law enforcement’s training officer or individual who handles training. To have the system come to your county or municipality, please contact Bruce Scott at 414.491.1656.