This technology would use virtual reality technology to mimic every aspect of today’s police academy from the comfort of one’s home
This article is based on research conducted as a part of the CA POST Command College. It is a futures study of a particular emerging issue of relevance to law enforcement. Its purpose is not to predict the future; rather, to project a variety of possible scenarios useful for planning and action in anticipation of the emerging landscape facing policing organizations.
The article was created using the futures forecasting process of Command College and its outcomes. Managing the future means influencing it — creating, constraining and adapting to emerging trends and events in a way that optimizes the opportunities and minimizes the threats of relevance to the profession.
Explore this article to uncover insights on these issues:
- How transitioning police academy training to the metaverse can address recruitment and staffing challenges.
- The role of virtual reality technology in creating immersive, interactive training environments for law enforcement.
- The potential benefits of metaverse-based training, such as reduced training-related injuries and travel requirements.
- Challenges in integrating wearable technology, ensuring security, and meeting POST standards in the digital police academy.
- The importance of funding, collaboration, and overcoming generational differences for the successful implementation of metaverse training.
By Captain James T. Laughter
Imagine an immersive three-dimensional virtual world specifically tailored to host a basic police academy — an intensive six-month training program offered exclusively to law enforcement recruits within the metaverse. This training would use virtual reality technology to mimic every aspect of today’s police academy from the comfort of one’s home. Most important, a successful transition of the basic police academy into the metaverse may increase police officer recruitment nationwide.
Is law enforcement ready for this drastic change? There is much to be researched and considered, but it’s only a matter of time.
A solution to staffing woes
Law enforcement agencies throughout the nation are facing unprecedented staffing challenges. The public perception shift caused by the George Floyd civil unrest, law enforcement incidents in multiple states and the “defund the police” movement have collectively driven police officer recruitment levels to an all-time low. [1] For example, between 2021 and 2022, California law enforcement experienced a 4.5% decrease in sworn police officer positions. During this same time frame, the number of patrol officers per 100,000 residents in the state reached its lowest point since 1991. [2]
Many law enforcement agencies have resorted to offering signing bonuses to lure qualified applicants. [3] However, a dangerously high number of police officer vacancies remain unfilled due to a lack of interest and applicant qualifications. This staffing shortage has led to burnout among officers, who are often required to work overtime, further exacerbating the problem. Police officers who experience burnout show symptoms of exhaustion, decreased productivity, job dissatisfaction and cynicism. [4] This can diminish their decision-making abilities, which ultimately hurts the officer and organization.
In light of these recruitment challenges, it is crucial to explore alternative measures to attract applicants to this noble profession. Traditional incentives like signing bonuses or assigned patrol vehicle programs are beyond the financial reach of many agencies. However, the future of law enforcement recruiting may lie in leveraging advanced technology to garner the interest of future applicants.
The incoming workforce are digital natives who prioritize a work-life balance and believe one should work smarter and not harder. [5] Law enforcement agencies are continuously evaluating and implementing modernized technology to improve officer efficiency. However, to attract a greater number of young applicants into law enforcement, modernizing the police academy format within the digital realm may help. Gen Z applicants will see a training regimen presented in ways to which they are accustomed: with online, virtual, cyber and blended approaches that focus on the learner and not on an endless series of slides to read during lectures.
Can the traditional classroom format of the police academy transition to the metaverse? Imagine a police academy class that is 100% digital. It would allow recruits to participate from home or other offsite locations while their avatar represents them in classroom functions. If the basic police academy can successfully transition into the metaverse, this will have positive implications for all future law enforcement training.
The metaverse continues to mature
The metaverse is a shared, immersive 3D virtual space where individuals experience digital life in ways they could not in the physical world. [6] The metaverse is viewed as the next evolution in social connection and the successor to the mobile internet. It will connect work, education, shopping, entertainment, social networking and travel. Companies like Google, Microsoft and Apple are committed to developing the metaverse and enhancing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology to advance the digital transformation from physical reality to virtual.
The gaming industry has experienced great success in the metaverse. Companies such as Whimsy Games, MyMetaverse, Terasol Technologies and Wipro offer digital gaming platforms that connect users via VR and AR technologies. These companies are focused on metaverse game development and enhancing wearable technologies so users can experience a positive virtual lifestyle. [7] Although police academy training is different from gaming, the digital platforms and wearable technology of the gaming world offer insight into how law enforcement can leverage such assets.
It’s not just the gaming industry that’s working on new uses for the metaverse. Metaverse platforms and applications are seeing a number of large tech companies investing millions of dollars into infrastructure and wearable technologies. [8] A fully developed metaverse will digitally link individuals through a vast network of 3D worlds. [6] A police academy within the metaverse would require wearable technology to allow users to communicate with classmates and instructors, and for ways to physically partake in all aspects of the training course. Although wearable technology exists today, there must be significant improvements to it for police recruits to receive the full police academy experience in virtual environments.
Generational challenges
Generational differences are experienced in all aspects of our government, economy and everyday life. Law enforcement is no different. Today the ranks of law enforcement are filled with Baby Boomers and Generation Y. Interestingly, research shows that not just the 20-somethings want more tech; all generations in law enforcement have technological experience and would be open to using the metaverse. Initially, older generations (Baby Boomers and Generation X) were expected to be reluctant to participate in the metaverse, but this proved to be inaccurate.
Metaverse maturity, or its developmental growth, is key. [9] Experts predict a fully functional immersive 3D world is years away from fruition. Implications to future policing lie not in the generational differences but in how the metaverse is used based on academy or in-service training needs.
Addressing the challenges
Transitioning the basic police academy fully into the metaverse brings many challenges. Among the most critical are how to leverage wearable technology advances; security to ensure the digital platform is protected; acceptance and participation by each state’s law enforcement governing body; practical skills training that will ensure POST compliance; and identifying a source(s) of funding for the creation and operation of the digital police academy world.
Wearables and security
We must understand the type of wearable technology required for police recruits to wear and use during sessions in the metaverse. [10] From Oculus headware to heart monitoring devices, wearable technology is a must. Companies are creating new wearable technology that will give the user a more immersive and realistic experience in the digital world. VR headsets, motion sensor body suits, wristbands, smartwatches and EKG monitoring devices are progressing in development.
Cybersecurity is vital to ensure the protection of vast amounts of personal information and the digital infrastructure itself. The metaverse will be prone to hacking, phishing and malware attacks. These types of attacks can harm individual users and destroy digital assets.
Peace officer standards and training
The course curriculum for the basic police academy in the metaverse must meet POST standards for the state or jurisdiction hosting the academy. Collaborating with IADLEST (the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training) or state POST bodies to transition the police academy into the metaverse is crucial to modernizing training. Creating an immersive, realistic training environment that enhances learning outcomes through virtual simulations within a safe digital environment benefits the user and police organization.
Funding: Creation and operation
Developing a metaverse-based police academy will require a substantial investment. Funding must be secured for the initial creation of the virtual world, including development of the 3D environment, procurement of wearable technology and integration of the POST-approved curriculum into a digital format. Operational costs must be considered. These include ongoing maintenance of the virtual environment, updates to the curriculum and technical and physical support for recruits and instructors. There may be an opportunity for law enforcement to partner with companies that are creating their own versions of the metaverse. This partnership may offset costs to build the police academy digital world and open an opportunity to test the viability of hosting training courses in the metaverse.
Who will oversee the police academy in the metaverse? Will there be multiple police academy worlds owned and operated by individual departments? Or will there be one metaverse police academy modified and adapted at the state or jurisdictional level for use by all? These questions will need to be answered, but it’s early enough to ask them to help shape the future.
Practical skills training
The practical skills training process of a police academy in the metaverse can be revolutionized by providing an immersive and interactive digital environment where trainees can engage in realistic scenarios without risk of physical injury. Using advanced virtual reality technology, trainees will experience high-pressure situations such as active shooter events, vehicle pursuits and traffic stops.
Advanced wearable technology will allow instructors to monitor trainees’ progress and provide performance feedback in real time. Advanced technology will closely monitor trainees in ways a traditional in-person police academy cannot. Wearable technology can help identify areas of improvement (physical and academic) and tailor training to address individual needs, resulting in a more personalized and effective learning experience.
Conclusion
Transitioning the police academy into the metaverse provides an innovative solution that will revolutionize future law enforcement training and may assist with recruitment efforts. While several key challenges must be addressed, the opportunity to transition law enforcement training into the metaverse is incredible. Police agencies will experience a decrease in training-related injuries, a decrease in training-related overtime and a workforce that can attend training from the comforts of their own home versus traveling a great distance.
References
1. Young R, Sayers DM. Why police forces are struggling to recruit and keep officers. CNN. February 2023.
2. Public Policy Institute of California. Law enforcement staffing in California. January 2024.
3. Smith M. As applications fall, police departments lure recruits with bonuses and attention. New York Times. December 2022.
4. Police Health. Excessive fatigue and burnout, dubbed the ‘silent killer’ of the policing career.
5. O’Connell G. This new law enforcement technology may help attract new recruits. Brother Mobile Solutions. 2023.
6. Ball M. The Metaverse and how it will revolutionize everything. Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2022.
7. Kluich D. Top metaverse game development companies in 2024. Whimsy Games. July 2024.
8. Tucci L, Moore J. What is the metaverse? An explanation and in-depth guide. TechTarget. June 2023.
9. Dragomir S. What to look for as the metaverse matures. Architecture & Governance. June 2022.
10. Zhang X, et a. The metaverse in education: definition, framework, features, potential applications, challenges, and future research topics. Frontiers in Psychology. October 2022.
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