Mercyhurst Police Academy awarded $66,500 for virtual reality training

Mercyhurst University’s Municipal Police Training Academy has been awarded $66,500 for new virtual reality equipment that will enhance police training involving de-escalation, crisis intervention, communication, and decision-making.

The funding was awarded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to the Erie County Redevelopment Authority on behalf of the Mercyhurst University Municipal Police Training Academy. The grant will support the purchase and installation of virtual reality simulation equipment, including headsets, controllers, and software licenses, as well as instructor training. The award was announced Sept. 15 by state Reps. Pat Harkins and Bob Merski as part of approximately $1.68 million in funding for Erie County projects.

“We appreciate Representative Merski’s support and his recognition of the important role the Police Academy serves in Northwest Pennsylvania,” said Mercyhurst University President David Livingston. “This investment will help us provide our cadets and area law enforcement officers with additional training opportunities using current technology.”

The virtual reality system will allow instructors to place officers and cadets into controlled scenarios that require them to assess changing circumstances, communicate with those involved, and make decisions in real time. Instructors can then review participants’ responses as part of the training process.

“This gives us another way to create situations that officers may encounter on the street, but that can be difficult to reproduce during traditional training,” said Bill Hale, director of the Mercyhurst University Municipal Police Training Academy. “The real value comes from putting someone into that situation, seeing how they respond, and then being able to review those decisions afterward.”

The Mercyhurst University Municipal Police Training Academy provides basic and continuing police training for law enforcement agencies throughout Northwest Pennsylvania and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027.

“Mercyhurst has had a strong relationship with the law enforcement community for nearly 50 years,” Livingston said. “This grant helps us continue that work and prepare for the future.”