MANSFIELD, PA.(WENY)-- Mansfield University's Municipal Police Academy is taking leaps into the future by integrating virtual reality training in their courses. The academy jumped on the virtual reality training idea in 2018 and received their official training system in 2019. This training allows the cadets to take what they have learned in the classroom and put it into a "field" like setting before they actually are allowed to leave the building. 

"Some of the recruits that have no prior knowledge on how to handle or certainly fire them, I can take you into that system. There are two ranges, an indoor and an outdoor range," says Scott Henry, Director of Mansfield University Public Training Institute. "We can go through all of the proper mechanics of teaching that recruit how to properly handle, side alignment, trigger pull, all of this before they actually step out onto a live range." 

Along with training all of the cadets how to use their weapons and assess numerous situations, the academy is also using the VR system prepare for very real scenarios. 

"We are moving forward with moving forward with our attempts to provide a comprehensive plan when it comes to our active assailant training, weather it's law enforcement, EMS, or fire, or educators, whatever or church's. There's a place in VR." 

Henry tells WENY News he has high hopes for the future of VR in academy training and is excited to see it integrate further in other academies. 

"To pass on the knowledge that we've obtained over the years, but to take that in conjunction with this new technology, and again, that's exciting." 

For more information on the academy and when their next classes begin, you can click here.