New public safety training facility opens in Jersey City

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (PIX11) — Police and the public want to see tense situations “de-escalated” but that’s not always an easy task.

A new training facility in Jersey City will put officers to the test.

Situations are on screens with speakers and computers. But it’s as real as a simulation can be.

The simulator uses the latest technology to create live scenes that can be changed based on the interactions between officers and people as they happen.

Planning for the new facility started during the pandemic.

Jersey City Deputy Chief Ben Dailey sets the scene. “We can use our actors’ own landscapes and things we see from a Jersey City standpoint,” the deputy chief said.

Classrooms and labs are on location with the latest upgrades. The shooting range uses targets that can rotate to reveal weapons or different items. It sharpens an officer’s split-second decision making says Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea.

“Of the more than 267,000 calls for service our police officers responded to last year, one-tenth involved any kind of use of force.  While we won’t rest until that number is zero, our efforts to address de-escalation and crime over the past decade are clearly working as crime reaches historic lows.  In fact, we are on track to beat last year’s lowest homicide rate in Jersey City history,” said James Shea, Director of the Department of Public Safety.

Jersey City Police also have a force investigations unit that reviews actual interactions with officers.

Jersey City revised its use-of-force guidelines to expand de-escalation training requirements in 2020.

Mayor Steven Fulop says the focus is community-driven structural changes.

“Our strategic public safety approaches have led to historic decreases in crime over several consecutive years while significantly expanding police/community relations to further build upon de-escalation efforts,” said Mayor Fulop.

The facility includes:

• 360-degree Training Simulator – Fully immerses law enforcement officers in real-world scenarios using real-time simulations based on the participants’ reactions.
• Tactical Training Room – Multipurpose modular sets for tactical training, such as a car stop or clearing a classroom.
• 2 Firearm Qualification Ranges – Moving targets train law enforcement to make quick decisions when every second counts.
• 5 Classrooms – Allows for a range of training programs ranging from rendering first aid to adhering to state mandates.

Other agencies, including police and fire agencies, in New Jersey will be able to train at the new facility. Community partners and residents will be invited to visit and participate in activities at the site.

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