Inside the new, high-tech facility used to train two dozen law enforcement agencies in the north metro
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. -- WCCO is getting the first look inside a new state-of-the-art regional training facility in Maple Grove. The police chief says it will allow law enforcement to more effectively prepare for the demands of the job.
The $17 million facility is a partnership between several agencies that will train there. The goal is for safer interactions with the communities they serve.
The North Metro Regional Training Facility nearly tripled in size. Beyond the bigger space, it's the capabilities inside that Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner says makes the impact.
"We think it's gonna be as cutting-edge technology as possible that the industry can have," Werner said.
There's designated classroom space to learn concepts, places to practice crisis intervention and de-escalation, a shooting range, scenario and reality-based training, VR and a mat room. It's all under one roof.
MORE NEWS: Cost of gunfire: Nonprofit gives long-term support for families of homicide victims
"Really just showing the need of - what does the policing profession need to do training in a 21st-century environment," Werner said.
During a walk through the new space, Werner explained each part of training builds on the next and how it will help in real situations.
"I think the more practice and the higher level of pressure that we can put in a simulated environment, our officers are gonna be more comfortable when they're out on the street," Werner said.
That includes a 300-degree screen called VirTra, which is more advanced than the one-dimensional flat screen previously used to train.
"I'm in the scenario and I have an instructor that can adjust the scenario based on what I'm doing as the officer that's responding to the environment," Werner said.
When a situation demands it, they can head to the mat room next door.
"So I may have someone on the screen that's resisting and I can come in here and translate that right to here and feel what it's like to have someone actually tugging away at us," Werner said.
Longtime state trooper trainer Al Freng runs the day-to-day operation.
"My job is to try and say yes to people that want to train," Freng said.
He says this facility gives officers a safe place to try to resolve a situation, with access to trainers who can ask why they did what they did.
"It builds this catalog of things they can use on the streets. And I think if you give them a safe place to try things and then they can judge their own abilities and then they gain confidence, and confidence is going to reduce injuries for the public and the officers," Freng said.
Why does that matter? He says it could change the interaction you have with an officer.
"You get a chance to make a mistake and then that hopefully keeps you from making a mistake on the street," Freng said.
Werner says about two dozen agencies from police, sheriff's departments to federal partners will use the facility. He hopes what happens at the facility translates into safer interactions with the communities they serve.
"I also think there's going to be a translation of confidence and trust in our police agencies," Werner said.
Departments have already started training. Next week they'll open the door to stakeholders to show off the finished facility with a ribbon cutting.
