The Sumner County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) has enhanced its capabilities with new equipment and advanced technology, financed by a state grant, to better prepare deputies in addressing violent crime.
A significant funding boost of $226,000 from the $100 million Violent Crime Intervention Fund Grant Program, sanctioned by Gov. Bill Lee and the General Assembly in their last session, has enabled the SCSO to acquire essential tools for combating violent crime.
This financial injection was utilized by the SCSO for the procurement of advanced ballistic shields, specialized training for two detectives at the National Forensic Academy, and the implementation of state-of-the-art virtual reality shooting training technology.
News 2 was granted exclusive access by the law enforcement agency to witness the cutting-edge virtual reality technology on Wednesday.
During the demonstration, News 2’s Tori Gessner experienced the virtual reality system firsthand, initially honing her shooting skills on a digital gun range, followed by immersive participation in a school shooting drill and a domestic altercation scenario at a residence.
“You can build scenarios that are limitless,” Chief Deputy Eric Craddock explained. “You’re only confined by your imagination. You can literally start someone out in a jail, you can start them out in a supermarket, you can start them out in a school; you can start them out on a shooting range.”
The versatile nature of this technology permits an operator to manipulate virtually every element of the training scenario, ensuring a unique experience each time. The sheriff’s office plans to extend the use of this virtual reality system to include exercises in de-escalation and traffic stop procedures, among other training applications.
“Static training where you go out on a firing line and stand and someone says, ‘That guy has got a gun. How are you going to respond?’ Well, it’s pretty easy,” Craddock said. “When you really put someone in a situation where they’re talking to somebody and it’s totally autonomous, you can increase the suspect or the subject you’re talking to if the deputy isn’t applying the right training tools. You can also decrease if he is applying the right training tools, so it’s really value-added training immediately.”
Alongside the adoption of virtual reality technology, the SCSO has effectively utilized the grant funding to facilitate advanced training for two detectives at the National Forensic Academy. This training focuses on enhancing their skills in crime scene processing and investigation. Additionally, the SCSO has invested in providing ballistic shields to every certified deputy.
“These are really just a protection device for our deputies because unfortunately, they have to insert themselves in dangerous situations. The governor’s grant has really allowed us to give our deputies the best protection we can give them to ensure when they go into these situations they come out safe,” Craddock said. “Law enforcement in Sumner County has really come a long way in the past 10 years, and I’m excited to see just how far we go in the next 10.”
In his statement, Craddock expressed gratitude towards Governor Bill Lee, Sen. Ferrell Haile, House Leader William Lamberth, Rep. Johnny Garrett, and Rep. William Slater for their pivotal roles in securing the funds for the Violent Crime Intervention Fund Grant Program.
