Donation Helps Palm Springs Police Get New Training Simulator

Thanks to a generous donation by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Palm Springs Police Department is getting state of art training.

The department received a $25,000 donation from the tribe to buy a new firearms training simulator called ‘Lasershot,’ which the department says will be better prepare their officers for critical real-life situations.

“You know this is a community that we all live in and if the police department or fire department (they) face these cuts, it adversely affects us,” said Jeff Grubbe, Chairman of the Agua Caliente Tribe.

The simulator uses interactive, high definition video scenarios in order to enhance a police officer’s judgment skills. It has a number of potential plots that can unfold during a practice such as a domestic disturbance, a traffic stop that turns violent, and even an active shooter on a school campus.
Whatever the scenario may be, the police officer is challenged to analyze the situation and act accordingly.

“This technology is going to train officers in how to de-escalate situations. How to deal with dangerous situations and when and when not to use force,” said Palm Springs Councilman Paul Lewis.

The police department says the practices are done under the careful watch and tutoring skills of the department’s Rangemaster, Chuck Menley.

“It helps us develop some of the critical thinking skills that officers need to have and they need to be able to react appropriately when they’re under a lot of stress, which you know gunfights tend to be very stressful events,” said Menley.

Agua Caliente Tribe Chairman Jeff Grubbe got to be one of the first to try out the simulator. He says he got to see first hand how quickly a situation can get out of control. It also served as a reminder that everyday police officer put their lives on the line.

“Looks like real-life situations and people are waving guns and threatening you, its something that they have to deal with. They may not deal with it on a daily basis, but they do have to deal with similar situations and we just appreciate it very much,” said Grubbe.

Officers will start training with the new equipment in October.