The Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC) at New Mexico Tech is expanding its innovative training capabilities by bringing its Initial Law Enforcement Response to Suicide Bombing Attacks (ILERSBA) course to the New York Police Department (NYPD), integrating virtual reality (VR) tools for the first time in a mobile delivery format.
For several years, EMRTC has delivered its ILERSBA mobile course directly to NYPD personnel, while also hosting NYPD first responders at its residential course in Socorro, New Mexico. The residential version provides participants with a full day of immersive exercises at the ViPER Center, where they engage in realistic role-play scenarios designed to reinforce in-class learning and build critical decision-making skills under pressure. Learn more about the ViPER Center here.
Now, with the NYPD’s recent acquisition of its own VR system, the department has requested EMRTC to deliver the ILERSBA course on-site in New York City. This month EMRTC will pilot integrating VR technology into the mobile version of the ILERSBA course. EMRTC will continue to supply the instructors, course content, and simulation scenarios while incorporating NYPD’s VR tools into the training experience.
While the explosives laboratory portion of the course—typically conducted in the field during the residential session—will be held in a classroom setting, the use of VR will allow participants to virtually identify explosive and suicide bombing devices in realistic environments and implement response strategies to mitigate threats. This integration ensures that trainees continue to receive a high level of experiential learning, despite the shift in format.
If the pilot version proves successful, EMRTC plans to expand this VR-enhanced ILERSBA training to other major municipal agencies who have also invested in their own VR training infrastructure. This initiative represents a major step forward in using advanced technology to improve public safety training nationwide.