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COLUMBUS, Ga. — The Columbus Police Department will soon have access to one of the most robust digital training systems in the nation, thanks to an approved purchase during the city council meeting held on August 8.
The platform, known as Virtual Academy Training, delivers more than 270 hours of state-of-the-art content through scenario-based training modules.
Those modules cover a wide variety of topics ranging from roll call training, to public assemblies, to officer resilience and mental health.
The platform also includes specialized training for Field Training Officers (FTOs), which are experienced senior members of the department responsible for the training and evaluation of junior officers.
The new platform sets the department up for success by enabling officers to complete classroom-type instruction on their own time, which in turn allows instructors to dedicate more time to the hands-on portions of training.
The platform is also accredited by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST), which sets training and certification standards. As an industry-standard software solution, Virtual Academy also provides direct reporting access to the GA POST Data Gateway for all training completed by certified Georgia officers.
Interim Chief Stoney Mathis had the following to say about the platform and its importance to the department:
“It's actually a very good program. Officers can take classes online on their own time — and what it's going to do is it’s going to eliminate a lot of the very minutiae classes they have to have every year to keep their certification, and that way our Training Division can focus on the ‘high speed low drag’ training that they need with firearms and some use of force and defensive tactics and stuff like that. They even have Field Training Officer programs, so our FTOs can get specialized training through this Virtual Academy. This is a private company, but they've teamed up with Georgia POST, and it'll all count for their POST certification.”
You can watch Interim Chief Mathis speak about the Virtual Academy Training platform through the YouTube video of the August 8 city council meeting, starting at the 2:25:37-mark of the video.
The platform’s entire cost was $88,000.00, which is to be paid over five years in accordance with the following payment schedule:
Funding for the first 2 years will be provided from the AmericanRescue Plan Fiscal Recovery Fund – Federal ARP – Federal Public Health & Safety H&W– Mental Health Intervention Training/Services; 0218 – 691 – 1000 – ARPS – 40305-20230.
Funding for Years 3 - 5 will be budgeted in the city’s OLOST - Public Safety in the appropriate fiscal years.
Facts are stubborn things — and we’ll keep publishing them, whether city officials like them or not.
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There has never been a better time to be a Columbus Police Officer! The Columbus Police Department is a state and nationally accredited law enforcement agency dedicated to protecting and serving the citizens of Columbus, Georgia. Become part of a highly trained law enforcement team focused on building and maintaining strong community partnerships that improve the safety and quality of life for every citizen. Join today and protect the promise of a better tomorrow. ProtectColumbus.ColumbusGa.gov
