Highland Community College will unveil a new educational grade use of force simulation training system on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 3:15 p.m. in the Marvin-Burt Liberal Arts Center, Building M, Room M-120 at Highland Community College, 2998 W. Pearl City Rd., Freeport, Ill.
The use of force simulator is a training system to help students achieve skills necessary to work in the field, which is a priority of the Criminal Justice program at Highland. This equipment also serves as a promotional and recruitment tool and supports field training opportunities for community law enforcement agencies.
Jennifer Roser, a Criminal Justice instructor, said the Use of Force simulator enhances the program and creates more hands-on learning opportunities for the students. Criminal justice instructors will utilize the simulator within their courses to gain the ability to have the equipment to enhance the program, and create more hands-on learning opportunities for the students.
“The equipment enhances education in ethics, law, law enforcement, along with developing communication and critical thinking skills,” Roser said. “Students have just started utilizing the equipment this semester and are practicing verbal communication and critical thinking skills. Students are learning how quickly situations can escalate and potentially become dangerous while working in various capacities in this field. As a class, we evaluate the scenarios and discuss if situations can be handled differently.”
The Highland Criminal Justice program prepares students for rewarding careers with local, county, state, or federal law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions, courtrooms, and other criminal justice agencies. The Criminal Justice field is service-oriented, and it is the program’s responsibility to assure that qualified students receive proper education and readiness for the field.
The simulator was funded through a Highland Community College Foundation gift.