Four Bucks County Police Departments — Central Bucks, Buckingham, Doylestown, and Plumstead — will use virtual reality training to diffuse potentially confrontational situations.

Funding for the initiative comes from a $150,000 federal government grant aimed at de-escalation measures. The resource is part of a $13 million nationwide investment from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Community Policing Development grant program.

Nationwide efforts toward police de-escalation have gained prominence in the aftermath of the high-profile George Floyd case.

The program seeks to reduce the intensity of police encounters with the public during intense situations. These include interactions with individuals who may be mentally or emotionally impaired or under the influence of alcohol or other narcotics.

The two-year grant will fund new virtual/augmented reality equipment, officer overtime, a train-the-trainer program, and monthly continuous instruction of all officers throughout the collaboration.

Four officers “trainers” will be selected, one from each department, to assist in building and delivering the new program.

The virtual reality gear is expected to be in use next year.

More on this specialized training is at the Central Bucks Regional Police Department