Local Police Force Uses High Tech Tool For Training

By Cleve Bryan

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, N.J., (CBS) -- Almost a year into partnering with the U.S. Marshals Service about a third of the Camden County Police force has received high-intensity virtual reality training for active shooter situations.

The VirTra simulation system housed in Lawrence Township puts officers in an octagon of screens with a host of unexpected variables.

They are graded for how effectively they use verbal commands, where they position themselves in respect to threats and how they use deadly force when necessary.

It's all happening in real time with real guns, minus the ammunition and if you get shot you get an electric shock.

"Innocent lives are number one, then the officer's life number 2 and the suspect's life number 3," explains training officer Sgt. John Martinez.

Camden County is one of the few local police departments that get to use the state of the art VirTra system.

The U.S. Marshals Service shares their $300,000 system with officers at every level of law enforcement, because it's the only one within a five state distance.

"A lot of these scenarios we've never been through before. It's very eye-opening, it's stressful, it gets your heart racing and it really helps you think under pressure," says Camden patrolman Andrew Fegley.