On January 31st, 2025, the State Office of Grants and Research announced over $2 million in grants have been awarded to local police departments, state agencies, and a partner research organization to prevent gun violence, including a $109,314 grant awarded to the Lowell Police Department. The Lowell Police Department is one of 13 police departments to receive an award as part of the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program for Municipal Law Enforcement. The grant will be instrumental in training Lowell police officers in de-escalation and how to best act in various challenging scenarios, ultimately improving safety enforcement in Lowell.
The Lowell Police Department will use the awarded funds to lease a virtual reality simulator to be used during de-escalation and use-of-force training. Within the simulator, officers will face various scenarios in a secure environment, such as responding to an active shooter, policing individuals with autism, or managing a mental health crisis. This training will utilize the use of force continuum, which includes a series of actions an officer can take based on the actions of the subject. The virtual reality simulator will allow officers to learn through practice the best ways to face difficult scenarios.
“I was pleased to see that the Lowell Police Department was one of 13 Massachusetts Police Departments to receive a grant as part of the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program for Municipal Law Enforcement,” said State Senator Ed Kennedy. “This funding is an important investment in the safety and well-being of the community by providing additional resources to prevent gun violence.”