An interactive crime simulation system named ‘MILO’ has quickly become a welcome addition to the training programs for Danville and other local and area police. MILO teaches the officers how to respond effectively and humanely in emotionally charged situations. The system also provides Danville Area Community College’s Criminal Justice students with a real-life experience in policing.
‘MILO’ presents more than 900 scenarios for situations that police officers may encounter on the job. By virtue of artificial intelligence technology, the scenarios may have several different outcomes based on how officers react to the scenario.
‘’Each scenario can go five or six different ways, depending on how the officer communicates with people on the screen and the action the officer takes,’’ said Danville Police Chief Chris Yates (shown in photo). ‘’The computer changes the response of the role player, leading to either positive or negative consequences.’’
‘MILO’ is temporarily housed at the Public Safety Building in Danville. In addition to being used for training Danville Police and Vermilion County Sheriff’s Deputies the system will be used by DACC for its Criminal Justice Program. Professor Rickey Williams Senior says he thinks MILO will help attract students to the Criminal Justice training which is offered at the College.
Williams adds the system can be as realistic as needed. ‘’For example, they can produce scenarios that involve situations on the DACC campus in authentic DACC buildings and classrooms.’’
