Town Manager's Office Participates in MILO Police Training

Exeter, NH - November 27th, 2023: Police officers must make split-second decisions, often during challenging situations that threaten themselves and the safety of others. It’s a tough part of the job that may be hard for those outside of law enforcement to fully understand, but some of our local officials recently had the chance to experience first-hand what it’s like when officers encounter these difficult calls.

Members of the Select Board, along with Town Manager Russ Dean and Assistant Town Manager and HR Director Melissa Roy, were invited to participate in an interactive simulation training exercise using the Police Department’s MILO system.

The department acquired this invaluable use-of-force and tactical judgment training system a few years ago to provide its officers an enhanced level of training with real-life scenarios that few agencies outside of the New Hampshire Police Academy have in house.

The MILO system allows officers to stand in front of a large screen and interact with real people who appear in hundreds of realistic training scenarios. It includes a hit-detection camera system, a training pistol, a Taser and an OC spray device for less-lethal options.

During the simulation, a training officer uses a laptop to make the people on the screen interact with the trainees, who use verbal commands and whose actions can either escalate or de-escalate the situation depending on their level of training. Some of the scenarios include incidents involving people suffering from mental health issues, intoxicated or disorderly individuals, resistant or violent subjects, domestic disturbance calls, traffic stops, and active shooter situations.

The Police Department offers MILO training to its officers each quarter, but it can also provide additional opportunities throughout the year, including for remedial training.

Because of space constraints at the public safety complex, the MILO training must be performed at a Public Works Department facility on Newfields Road.

Those who participated in the training described it as a unique experience that allowed them to step into the role of an officer to gain a better understanding of the job.

“It was an incredible experience to participate in the training and walk through real-life scenarios. It was truly eye-opening and made me appreciative of what the officers may face on any given day. I am incredibly proud of our department. It was inspiring to see how passionate they are,” Select Board Chair Niko Papakonstantis said.

Town Manager Russ Dean shared a similar experience.

“The real-life simulations made me cognizant once again of what our officers go through on a daily basis in their interactions. The level of training involved in being an Exeter Police Officer is exceptional. In the simulator, I was able to experience what an officer experiences close up, which is staggering. The post-simulation breakdown by the officers was incredibly valuable and showed just how well equipped our officers are to handle various incidents. We’re lucky to have such a well-trained Department with exceptional officers,” he said.

The training also gave Assistant Town Manager and HR Director Melissa Roy a rare opportunity to walk in the shoes of an officer.

“This experience was incredibly eye-opening. Seeing a fraction of what our officers go through for training helped me comprehend some of the factors an officer must consider when responding to a call for help. Hearing the training officers speak passionately about responding with care and caution made me thankful for what our department values when they help our residents. The excellent technology provided a real-life feel to some very challenging situations. It was a day I will not forget,” Roy said.

The Police Department would like to thank those who took part in the MILO training and we look forward to offering more opportunities for members of our community to experience this critical training tool.