SANFORD, Fla. — After cars drove through a Christmas village in Germany late last year and into New Year's celebrations in New Orleans this year, some Central Florida law enforcement agencies are pursuing a type of training called "Street Terrorism Scenarios."

To help meet those strategies, Decision Tactical in Sanford now operates what used to be the movie theatre at Seminole Towne Center. Old theaters have been converted into immersive simulator rooms, presenting different possible scenarios.

What You Need To Know

  • Sanford Police and the Orange County Sheriff's Office have gone through street terrorism scenario training at Decision Tactical

  • Decision Tactical offers active, immersive simulators that evolve as decisions are made

  • The training helps sharpen law enforcement's skills, offering situations from different, changing angles

  • Decision Tactical is in the former movie theater at the Seminole Towne Center in Sanford

One of the newest scenarios at Decision Tactical begins with a participant from law enforcement sitting in a diner. The diner also has a virtual server to interact with, but then a news bulletin airs on the TV in the diner.

On the day of this training session, Sanford Deputy Chief of Police Trekelle Perkins turns from the counter, looks up and sees the report.

“A man in an orange and gray car is terrorizing the streets of our local area,” the news anchor on the TV screen says.

To be clear, this is not a real situation, but it is a type of simulation for which the Sanford Police Department is now training.

In the training program, the car crashes into the same diner Perkins is sitting in shortly after the news report.

“I saw the car, that they gave the description of the vehicle I saw drive by the window,” Perkins says, reviewing what he’s seeing in the simulator. “That lets me know it’s actually close, and then it crashes into the building I am in.”

Following the crash, Perkins exits the makeshift diner — a street terrorist driving through a crowd, followed by different variables he must walk through in a matter of seconds.

These types of situations aren’t just made for the movies anymore.

Five people died and more than 200 were injured during the incident in Germany, and 14 people died and dozens more were injured after the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street revelers in New Orleans.

Law enforcement in the Orlando area plan for many major events every year that draw large crowds, such as the NFL Pro Bowl Games on Sunday and multiple bowl games and concerts at Camping World Stadium, but Perkins said scenarios like those at Decision Tactical can help prepare for the ever-changing number of situations that could arise. 

“It’s scenario-based, and it is catered toward the actual agency and there are scenes that look just like where the officers patrol,” Perkins said.

“It gives you a different vantage point, it gives you a different experience.”

The training isn’t a set routine. Instructors have a variety of law enforcement, SWAT, military and martial arts backgrounds,m according to the company's website. 

“We have our commanders here who are watching and listening to everything that is happening,” Decision Tactical Chief Executive Officer Remo Eyal said from his control room upstairs. “That way, they can change the story based on what you do, what you say, where you stand.”

Eyal, who also is a co-founder of Decision Tactical, said dozens of law enforcement agencies have trained in his different situation simulators, but the street terrorist scenario is one drawing more and more interest after recent events.

“So, looking at the situation in New Orleans, there was approximately 12 seconds to react,” Eyal said. “They had 12 seconds to react from the point that the terrorist started driving through the barrier until he began hitting people.”

Real world incidents can become simulated for which to train.

“Unfortunately, there are plenty of examples to work with,” Eyal said. “We keep seeing in the news all the bad things that are happening, and then we use that to try to create scenarios to mitigate those situations in the future.”

With the NFL Pro Bowl Games bringing thousands of people to Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Sunday, the Orlando Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Office would not discuss specifics about how they plan to handle the crowds and safety measures for the event.

The NFL did provide a statement about safety plans from Tim Schlittner, director of communications: “For years, the NFL has been working collaboratively with multiple law enforcement agencies in Orlando to develop comprehensive security plans. Our plans are continually reviewed, enhanced and modified based on the latest information. We are confident attendees will have a safe and enjoyable experience at all Pro Bowl games events.”