While there are many opportunities for officers and trainers attending the annual International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association annual conference — such as networking, certification courses, and learning from expert trainers — the expo portion of the week puts attendees face to face with key training-related vendors.

In walking the aisles of the expo, you will find many companies are mainstay suppliers who are part of ILEETA every year. However, this year there were a good many first-time exhibitors represented as well. Whether firearms, boots, lighting, training aids, or training software, there was a wide variety to keep trainers engaged as they walked the aisles between educational sessions.

Here are some of the companies, products, and services POLICE found interesting at the expo this year:

VirTra - V-XR

The well-known training simulator company VirTra has moved into augmented reality (AR) training with its new V-XR goggles and training system. The XR designation stands for extended reality, which is what happens when you don the new headset, a pair of goggles that is immersive, but in a unique way. This is augmented reality, meaning you still see the room, other people, tables, etc.; but then interjected into that is a VirTra character that is not a graphic but rather an actual role player who was filmed in VirTra’s V-3 Volumetric Capture Studio.

Although VirTra is mostly thought of for its single or multi-screen virtual reality simulators and its scenarios for decision-making and fiearms training, the new V-XR does not involve firearms. It teaches the human relation skills as needed for such things as intervention for  mental illness crisis, suicide, depression, schizophrenia and mood disorders, and autism. It also teaches officer safety skills that can be used in such situations, including contact and moving to cover. 

Setcan - StressVest

While it has been on the market for some time now, it was still appropriate to see the Setcan StressVest exhibited at an event that is totally focused on trainers. The StressVest is a non-projectile force on force training tool capable or inducing stress through a pain penalty. Used with training firearms that fire a laser pulse, when a shot hits the vest the wearer receives a vibration to alert them they have been hit, or a localized shock to the abdomen – the pain penalty. The basic package includes a vest receiver, StressX Pro Belt, transmitter, the necessary cables and chargers, plus a lockable storage case.

Alien Gear Holsters Rapid Force V3

With holsters spread from one end of the table to the other, Alien Gear Holsters displayed a wide variety of duty holsters for officers to check out. Most notable was the new Rapid Force V3, a Level III duty holster, with Axon Signal Sidearm Mount. This latest holster addition, according to Alien Gear, ensures reliable camera activation by strategically placing the device directly above the gun slide. The duty holster also has a tight trigger gap and accommodates firearms equipped with lights.

Federal Signal – Compact Rumbler

Federal Signal showcased its new compact version of the Rumbler, which can produce low-frequency tones and work simultaneously with a primary siren. The compact version can open up new installation options compared to the larger, original Rumbler. According to Federal Signal, variants of the Rumbler can deliver up to 10dB more sound pressure inside civilian vehicles near an emergency vehicle.

LazerBrite – Modular Light System

Among the first-time exhibitors was LazerBrite with its Modular Light System, available in six visible colors and two versions — the Single-Mode and the Multi-Lux. The lights are intended to be highly-visible markers and according to the company are visible for one mile and have a run time of 150 hours.

Ajax Rescue Tools – Extrication Tomahawk

There are times when officers need to break a car window to reach occupants after collisions, and Ajax Rescue Tools exhibited what it sees as a solution, the Extrication Tomahawk. Taking many features from tasks commonly associated with firefighters, the tool features 10 tools in one to help an officer break and clear glass. Several of the key features are a pry bar, a hardened point for breaking glass or puncturing a tire, and a laminated glass saw.

MdE, Inc. – LE Software

MdE Software Solutions provided information about how it can help departments with a wide range of tasks. The company said it came up with a suite of web-based software designed specifically for public safety entities. Some of those include field training programs, performance evaluation, employee records management, equipment tracking, firearms tracking from beginning to end of use, firearms qualification reports that can be emailed directly from the range, the export of various data to state regulatory bodies, and collection and analysis of use-of-force data.

Miller Mendel – eSoph

Although not targeted at training, eSoph by Miller Mendel is an integrated platform to help agencies in the hiring process, primarily by streamlining the background investigation process. The customizable system can handle personal history questionnaires, task lists, reference packets, and exams. As far as background, eSoph can manage social media screening, on-demand credit reports, address validation, email address validation, and two-way faxing, and is hosted on the AWS GovCloud platform.

Silent 6 – Active Shooter Training

Silent 6, a company representing WhenThenProject.org, delivers both active shooter and critical incident training. When Then Project is not a shooting simulator, but a decision-making training to improve officers’ critical thinking. It comes with both officer and supervisor modules so they can go through scenarios based on their separate tasks. According to the company, all scenarios encourage users to prepare for ever-evolving and complex situations, and supervisor modules use advanced integrated mapping and prepare users for incident command.  There are more than 80 training modules and they're customizable to any jurisdiction’s facilities, such as schools or hospitals.

EvidenceIQ – Ballistics IQ

For those needing to more quickly process ballistic information following a crime, Evidence IQ offers a solution via its Ballistics IQ Portable Image Capture Station, which was on display in its booth, and the related software. The system is an automated ballistics imaging system with immediate scanning of firearms evidence such as shell casings.

ESS – MAX7

The entire line of ESS ballistic-grade eye protection is engineered to meet or exceed the most stringent U.S. Military and ANSI Z87.1-2020 specifications. This year ESS exhibited its new Realtree MAX-7 camo eyewear collection that, like the company’s other options, meets U.S. military and ANSI Z87.1-2020 specifications.

EoTech - OGL

EoTech’s new OGL (on gun laser) was available for trainers to check out at the company’s booth. It is powered by a single CR123 battery and provides up to nine hours of continuous run time. The machined aluminum housing is about the size of a deck of playing cards and the IR illuminator uses a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) diode to create the beam and allows quick adjustments from spot to flood.

Belleville – Tactical Vapor Boot

Among the law enforcement boots displayed by Belleville, the newer members of the lineup were the AMRAP BV570WPT and the BV670WVT. Both variants of the Tactical Vapor boot line are new for 2024 and feature a high-resiliency and rebound E-TPU midsole, waterproof and bloodborne-pathogen-proof membrane, ghilly lacing system, and strobel construction.

Foxfury Lighting Solutions – Tacswan T.E.D.D.

At the Foxfury Lighting Solutions booth several lighting options were displayed, including the Tactical Electronic Distraction Device, also known as T.E.D.D. The battery-powered distraction device is impact resistant, designed to right itself when overturned, and submersible to 10 feet. It features eight programmable light and sound modes and four programmable activation delays.

Crotega – Repuls

Again this year Crotega displayed its non-lethal Repuls handheld spray, featured in three sizes. According to Crotega, Repuls is a deterrent spray that offers decontamination in less than three minutes with no lingering effects. Decontamination is simply achieved by applying water.