From left, Officer Anthony Webb and Officer David Couture in the Lowell Police Training Center. Officer Webb and Officer Couture have been recently assigned to the department’s Training Division as part of its expansion. (Courtesy Lowell Police Department) 
Lowell Police Officer David Couture provides instructions to two other officers prior to a training session on the department’s VirTra-300 virtual reality training simulator. The department has appointed Officer Couture and Officer Anthony Webb as designated training officers to improve consistency in training and to increase opportunities to use the simulator. (Courtesy Lowell Police Department) 
Lowell Police Officer Anthony Webb looks over the control panel of the department’s VirTra-300 virtual reality simulator that is used for training officers. The department has appointed Officer Webb and Officer David Couture as designated training officers to improve consistency in training and to increase opportunities to use the simulator. (Courtesy Lowell Police Department)
LOWELL — Acting Superintendent Barry Golner is pleased to announce the expansion of the Lowell Police Department’s Training Division.
The Training Division currently consists of a Lieutenant, Sergeant, two Officers and a civilian Administrative Assistant. Additionally, the Lieutenant and Officer assigned to Accreditation have their offices in the Training Division. The Training Division is responsible for coordinating and hosting yearly in-service training, the Lowell Police Academy, firearms training and all other department training needs.
The expansion of the Training Division will include two full-time officers dedicated to use of force, defensive tactics, and firearms training. The trainings all include de-escalation techniques and less-lethal options. These officers were previously pulled off patrol for a period of time to conduct trainings, which caused an issue with staffing levels on the street. Having two additional officers assigned to the Division will be more efficient. Officer Anthony Webb and Officer David Couture will join the Training Division next week.
“Having two officers dedicated to training will improve the continuity and consistency in the training sessions all of our officers go through,” said Acting Superintendent Golner. “Training is a key part of our efforts to provide the City of Lowell with the most professional policing possible, and we are excited to see what Officer Webb and Officer Couture can contribute with their extensive skills, expertise and experience.”
Officer Webb and Officer Couture both have close to 20 years of Law Enforcement experience and are highly regarded within the Department. They both have extensive experience with firearms, defensive tactics and use of force trainings.
Appointing two dedicated training officers will provide more consistency in training, and will enable the training officers to focus in on the strengths and weaknesses of individual officers.
Additionally, the Lowell Police Department will be transitioning to a new firearm in the coming year and adding a new less lethal option. Both changes will require multiple days of trainings for all Lowell Police Officers.
The expansion of the Training Division will also allow for more advanced use of the VirTra-300 simulator. The VirTra enables police to train for use of force, de-escalation, and other techniques in a virtual reality environment. The expansion will allow the Training Division to create training scenarios that are based on actual buildings and locations within the City.