At Waynesburg University the Criminal Justice Administration has piqued the interest of several incoming students. One reason may be the driving simulator named “The Patrol Simulator,” located on the ground floor of the CSI house. 

When asked about what makes Waynesburg’s Criminal Justice program different from many of the other programs at different schools, Dr. Ken Cairns, the Chairperson of the Department of Criminal Justice and Social Science, said,” We really want to be hands-on with our students and not only show them what to do in the classroom but, in real-world experiences.” 

The driving factor in that statement is the new and innovative technology that Waynesburg University was able to get their hands on. They obtained this piece of technology because “A donor approached us about donating money to invest in this new technology and to use it for students to get real-world practice on,” Cairns said. 

The simulator is not a cheap piece of equipment. “It cost 150,000 dollars, so we are very thankful to that donor for supplying us with the resources to get this technology.” L3Harris is the company that designed and installed this simulator. “The donor wanted us to have the top-of-the-line simulator, so we did some research and found L3Harris had the best one,” said Cairns. 

When students sit down in the mock police car, they will be able to get the real feel of the inside of a police car. Carins said, “Inside simulator is a fully operable police car with a radio, a screen which the instructor can send messages to the students. Also, with a Ford police car steering wheel.” 

While driving, the instructor can install endless real-life scenarios that a police officer may encounter when on patrol. A few of those scenarios are having a high-speed chase, executing a pit maneuver on a car and having pedestrians or other things crossing the streets. 

The most unique feature while driving is that if the car suffers any damage, it drives with that damage. “You could have a flat tire and the car with drive with a flat tire. Say if you crash and you break your radiator or your struts, the car will drive with those problems affecting your drive,” said Cairns 

With the new Criminal Justice building ribbon cutting set for Oct. 19, the simulator will be moved into the new building. “L3Harris will come in and disassemble it and reinstall it next door in the new building,” said Cairns. 

Students have been using it to their advantage, learning and testing out things they have been taught in class. “I really like it will help me of what to expect when I start Police Academy and become a Pennsylvania State trooper once I graduate here from Waynesburg,” said senior Brennan Campbell.

“As I’ve been at Waynesburg, more and more incoming students have shown interest in Criminal Justice major and that goes to how great the professors are and how many resources they give us to succeed in not only the classroom but in the real world like the driving simulator,” Campbell said. 

“We have so many different things you can study in Criminal Justice. Being a police officer or state trooper, Forensic science and the legal side of Criminal Justice,” said Campbell.