In June, a press release announced that Rep. Blake Moore had helped secure $630,000 in federal funding to establish a state-of- the-art law enforcement driving simulator program in Ogden.

“The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Technology and Equipment Program, will support the acquisition of advanced driving simulators designed to improve emergency vehicle operations, hazard recognition, pursuit decision-making, and critical incident response,” the release said. “The simulators will be housed at the Francom Public Safety Building and will serve as a regional training resource for law enforcement agencies across the region.”

Moore said he was happy to help secure funding that will greatly benefit Northern Utah’s law enforcement community.

“Securing federal funds to directly benefit Northern Utah communities is among my most important roles in Congress,” he said in the release. “I am thrilled that Ogden City will receive $630,000 for its law enforcement driving simulator program, which will provide top-notch training for the officers who protect our communities and run toward danger when we need them most.”

Ogden City Deputy Police Chief Tyler Ziegler told the Standard-Examiner that the skills taught may rarely be needed, but the training is extremely valuable.

“One of the biggest benefits is repetition,” he said. “In the real world, officers may only encounter certain high-risk driving situations once or twice in a career, and those moments unfold quickly. A simulator allows us to expose officers to those situations, evaluate their decision-making, provide coaching, and then repeat the scenario until performance improves.”

He said that the department has had driving training, but nothing on this level in the past.

“Ogden Police has always taken driver training seriously, and our officers receive significantly more annual training than the state minimum,” he said. “However, we have not had a dedicated advanced driving simulator capable of safely recreating complex, high-risk driving scenarios with this level of realism and repeatability.”

Ziegler noted that the simulators won’t eliminate the need for driving training in the real world, but helps to fill in gaps.

“Traditional driver training is important and will continue to be important, but there are limits to what can safely be recreated on a closed course or public roadway,” he said. “The simulator fills that gap by allowing officers to train for situations that would be too dangerous, too costly, or too impractical to reproduce in real life.”

He added that the plan is to make the simulators a regional asset and not just exclusively for the use of the Ogden City Police Department.

“The intent is for this to be a regional training resource, not just an Ogden Police resource,” he said. “The simulator will be housed at the Francom Public Safety Building, but the broader goal is to support law enforcement agencies throughout Utah’s First Congressional District. That regional approach is important because not every agency has the resources to purchase or maintain this kind of technology on its own. By placing the simulator in Ogden and making it available as a regional asset, we can help raise the level of training and preparedness across multiple communities.”

Ziegler said that while the most important part of the process has been cleared, there are still a few steps towards attaining the simulators.

“The project has already advanced through several important steps,” he said. “It was selected by Congressman Blake Moore from among Community Project Funding requests, approved through the federal appropriations process, and included in the enacted federal budget. The next step is for Ogden City to complete the final application process through the Department of Justice’s COPS Technology and Equipment Program. That final application is anticipated to be submitted by July 23, 2026. After that, the City will work through the federal award process, procurement, installation, and training needed to put the simulator into operation.”

He said that an exact timeframe for implementation is unknown at this time.

“We are going to move as efficiently as possible, but the exact timeline will depend on the final federal award process, procurement requirements, equipment availability, installation, and instructor training,” he said. “A realistic expectation is that full implementation will occur after the final DOJ process is complete and the equipment can be purchased, delivered, installed, tested, and incorporated into our training program. We want to move quickly, but we also want to do it correctly so the program is sustainable and useful for Ogden and our regional partners.”

Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski said he’s very appreciative of Moore’s efforts.

“Congressman Moore has always been willing to pick up the phone, listen to local leaders, and understand the challenges our communities are facing,” he said in the release. “We don’t always need someone in Washington to have all the answers, but we do need someone who will listen, engage, and fight for our priorities. Congressman Moore has done exactly that, and Ogden and Northern Utah are stronger because of it.”

Ogden Chief of Police Jake Sube said the simulator program will be a huge boost to the Ogden City Police Department and its regional partners.

“Our priority is always the safety of our residents and the officers who serve them,” he said in the release. “Vehicle-related incidents are among the most significant risks in law enforcement. This simulator will allow officers to develop and refine critical driving skills in a safe and controlled environment while exposing them to scenarios they may only encounter once in a career. Training and preparedness save lives, and this investment will strengthen both officer and public safety throughout our region.”