NCTCOG Regional Police Academy Enhances Officer Training with Motorola Solutions Body Cameras
Recruits now review their own footage to sharpen communication, judgment, and de-escalation skills
June 29, 2026 (Arlington, TEXAS) – The North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Police Academy is strengthening officer preparedness through the use of Motorola Solutions V700 body cameras. The technology helps recruits sharpen their communication, decision-making and de-escalation skills during realistic training scenarios. The academy began integrating the cameras into training in January 2026, using video captured during simulated public interactions and emergency response exercises to help the next generation of officers review their performance and identify opportunities for improvement. “Body cameras provide an objective record of interactions and have become an important tool in helping to promote community trust and transparency in modern policing,” said Christy Martinez, the director of the NCTCOG Regional Police Academy. “By incorporating this technology into recruit training, we’re helping future officers become more comfortable with equipment they will likely use in the field – while strengthening judgment, communication and professionalism that communities expect from law enforcement.” Scenario-based police training is often fast-paced and high-pressure, with learning traditionally dependent on instructors’ observations and recruits’ memories of how things unfolded. Before the body cameras were introduced, after-action reviews at the academy required teachers to spend additional time debriefing each team individually. "The body cameras streamline our curriculum significantly by allowing us to move through post-scenario reviews more quickly and efficiently," said Martinez. "The footage translates to better insights, better feedback and better teaching. Our recruits are spending less time in the classroom and more time on scenario-based exercises that will prepare them to protect our communities as our next generation of police officers.” By reducing time spent on after-action reviews, the academy has expanded opportunities for additional scenario-based exercises, increasing hands-on training while strengthening discussion and repetition around best practices. The NCTCOG Regional Police Academy trains approximately 250 recruits annually and serves law enforcement agencies across 16 counties in North Central Texas, preparing the next generation of officers through classroom instruction, practical exercises, and immersive scenario-based training. About NCTCOG Regional Police Academy The NCTCOG Regional Police Academy provides basic peace officer training and continuing education for nearly 30 law enforcement agencies across the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Learn more at www.nctcog.org/public-safety/regional-police-academy. About the North Central Texas Council of Governments The North Central Texas Council of Governments is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to help communities work together on issues that transcend local boundaries and strengthen the long-term vitality of North Central Texas. Serving a 16-county region centered around Dallas-Fort Worth, NCTCOG provides regional planning, coordination, and technical expertise in areas including transportation, emergency preparedness, environmental sustainability, public safety, workforce development, and human services. |