WESTFIELD –The Massachusetts State Legislature is nearing the final stages of putting together the fiscal year 2022 budget, which includes amendments filed by state Sen. John C. Velis to benefit Western Massachusetts communities.

Velis included more than 30 budget amendments to the bill, 10 of which were secured for the time being and total $2 million.

“Over the past few months I have met with organizations throughout my district to talk about their needs and the challenges they are facing. On top of the line-item funding that is included in the original budget, it is my job as senator to file and fight for amendments that will help these groups and benefit our district,” said Velis. “I am proud that my team and I were able to bring this important funding back home and am grateful to my Senate colleagues for supporting my amendments during our debate.”

One of the major amendments included by Velis was to allocate $59,800 to the Westfield Police Department to purchase an Apex Police Training Simulator to allow officers to practice de-escalation techniques.

Police Chief Lawrence P. Valliere said that the Apex simulator is a virtual-reality (VR) system that allows officers to practice real life situations as if they were actually happening.

“Police can come in early to practice traffic stops, domestics, de-escalation scenarios,” said Valliere, “It is a ‘shoot or don’t shoot’ type of thing.”

According to the Apex website, officers who put on the VR goggles will first be given background information and case law. The officer will then be put into a randomized scenario where they must demonstrate their knowledge and try to successfully de-escalate the situation and avoid violence if possible.

After the training scenario, officers can go through a debriefing session with an instructor where the officer explains why they made the decisions they made in the simulation and learn how to improve.

“We can’t thank Sen. Velis enough for the support that he has given local law enforcement. Especially our department,” said Valliere.

Velis also included an amendment to allocate $25,000 to the town of Southwick to promote downtown shopping and economic development. Southwick’s Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart said that the money would be used to purchase banners, lighting, and signage to encourage local shopping in Southwick.

“The town has 58 decorative poles along our downtown corridor where such items would be mounted to and help promote buying local,” said Stinehart.

An additional $75,000 was earmarked by Velis to be given to Baystate Noble Hospital for a community grant program to prevent and treat addictions to opioids and related substances.