How Does a Simulator Teach Police Officers to Use Force Appropriately?

1. How Does a Simulator Teach Police Officers to Use Force Appropriately? Teaching officers to use force appropriately has been inherently difficult in the past because of the impossibility of recreating the mental and psychological stress officers experience in the field. However, science-based research continues to not only validate, but even recommend the use of simulator technology for judgmental use of force training for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most important. Simulators Increase Training Efficiency Police departments across the country rely on a mix of classroom instruction, firing/shooting range practice, and even online courses to provide their officers with the training they need to handle day-to-day experiences. Unfortunately, even though these training methods are time-consuming and often expensive, none provide any real-world experience. Simulators provide access to realistic scenarios that help officers discover the best ways to stay focused, think critically, and respond appropriately in even the most harrowing situations. It truly is an all-encompassing way to train officers because it is time-efficient and even cost-efficient when compared to the various methods currently in use today. Simulators are Incredibly Realistic Just a couple decades ago, simulating a scenario to provide officer training involved roleplay and props designed to give the impression of a realistic experience. Today, it is possible to give officers access to judgmental use of force and firearms training programs utilizing state-of-the-art sound and video technology to deliver a completely immersive and unforgettably realistic experience. Because of this, officers are far more likely to remember their training, which translates to their real-world experiences. Data Provides Better Training Opportunities Simulated training supersedes real-world training in one very important way – it allows trainers to collect vast amounts of data they can use to provide individualized training in various situations to the officers who need it. In 2020, data drives everything from the advertising you see on social media to the menu choices in your favorite restaurant, so it comes as no real surprise that data also drives judgmental use of force simulations. Each lifelike scenario was built around peer-reviewed science and years of research, and thanks to the way simulators collect data during training exercises, it proves invaluable during debriefing. Even the Trainers Receive Better Training In the past, police training has focused very heavily on how to use a firearm effectively and safely, and it has also provided officers with insight as to when it is considered protocol to use force. Today’s simulations take things several steps further and help officers learn to make split-second decisions under a great deal of stress. Trainers across the country still lean toward firing range and classroom training, but with the introduction of simulations, even the trainers are learning to rethink the way things are done. As a result, trainers are learning to read data better than ever before, and they are doing a much better job of incorporating simulations into academic training. Appropriate use of force has been taught in police academies and departments since their inception, but as time goes on and old methods prove unreliable, more and more departments are making the switch to realistic simulators for their improved training efficiency, better training opportunities, and more.