As an instructor, it is your duty to train and prepare officers in a variety of skills designed to perform in the field. After all, skills ranging from contact and cover protocol to recognizing and reacting properly to subjects with mental illness may all potentially save a life.
But after training is said and done, how do you ensure officers will retain and utilize this information when it is needed most?
Written Tests
Issuing a written test after the training regimen allows instructors to test the officer’s knowledge while creating proof that the officers knew the concept and passed the curriculum. VirTra recognizes the importance of testing and incorporated it into our V-VICTA™—Virtual Interactive Coursework Training Academy—program.
This program is specifically designed to teach, train, test and sustain officers on critical topics, such as: Autism Awareness, Mental Illness for Contact Professionals, Active Threat/Active Killer and more.
To begin, trainees engage in a pre-test prime their mind to learn the information about the given topic. Pre-tests are a teaching tool, that ready the mind to learn information that will be taught in the class. After, instructors then teach the concept through a combination of PowerPoint presentations, lectures, videos, scenarios and so forth, keeping officers engaged.
Each V-VICTA curriculum comes with corresponding scenarios, allowing officers to practice the newly learned skill in a real-life situation. Instructors can utilize this as another form of hands-on learning the concept while simultaneously testing the officer. After, instructors can issue the V-VICTA post-test to have a written record of the officer’s understanding of the course material.
Scenario-Based Tests
As touched on in the section above, scenarios are an efficient way of teaching and testing an officer in a realistic situation. Each VirTra scenario has an average of 85 branching options, allowing instructors to change the situation depending on the officer’s choices and producing an individualized scenario for each officer.
Another helpful scenario teaching and testing tool is the TMaR—Trainee Monitoring and Recording—accessory. This picture-in-picture recording system equips the simulator with a camera and microphone, each of which record the trainee. After the scenario is complete, the instructor and officer can review the footage and scenario together to see what the officer saw, reacted to or discharged their weapon at in any given time.
By implementing TMaR, instructors have another way of analyzing an officer’s movements, and therefore, create a better discussion on decisions, actions and stances made in the simulator.
VirTra does more than create state-of-the-art training simulators. We create a well-rounded training experience. Learn more about how V-VICTA, TMaR and other programs and accessories can teach, train, test and sustain your department by contacting a VirTra specialist.
De-escalation: one of the biggest buzzwords in the media and departments across the nation.
While de-escalation is the ideal outcome, it is a constant challenge gaining the compliance of an irate, non-compiling subject without physical force, especially as current tensions between law enforcement and some communities rise.
Knowing how difficult it is to constantly and properly train in de-escalation, how does your department ensure all officers are up-to-date on the latest de-escalation strategies?
Classroom & Simulator Curriculum
VirTra partnered with Vistelar to create nationally-certified de-escalation curriculum for departments to utilize in both the classroom setting and simulator. Together, VirTra and Vistelar scripted out a well-rounded list of scenarios equipped with a multitude of branching options to allow for scenarios to realistically end in de-escalation—or if the officer messes up, then less lethal force. Vistelar has made a online training module available specifically for agency VirTra instructors.
The goal is to teach officers the correct way of diffusing and controlling a situation in the safety of a controlled environment. VirTra is maximizing this training by adding it to V-VICTA™’s other training, allowing officers to learn in the classroom before practicing in the simulator before transferring those skills to the field.
By training after this curriculum in both the classroom and judgmental use of force simulator, officers learn how to work through conflicts verbally while recognizing and adapting to facial, body and micro-expressions. VirTra’s de-escalation curriculum includes:
• 4 hours of curriculum
• 5 information-rich chapters
• 6 scenarios with extensive branching options
• A 38-page lesson plan
• A 35-slide presentation
VirTra is the ONLY simulation company with de-escalation training curriculum that’s been nationally certified by an independent third party.
Certified Curriculum
As with all V-VICTA curriculum, VirTra’s de-escalation curriculum has been certified through the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) for their National Certification Program (NCP) review for POST accreditation. All four hours of de-escalation curriculum are certified through this program, providing training officers a powerful training tool.
By receiving NCP certification, VirTra’s de-escalation curriculum was critically reviewed by an approval body specifically aiming to raise the quality standards of ongoing law enforcement officer training across the nation. As such, instructors can be confident in teaching these materials, while saving time and money from creating their own coursework.
Departments can better prepare their officers with VirTra’s powerful, all-inclusive certified de-escalation training. Learn more about our partnership with Vistelar, V-VICTA curriculum or NCP certifications by contacting a VirTra specialist.
Currently, law enforcement departments are facing increasingly heavier workloads, officers are dealing with more duties and agencies nationwide are finding themselves under more scrutiny. So how are instructors expected to properly prepare officers in preparation for the field and with heavy community inspection? While this is a difficult task, it is not impossible.
Instructors can utilize state-of-the-art training equipment, such as VirTra’s immersive police training simulators, to train officers in a variety of critical skills. For law enforcement, all simulators are equipped with nationally-certified curriculum known as V-VICTA—on topics ranging from crisis de-escalation to mental illness to contact and cover concepts—for free. In addition to critical curriculum, these simulators promote well-rounded training.
Improving Training
Each police firearms simulator is a powerful, versatile training tool. Imagine the ability to train in a variety of environments without having to leave the classroom. Upon stepping into the simulator, will your officers find themselves in a domestic dispute in a neighborhood? A fight in an empty parking lot? The edge of a hiking trail with a suicidal man? Just as the environments are extensive, so are the skills learned from each scenario.
After entering the simulator, officers become fully immersed in their surroundings. Instructors can watch as the officer quickly responds to threats, body language or subtle facial cues on the screen just as they would in the field.
To increase the training realism, VirTra offers a range of less lethal tools that pair with each simulator. Law enforcement can be equipped with and deploy Axon®’s TASER® and OC spray in the simulator to prepare for situations that require less lethal options while practicing de-escalation. Together, these less lethal options help round out any use of force training program.
Besides versatility and realism, police simulators are also cost-effective for departments. VirTra offers the STEP program—Subscription Training and Equipment Partnership—to ease worries about large upfront expenses or obsolete equipment. Rather than purchasing the equipment, the STEP program provides the customizable and immersive training solution through a monthly subscription. All maintenance, service, support, scenarios and updates are included to provide the best, most up-to-date training for departments nationwide.
Other significant cost savings come from ranges, bullets and actors—or rather, the lack thereof. Instead of spending time and money carting officers to the range, instructors can utilize the V-Marksmanship program to train on a variety of targets and courses difficult to replicate elsewhere. By training on the simulator, departments only need CO2 for the CO2 magazines, not the expensive bullets. Or when going through scenarios, all actors are on-screen, thus eliminating the need to find, train and use different actors.
Public Perception
A common practice for VirTra customers is to host a “Media Day.” These are opportunities for reporters and/or community members to visit the department and watch officers go through various real-life situations—or experience the simulator for themselves.
Oftentimes, reporters and citizens are excited to engage in the simulator and interact with the high-end technology. However, it soon becomes apparent that these judgmental use of force simulators are not toys, but rather incredibly realistic, stress-inducing training environments.
One recent example of a media day is the Orange County Sheriff’s Office opening their simulator to members of OCSO’s African American and Hispanic Citizens Advisory Committee. Before stepping into the simulator, citizens were given a TASER and firearm outfitted with a recoil kit and CO2 magazine. After brief instructions, members had to engage in the scenario and try to de-escalate or mitigate harm as much as possible.
After experiencing the simulator, Orlando Mayor’s Municipal Labor Committee Commission member Reggie McGill said, “It’s nothing like what you see on television. I thought it would be much easier. Each one of you put your life on the line trying to protect others, so I have a greater appreciation for OPD after experiencing this personally.”
By experiencing these difficult situations, the public can receive a better understanding on what life in the field is like. It is a rare chance to walk in an officer’s shoes in a safe, controlled environment. Departments who are interested in hosting their own media day can contact VirTra’s marketing department at marketing@virtra.com
VirTra’s state-of-the-art de-escalation and judgmental use of force training simulators are an incredible benefit to departments everywhere. Instructors can benefit from nationally-certified coursework and a variety of scenarios. Departments benefit from a cost-effective training solution that promotes skill growth and transfer. Officers benefit from well-rounded training and better preparation for the field. Lastly, the community benefits from better officers and increased understanding of police life. To learn more about these immersive simulators, contact a VirTra specialist.
Police academies and departments across the nation utilize a wide variety of methods and strategies to train new law enforcement officers. This can consist of roleplaying, lectures, trips to the range and so forth.
While each form of training has its benefits, they all fall short when utilized alone or siloed. This is because many training methods cannot account for the unpredictability officers will experience in the field, nor do they realistically immerse the trainees in the given scenario. This is why VirTra’s immersive simulators, such as the VirTra 300-degree judgmental use of force law enforcement simulator, provides a far more effective training.
The immerse quality is more than the physical immersion, though the V-300’s five screens do physically immerse trainees and officers, once they step into the simulator. Rather, immersion is taken to the next level with surround sound audio and integrated and interactive characters on each screen. In addition to this are the accessories: the Threat-Fire® provides real-life consequences and stress inoculation while VirTra’s recoil kits and CO2 magazines allow officers to utilize their personal firearms within the simulator. Instructors can take advantage of these immersive qualities to train officers in a variety of real-life situations from a safe, controlled and realistic environment.
Working Through Uncertainty
Law enforcement officials must work with unprecedented levels of environmental and situational unpredictability. After all, it’s a part of the job. While it is possible to account for some of the variables an officer might face, it is impossible to account for every variable in every situation, every day.
While lectures are important—after all, discussing the correct order of events provides direction and understanding—it cannot be the only form of training. Instructors can take training to the next level with roleplaying, though going through a scripted situation can only provide so much additional training. Simply put, there are no traditional teaching methods that can best prepare officers for the modern uncertainty they could face at any moment.
Why Scenario-Based Simulations
Even though there is a time and place for lecture-based and scenario-based training, trainees must train with immersive simulators to gain the best possible experience with ever changing outcomes in the moment based on the actions and reactions of the students. VirTra combines state-of-the-art technologies, certified curriculum and professional research to create a highly realistic training environment that increases and transfers skills to the field.
Instead of being told how to work through scenarios, trainees are placed in the middle of any given situation. The scenario begins with a voiceover of the police call from dispatch, then opening on the scene. After, trainees must engage with the subject(s) and make decisions to discover the best possible outcome. Each VirTra judgmental scenario is equipped with extensive branching options, allowing the instructor to choose the path of the scenario, based on the trainee’s decisions and actions inside the simulator. Training after this manner allows officers to engage in the same scenario multiple times, but receive a different ending each time, based on mistakes or proper choices made.
Immerse in Realistic Scenarios
At the end of the day, immersive scenario-based training establishes critical thinking and potentially life-saving skills that lectures. By surrounding trainees visually and auditorily, officers treat the training more seriously and find themselves engrossed in the situation.
Though VirTra’s simulators cannot completely replace other forms of training—such as live fire—it complements these skills and provides a foundation for an officer to build off of.
One of the most beneficial parts of the VirTra simulators is the debrief ability. After the scenario ends, instructors and trainees can replay the scenario and see what the trainee did correctly or mistakes that could have been avoided. The real-time play back, Picture-in-Picture playback videos and after-action provides extra training elaboration. No traditional method of training provides this debriefing opportunity or is as effective at helping officers understand the consequences of their actions.
VirTra’s immersive judgmental use of force simulator is a critical component of any department’s training program. Help your officers learn, build and maintain skills in the most realistic way possible with this immersive technology. To learn more, contact a VirTra specialist.
Unfortunately, interactions between officers and the public are not always the simple, straight-forward situations that would make life in the field easier.
This is because we are humans, filled with a variety of emotions. On any given day, a law enforcement officer could interact with a grieving individual who recently lost a family member, an agitated father who was fired from a job or a young activist who strongly opposes the police. The list goes on. Whatever the situation is, conflict can arise at any time in an officer’s career.
VirTra Partners with Vistelar
To prepare officers for moments like these, VirTra partnered with Vistelar to create nationally-certified de-escalation curriculum. VirTra and Vistelar scripted out a list of scenarios equipped with an extensive amount of branching options to allow it to end in de-escalation. VirTra is maximizing de-escalation training by adding V-VICTA De-Escalation curriculum along with the training simulations to practice what you learn in the classroom before you go through real-life scenarios.
De-Escalation Training Curriculum
This curriculum is designed to teach officers how to work through conflicts verbally while recognizing and learning from facial, body and micro-expressions. This recently NCP-certified curriculum includes:
• 4 hours of curriculum
• 5 information-rich chapters
• 6 scenarios with extensive branching options
• A 38-page lesson plan
• A 35-slide presentation
VirTra’s De-Escalation program is the ONLY nationally-certified third-party de-escalation program by a simulation company.
Why De-Escalation Training?
As mentioned above, not every situation is created equal. As such, there are certain situations an officer will not be able to resolve through de-escalation.
However, if the situation allows, a law enforcement officer can utilize their de-escalation simulation training to reduce the chances of force being used. The type of de-escalation will depend on the situation—one instance may require giving the individual more space or time, while other situations are better resolved with a softer approach or reducing surrounding stimuli. When incorporated correctly, de-escalation tactics may prevent escalation while potentially reducing harm.
Learning Objectives
Officers have had the term “de-escalation” drilled into their minds by academies, department training and now the media. However, law enforcement know that de-escalation is not easily defined nor is it as simple as it is made out to be. Instead, VirTra covers all aspects of de-escalation through a detailed lesson plan, pre-test, post-test, scoring rubric and a multitude of law enforcement training scenarios that combine simulated learning with Vistelar’s conflict management tactics.
A sample of the concepts covered in VirTra’s curriculum include:
• Being alert and decisive
• Responding, not reacting
• Non-escalation
• Treating with dignity by showing respect
De-Escalation Training Scenarios
By integrating extensive branching options into each law enforcement training simulator, the event unfolds based on the training objectives and the decisions made by the trainee. This ability allows an officer to use communication skills and practice while under stress, which can then be trained and tested repeatedly and consistently.
For example, one of VirTra’s scenarios— “Bridge Baby”—is a student officer on patrol, when they are flagged down by a hysterical mother explaining her husband took their baby and is threatening to hurt the child.
This scenario forces the training officer to confront the father and try to de-escalate the situation. Depending on how the officer interacts with the subject on-screen, instructors can choose to have the subject provide more information, show extreme agitation or calmly cooperate. This scenario also requires the trainee officer to confront and de-escalate a fellow officer who appears on the scene, causing the man on the bridge to become more agitated.
Through VirTra’s de-escalation curriculum and scenarios, officers learn how to interpret a situation, keep their head on a swivel, properly interact with subjects, call for CIT or proper back up, and de-escalate a situation in a safe, controlled environment. Learn more about VirTra’s nationally-certified de-escalation curriculum by contacting a VirTra specialist.
Academy training covers an extensive list of training topics. After all, these critical skills are what trainees take into the field as law enforcement: everything from de-escalation to less lethal, tourniquet application to proper interactions with mental illness, and more.
However, while trainees may understand and master the skills in the academy, what are they doing in their department to keep these skills fresh?
Use of Force Simulators
One of the best tools for increasing skills is VirTra’s judgmental use of force simulator. Each simulator is equipped with a wide variety of scenarios, each designed to increase one or more skills. For example, VirTra’s V-VICTA—Virtual Interactive Coursework Training Academy—scenarios are designed to teach specific skills such as Autism Awareness, Contact and Cover, and Active Threat/Active Killer, while other scenarios focus on broader skills including de-escalation, less lethal and marksmanship.
For agencies with a bigger classroom and personnel, the V-300® is the best simulator choice. Its five screens and 300-degree fully immersive training environment ensures time spent in the simulator translates into real-world survival skills. Each scenario surrounds the officer on every side, forcing them to keep their heads on a swivel while learning how to properly interact with the subjects.
Practicing after this manner allows officers to practice skills that need to be refreshed or expounded on. Immersing oneself in a simulator is a great way to practice in a real-world environment while in the safety of a classroom.
V-Marksmanship™ Simulation Training
The V-Marksmanship program is found on every simulator, providing range training without the actual range. This program helps officers who do not have the time to travel to the range, or on days when weather does not permit the best training. Instead, officers can brush up on their marksmanship skills in the comfort of their training room.
In addition to providing a safe and convenient environment, the V-Marksmanship program allows instructors to choose from a variety of targets and courses that are difficult to duplicate elsewhere. Now, officers can train in any weather condition—high wind, heavy fog, snow, etc.—with any combination of targets—pepper poppers, Ivans, etc.
To further increase skill building and transfer, VirTra’s patented recoil kits allow officers to train using their personal duty weapons. Upon adding the drop-in laser recoil kit and CO2 magazine, officers can fully interact with the simulator in a realistic manner.
V-Author® Customizable Training
If there is a specific perishable skill an instructor wants to train on, the V-Author program makes this possible. Instructors can create and edit scenarios customized to any objective or unique department need, thus providing more freedom and less limitation in training.
To begin, instructors upload an image of their local environment or select an image from VirTra’s library. After, characters are added and programmed to behave in certain ways. Upon exporting, trainees can practice their skills in the scenario. Whether your department wants to increase de-escalation training or judgmental use of force, instructors can create scenarios and increase training in that area.
Seasoned officers must refresh valuable skills such as de-escalation, judgmental use of force and less lethal. After all, these critical skills may save their lives and the lives of the civilians they protect. The best way to keep these skills sharp is to practice often in a physically and psychologically realistic setting. Contact a VirTra specialist to learn more.
As you may be aware, IADLEST offers a National Certification Program (NCP), which serves as a standard for police training. As such, the program sets a higher standard of training for training companies—such as VirTra—and vendors to provide quality education and training content to our law enforcement nationwide.
NCP certification standards meet and often exceed individual State certification requirements, ensuring training is accepted by all participating POST organizations for training credit.
For this reason and more, VirTra has been submitting V-VICTA™—Virtual Interactive Coursework Training Academy—curriculum for NCP certification. VirTra is currently the only simulator company that offers certified curriculum for officers, which comes free with every law enforcement simulator.
With the NCP seal proudly displayed on the front of each coursework, agencies know they are provided with content that has gone through a rigorous approval process and meets most POST standards.
In addition to providing quality training to officers, V-VICTA certified curriculum also saves agencies time and money. Think about how many department resources are spent reviewing training, the time and money required to approve a single hour of curriculum.
Or consider the millions of dollars cities spend defending themselves or settling lawsuits due to lack of training and police wrongdoings. Litigation fees, settlement fees and court-ordered payments can all be minimized with officers who are properly and adequately trained. Officers trained to react appropriately to a variety of situations are far less likely to find themselves involved in lawsuits due to alleged wrongdoing.
However, creating these coursework materials is no easy task. When preparing to submit materials for certification, VirTra must meet a series of general requirements, such as: extensive research, citations, having correct knowledge retention format, comprehensive testing materials, scoring rubric, pre-test, post-test, class evaluation forms and much more.
Once submitted, the curriculum is thoroughly reviewed and vetted by professionals in the field. Professionals include some with Masters degrees in Instructional Design and Education Technology and years of real-world experience. Curriculum is then returned in a few weeks with any edits, comments and final approval or rejection. With approval comes a two-year certification and promise to our clients with the highest quality training.
To date, VirTra has submitted 17 V-VICTA courses through NCP with a total of 60+ hours. Our most recent certified curriculum was Autism Awareness, a combination of classroom materials and interactive scenarios designed to help officers distinguish autistic behavior from those that mimic others, such as indicators for drug/alcohol use or deceptive behavior.
This curriculum was co-created through a partnership with SARRC—Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center—and utilizes their industry insight and expertise. Together, this partnership resulted in curriculum that helps mitigate the difficulties law enforcement face when encountering people who may be on the spectrum.
Other critical curriculum created for law enforcement include: Active Threat/Active Killer, Contact and Cover Concepts, High-Risk Vehicle Stop, Mental Illness for Contact Professionals, Tourniquet Application Under Threat and more. Each of these curricula are NCP certified, ensuring the highest quality for agencies that implement this curriculum into their training sessions.
Instructors can train well, knowing all content is up-to-date, certified and designed for maximum skill transfer. To learn more about VirTra’s NCP-approved curriculum, please contact a specialist.
There is a good chance you have heard the phrase “Vi Victa Vis,” which is Latin for “force overcome by force.” VirTra implemented this phrase and ideology in our V-VICTA® curriculum, giving this program a powerful connotation to match its powerful training abilities.
V-VICTA’s New Law Enforcement Training Curriculum
V-VICTA—Virtual Interactive Coursework Training Academy—is a set of curricula on a crucial training topic. For example, some of VirTra’s newly released V-VICTA topics are: Active Threat/Active Killer, Autism Awareness, Contact and Cover, Human Factors in Force Encounters, TASER® Targeting and Tourniquet Application Under Threat.
Instructors can utilize V-VICTA’s PowerPoints, tests, booklets and other materials to teach the concept in a classroom setting. After, trainees can put the concept into practice by engaging in the corresponding training scenario on the agency simulator. Teaching in this manner is designed to increase skill mastery and move information into long-term memory. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg.
V-VICTA’s Police Training Course Creation
For specialized topics, VirTra partners with nationally-recognized organizations in their respective industries. This ensures the most applicable knowledge and information is applied to both the curriculum and scenario, providing officers with the best training possible. After all, who better to teach than the experts?
As an example, you may have heard of VirTra’s partnership with the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) after VirTra launched the new Autism Awareness V-VICTA curriculum. It was through their efforts, research and insight that the program was such a benefit for officers nationwide.
VirTra’s other partners include: the Force Science Institute, VISTELAR, Haley Strategic and the National Sheriffs Association. Having multiple partners across a variety of fields provides the best amount of exposure and expertise that translates into our training content.
Certified Law Enforcement Training Curriculum
Each V-VICTA curriculum is IADLEST-certified. This certification significantly benefits our customers because the IADLEST National Certification Program™ for POST Certification sets the standard for curriculum certifications across 36 states.
In order to achieve the certification, all V-VICTA materials are critically reviewed by IADLEST members and pass the rigors of their independent review process. By providing agencies with certified materials, instructors save time and money from creating their own coursework. Take a moment and think back: how long do you slave over new curriculum just to create a one-hour course?
If your answer was above 60 hours, you are following the average. More specifically, 1 hour of curriculum takes an average of 65 hours to research, prepare and gain approvals. With V-VICTA currently providing 60 hours of certified coursework, this saves departments approximately 3,900 man-hours. Imagine all of the training, developing or analyzing that can be done in the time you saved from creating curriculum!
V-VI™ Virtual Instructor Police Training
The V-VI™—Virtual Instructor—is an easy new resource that teaches instructors how to operate a scenario and maximize learning. With a click of the mouse, a VirTra instructor will appear on the simulator screen or audible and walk through the corresponding scenario, all while pointing out key elements and training points. These helpful train-the-trainer scenarios help instructors consolidate training pain points and instill confidence in knowing your trainee’s needs are met and consistent year over year.
V-VICTA is a program designed to help officers keep ahead of the curve and their skills sharp. For more information on V-VICTA training topics or integrating it into your training, contact a VirTra specialist.
Whether it’s applying a tourniquet to yourself or a partner, the tourniquet is a vital lifesaving tool that officers must master. The recommended tourniquets are designed to apply pressure above the wound to stop a person from bleeding out in the event of an injury. VirTra recommends all officers to not only understand how to use a tourniquet, but to also carry one. They have been proven to save lives and limbs over the years and in various disasters, including the Boston Marathon Bombing.
Tourniquets are applied when bleeding cannot be stopped with direct pressure or elevation, or when both are applied simultaneously. Sometimes there is a reason direct pressure and elevation cannot be maintained, such as an ongoing threat that requires the use of at least one arm to fight. It is also possible that the injured and/or their partner must flee the area quickly, again, making it impossible to apply pressure and elevation.
It is imperative that tourniquet application is done correctly or additional injuries may occur. When applying a tourniquet to yourself or a partner while a threat is still active, multi-tasking and stress levels should not affect how the tourniquet is applied, as cutting corners could cause more harm than good.
VirTra’s IADLEST-certified Tourniquet Application Under Threat curriculum is designed as a walkthrough that can be done alone or with a buddy. It accounts for long gun considerations, injuries to different limbs (arm, lower leg, thigh, etc.) and more. This curriculum falls under VirTra’s V-VICTA—Virtual Interactive Coursework Academy—program and includes a lesson plan with testing materials, scoring rubric, class roster and class survey.
The 27-page lesson plan walks officers and trainees through the application of C-A-T and SOFT-T tourniquets through the use of images and step-by-step instructions. There are also tips on how to slow your heart rate using controlled breathing and finding cover. By using this lesson plan in conjunction with VirTra’s immersive simulations, officers become prepared to treat their own injuries or the injuries of others while a threat is still active.
To see this intense, heart-racing training in action, watch this video showing an officer applying a tourniquet after being injured, then getting back in the fight.
Train hard and stay safe!
Over the course of two years, VirTra has been collaborating with Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) to create and launch a progressive and interactive training curriculum with corresponding video scenarios to teach law enforcement officers how to recognize and interact with autistic individuals. The curriculum aims to help officers recognize signs of autism and develop strategies/skills to improve interaction and minimize risk for both officer and civilian.
To avoid unnecessary trauma of those with ASD and scrutiny of law enforcement agencies, SARRC and VirTra firmly believe extensive education and skills-based training is the right path toward keeping everyone safe.
According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and estimates suggest that 50,000 teens with ASD transition into adulthood each year, increasing the likelihood of interaction between law enforcement and individuals with ASD. And yet, only 45% of officers surveyed say they have received training on interacting with people with ASD. Often, this depends on the region and could be incident-based – meaning some departments do not train on the subject until an unfortunate incident happens.
VirTra and SARRC are working to increase the number of officers trained on the topic of autism by providing departments with detailed curriculum and state-of-the-art virtual scenarios needed to effectively prepare officers for proper interaction.
Law enforcement officers can learn and practice these lessons through VirTra’s new Autism Awareness curriculum. Through this coursework, officers can prevent poorly-handled incidents with ASD individuals while creating a better relationship with every member of their community.
Outside Stimuli
With a growing number of diagnoses, as well as more teens transitioning to adulthood each year, officers should know that ASD can cause significant social, emotional, communicative and behavioral challenges, which can lead to a different response to police presence than what is expected.
Be aware that people with ASD may react differently to outside stimuli such as lights, sounds and physical contact. Their reactions can range from agitation to becoming transfixed or silent. Minimize stress and confusion—if it is safe to do so—by turning off your squad car lights and siren, lowering the volume on your radio and taking a step back before asking questions.
Ask Questions
Ask about the ASD subject’s triggers—specific sounds or movements that could set the person off—in order to avoid sparking a negative reaction. Follow up by asking what the best form of communication for that person is. An estimated one-third of people with autism are nonverbal. Asking questions and giving directions may have a greater effect through the use of pictures, sign language or simple vocabulary.
Form a Relationship
Before asking questions about the incident, spend a few minutes forming a relationship with the individual. Ask them questions about their interests or favorite items. Throughout the interaction, remind the individual that they are safe, but refrain from using phrases like “you’re not in trouble.” The subject might not hear the word “not” and focus on the word “trouble.”
Be aware that some autistic traits can be misconstrued, such as lack of eye contact or too much eye contact, no expression, unusual speaking patterns or repetitive body movements. In order to achieve effective communication, be factual, allow ample time for the person to process and respond, offer reassurance, talk in a calm voice and avoid making sudden movements and sounds.
Exposure
Parents, caregivers or teachers should expose children with ASD to police officers early on. Let them become familiar and comfortable with how they look – the type of uniforms, and that they always have a badge. Explain that officers are safe, and they often arrive at times when someone needs help. This prevents children from growing up with the thought that a police officer means someone is going to jail or be arrested.
If children hear this information from a trusted adult combined with having positive interactions with police officers, they may be less likely to become fearful if they must speak to an officer at some point in their lives.
Are you interested in learning more? Contact us to learn more about our V-VICTA curriculum and take the first step towards better training.