Pros and cons of firearms simulators

A news reporter reviews his experience using a local agency’s firearms simulator in this article. He learned that use-of-force situations can be unpredictable and fast-changing, but he also felt that the simulation operator frequently chose worst-case branching options. The result can be “negative training” — officers try deescalation but end up getting shot, learning that “It doesn’t matter what I do.” Instead, according to one expert, “The scenario should be driven by the choices of the officer and not the operator,” so that good judgment is reinforced.

Tags: Illinois, Missouri