MPD Virtual Reality De-Escalation Initiative

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) proposes the development of an evidence-based training in crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques, focusing on interactions with persons who experience behavioral health (BH) and/or intellectual/developmental disorders (I/DD). The training will incorporate innovative virtual reality (VR) simulation technology that immerses officers in scenarios where they experience realistic scenes and utilize tactics learned in the classroom. Project activities will include a planning phase, during which MPD will procure a VR simulation technology system from V-Armed, which emphasizes a team set-up allowing officers to interact during the scenarios. MPD will work with research partners at the University of Virginia and The Lab @ DC to develop the evidence-based training program and VR scenarios. MBI Health Services, a service provider for BH and/or I/DD consumers, will participate in the training and scenario development. The research partners will develop an evaluation plan and outcome measures.

During the implementation period, the training will be administered to all sworn officers and sergeants assigned to a patrol district or public-facing unit. This will include participation in classroom training and simulation training with the V-Armed system. During each training session, instructors will use the V-Armed After Action Review system to provide holistic feedback to participants. Expected outcome measures are a reduction in use of force incidents, citizen and police injuries, citizen complaints, and disciplinary actions; and an increase in knowledge of de-escalation techniques, responding to crisis scenes, and interacting with BH and/or I/DD consumers. MPD intends to create a VR training model that maximizes training efficiency within the department by utilizing a customized, immersive experiential training.