Lessons from the field: Understanding the influence of simulation-based learning in preparing police for operational incidents involving people with a mental illness

Studies indicate the policing profession is rapidly and widely embracing simulation-based learning to advance levels of preparedness of officers for the unpredictable, dynamic, multi-faceted, and often life-threatening circumstances in which they work. This paper explores the influence of simulation-based learning on the decision-making and performance of first-year operational police officers for responding to incidents involving persons with a mental illness (PwMI). Through employing a survey with Likert scale and open-ended questions, the study explored the perspective of these officers in reflecting on the authenticity, realism, and relevance of the simulations from their operational experience. The findings indicate 100% of the officers had attended PwMI incidents in the field, 81% agreed that when attending their first PMI incident, their decision-making was influenced by their simulation-based experience, and 86% of the officers agreed the practical simulations were realistic. This study highlights the important contribution that is to be made by including the field-based reflection on the design, authenticity, and professional development of simulation-based education and training approaches in developing best practices for policing PwMI.