Stress and Decision Making

"Following a two year decline, law enforcement fatalities in 2010 spiked to 162. This was an increase of nearly 40 percent compared to the previous year when 117 officers were killed in the line of duty" (NLEOMF, 2011). Law enforcement officers/agents routinely encounter situations that require them to make decisions with limited information under rapidly changing conditions. Many of these situations expose officers to inordinate risks, and under certain circumstances, require the use of lethal or non-lethal weapons for defensive or preemptive purposes. FBI research (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1997) indicates that many assaults on law enforcement personnel were the result of the officer missing or misinterpreting pre-assault indicators. Interviews with offenders convicted of assaulting officers revealed that the victim officers did not present a strong command presence and that the officers did not perceive their assailants as a threat (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2006). As a training institution, it is our responsibility to provide students with proven instruction and techniques that will enable them to serve their agencies effectively. This paper presents the results of a scenario-based research study that evaluated the application of recently learned law enforcement tactics in novel situations. Four different scenarios were created to challenge student thinking and actions in order to monitor training effectiveness. This paper includes literature related to the research, newly created or existing assessment tools used to measure student responses, and suggested actions for improvement of future training. Although the term "performance" is used throughout this report, it is the decision making process of the students that dictates what actions will take place. Whether in training or the real world, mental preparation and situation awareness are essential qualities all officers must possess in order to respond effectively. shooting