Inside IMPD”s use-of-force training INDIANAPOLIS (WISH)- Community members without law enforcement experience participated in immersive, staged scenarios designed to reflect real-world situations faced by police officers. A routine traffic stop swiftly escalated, requiring participants to reac t instantly to unfolding events. Before entering Hershyville, the department’s training village, the group received an hour-long briefing on the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s use-of-force policies, de-escalation techniques, and the various factors officers must evaluate before applying force. “This training offers community members a valuable opportunity to engage directly with officers. It also helps us understand public perceptions of use-of-force incidents. Social media brings incidents from around the country into close view, raising many questions. This venue allows some of those questions to be addressed,” said Assistant Chief Michael Wolley of IMPD. Four Challenging Scenarios The training scenarios included a variety of calls, including domestic disturbances, traffic stops and an active scene with multiple gunshots. Each one was designed to change without warning, challenging participants to communicate, assess what was happening and make decisions under pressure. “It’s been really scary. I think it’s been a lot of unknowns and a lot of things I wouldn’t expect. A lot of the scenarios they’re walking us through are very sudden; they’re very loud. There are a lot of things we’re not sure about, and it’s really hard to communicate with one another. All of it is just nerve-wracking; that’s just the word to use,” said participant Lissania Perez. Following each exercise, instructors debriefed participants on their performance, highlighting successes, areas for improvement, and explaining why officers undergo ongoing training in similar situations. Assistant Chief Wolley emphasized the physical and mental demands of the training. “I really want them to walk away exhausted. I want them to walk away exhausted from the little bit of information that they received during the course curriculum. I want them to walk away exhausted from the adrenaline dump that they receive out there when they’re going through the training,” said Wolley. “The training underscores how challenging and dangerous the job is, and it highlights the courage officers demonstrate every day,” said Perez. (Provided Photo/ Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department) (Provided Photo/ Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department) (Provided Photo/Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department) (Provided Photo/Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department) (Provided Photo/Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department) (Provided Photo/Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department) (Provided Photo/Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department) ...read more read less