You have been a patroller for a short time. Your interventions have been taking place in relative peace so far. But this time, a man in crisis armed with a knife threatens to kill himself and endangers the lives of those around him. How to act? Should we pull out our gun? How long do we spend reasoning with the man before the situation degenerates and represents a danger for the life of others?
What there is to know
The SPVM is the first police force in Quebec and the third in Canada to use the VirTra V-300, the first 300-degree light weapons simulator intended for law enforcement.
The instructor can modify the course in real time according to the decisions made by the agent for the 100 available scenarios.
The system is made up of five giant screens. The distance of the bullets fired and the location of the impact of the projectiles are recorded in real time.
300 Montreal police officers tested the simulator. The objective: to train the city’s 2,800 patrollers.
There is no perfect answer to these questions, agree Salvatore Serrao, Commander of the Use of Force Section at the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), and Pierre-Yves Lecompte, Master Instructor in use of force. And nothing prepares recruits fresh out of the National Police School in Nicolet to face the worst.
Except (perhaps) VirTra’s V-300, the first 300-degree shooting simulator for law enforcement. The object makes it possible to recreate dangerous situations that may be experienced by patrollers in order to better equip them.
A few journalists had the opportunity to test this state-of-the-art device as part of Police Week last Tuesday. On the menu, hyper-realistic, complex and nuanced scenarios that require thinking about the appropriate use of force… in a fraction of a second.
Little time to act… and think
“There are experiences that we will not learn on school benches. Even in a few years of patrol, we will not necessarily intervene in high-risk situations, ”continues Mr. Serrao.
The journalists present undertook not to give too many details on the scenarios, so as not to harm the training. In the three cases tested, there are two things to remember: the scenarios are realistic and things go quickly. The actions of the armed person are unpredictable.
The first 911 call comes in. A worker reports to the police an individual with serious mental health problems who threatens to end his life. “He hasn’t taken his medication,” the caller shouts.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Pierre-Yves Lecompte, master-instructor in the use of force at the SPVM, dissects the first situation.
If our journalist who lent herself to the game does not use force at the appropriate time, she could be accused of having left a citizen in a dangerous situation. If she acts and shoots a dangerous suspect, she will be blamed for using excessive force.
She begins by trying to reason with the individual, who does not comply. After a long hesitation, she draws her service weapon… a little too late. The damage is already done: a man is seriously injured.
“I think people don’t realize how quickly we have to make these decisions,” said master instructor Pierre-Yves Lecompte.
Risk of missing the target
“We often have the question: why didn’t the policeman shoot a leg or a hand? », says Pierre-Yves Lecompte. In the scenarios presented at The Press, it was not possible to do so. Disorganized individuals were running and waving their hands. We risked missing the target, hitting a passerby or a witness.
This was the case in the second scenario proposed to the patrollers for a day: two individuals fight with their bare hands in front of the residence in a peaceful neighborhood. A family dispute that has the potential to turn into tragedy.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Our journalist and his partner for the second exercise, 98.5 FM journalist Bénédicte Lebel, intervene during a family dispute.
Our journalist and her teammate are called in as reinforcements. The situation escalates not gradually, but in a fraction of a second. Little time to assess the options to defuse the escalation of violence and secure the witnesses present. Our journalist decides to shoot one of the individuals to avoid the worst. He dies from a bullet to the head.
A decision taken in the heat of the moment… which could have been filmed by a passer-by, then reminds Mr. Lecompte. “You have just experienced a shock and shot the threatening individual, because it was the last resort. But for people watching the video over and over on social media, you just killed someone for no reason. »
No policeman wakes up in the morning saying I am going to kill someone today or shoot them.
Pierre-Yves Lecompte, SPVM instructor
In most operations, pointing the gun is not necessary. It’s not part of a patroller’s daily life. An agent’s best weapon: his mouth. “Talking to people can de-escalate a lot of dangerous situations. 99% of what we do is verbal,” recalls Mr. Lecompte.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Our journalist listens to the instructions of Pierre-Yves Lecompte of the SPVM. He controls the scenario in real time from his computer screen.
Negotiation and dialogue
The Press had the opportunity to intervene in a hostage-taking simulation, where negotiation and dialogue were required. The use of force ended up being necessary at the very end. The decision should not be taken too soon or too late.
Deciding when to use force is “the most difficult part”, Commander Serrao said. “To hurt someone is against our mission, but sometimes it becomes necessary to avoid a murder or serious injuries. »
Our work is rewarding, but complex. You are on a mission to protect life and prevent crime. It involves that of the public, of the person who is threatening and yours. In the use of force model, the assessment of risk must be evolving.
Salvatore Serrao, commander at the SPVM
This complex reality leaves little room for improvisation when it is necessary to act in the heat of the moment. “It can range from refusing to comply to armed aggression. But you have to use the necessary force in each situation. Never more than the necessary force,” insists Mr. Serrao.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Journalists Bénédicte Lebel and Mayssa Ferah try to calm an individual in crisis.
The simulator will save years of experience for the police, rejoices Mr. Lecompte. “We will be able to put them in the presence of dozens of scenarios. Situations like that, it can take several years of service before encountering them. »