Scenario Library

This page features scenarios that can be used by law enforcement training instructors, coordinators, or others to strengthen their de-escalation and crisis response training.

The following scenarios were adapted from publicly available training resources to support scenario-based skill practice in de-escalation and crisis response for law enforcement.

Browse All Scenarios

Use this interactive library to search and filter scenarios by difficulty level and core topic area.

Scenarios in this library presume that law enforcement officers serve as scenario participants. Scenarios do not include exact dialogue for role players but guide how they should respond and act. Difficulty levels were determined using the following definitions:

  • Beginner scenarios are relatively straightforward, with no weapons present. The scenario is typically resolved by the participant using verbal de-escalation skills with a single role player;
  • Intermediate scenarios can include role players with a weapon, or involve multiple role players, but are not overly complex relative to Advanced scenarios. There may be some escalators in the scenario that make it more challenging, or the objective is more complex than in a beginner scenario;
  • Advanced scenarios are more complex, with multiple role players that the training participant will need to interact with and manage, or a scenario that requires significant repositioning and/or ongoing escalations.

SCENARIOS

Adolescent Experiencing Depression at Home

Training Source: Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT)

Agitated Person Displaying Signs of Self-Harm and PTSD in an Office/Workplace

Training Source: Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training

Senior Citizen Subjects in Nursing Home

Training Source: Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training

Despondent Person with a Knife Outside an Apartment

Training Source: Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT) Training

School Bus Hit-and-Run Scene Management

Training Source: Agency developed

Agitated Person with a Baseball Bat Inside a Home

Training Source: Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT) Training

Intoxicated Person Refusing to Leave the Home of Estranged Spouse

Training Source: Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT) Training

Agitated Person with a Knife (Suicide-by-Cop)

Training Source: Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT) Training

Agitated Person Displaying Symptoms of Psychosis and PTSD Outside an Apartment Building

Training Source: Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training

Agitated Person Displaying Symptoms of PTSD Inside Apartment

Training Source: Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training

Stay Connected!

We are just getting started. There will be more to share in the coming months. Sign up to be notified when additional content and announcements related to this project are available.