Across the country, police departments log thousands of training hours every year, yet real incidents continue to expose critical breakdowns in decision-making, communication and confidence under stress. The problem isn’t a lack of training time; it’s the kind of training being delivered.
Police1’s “What Cops Want in 2025" survey makes that gap clear. Officers described formal instruction as too static, too infrequent and too far removed from what happens on the street. One officer said training is “so rare and infrequent it is almost non-existent,” while another called it “death by PowerPoint.” Many said scenario-based training ended after the academy, replaced by annual qualification shoots that don’t mirror real-world pressure.
Readiness can’t live in the classroom. It’s built through training that looks, feels and moves like the field — because in high-stress moments, officers don’t rise to the level of policy, they fall to the level of practice.
On the ground
Survey results show why many officers question their preparation:
- Simulation frequency is low: Only about 4% of respondents train regularly with simulation scenarios, while more than three-quarters said they do so infrequently or not at all.
- When it happens, it works: Roughly 7 in 10 officers said simulation improves their ability to recognize high-risk incidents, and nearly two-thirds said it enhances de-escalation.
- Firearms training under stress lags: Barely half believe their agency’s range work prepares them for high-stress situations.
Officers who do receive realistic, hands-on training report faster decisions, clearer communication and greater confidence. Many called for “more movement and use of cover,” “monthly repetitions,” and “scenario-based decision making instead of static line training.”
Leadership and data insights
The survey highlights clear priorities for improvement: increase training frequency, add stress exposure and strengthen decision-making under pressure. These were the most commonly cited needs in firearms and simulation training questions.
Respondents also emphasized connecting training to real-world incidents and breaking down silos between skills. One officer put it simply: “Get rid of silo training. Merge arrest and control with scenario-based work.”
Leaders who make training continuous, data-informed and relevant to field realities build stronger safety cultures — the kind that hold when pressure hits.
Action items
To make training hold under stress:
- Design for realism: Use role-players, movement and real decision points that mirror high-risk calls. Classroom instruction builds awareness — scenario realism builds instincts.
- Shorten and repeat: Swap annual training marathons for frequent, focused reps. Skills fade fast without practice, but repetition under realistic pressure makes them stick.
- Stress-test decision-making: Incorporate shoot/no-shoot, low-light and communication challenges that safely simulate chaos. Officers shouldn’t face their first true test on the street.
- Tie practice to data: Let after-action reviews drive your next scenario. Training that targets real performance gaps — not generic drills — turns lessons learned into lessons applied.
- Protect training time: Don’t let staffing or call volume erase readiness. When training is the first thing cut, performance — and safety — are the first things lost.
Mission Ready: Safety culture in action
Every incident tests more than tactics — it tests your agency’s safety culture. At Lexipol Connect 2025, a free virtual conference, join public safety leaders for the session “Safety Culture: How Are We Doing? What the Data Tells Us,” on Tuesday, November 18 at 11:45 a.m. PST. The session will explore new survey data on how training and leadership shape safety — and what agencies can do to close the gap between required hours and real-world readiness.
