Using Virtual Reality to Examine Officer Decision-Making in Police Co-Response Interactions

Abstract

Policing mental health crises presents unique risks and challenges that require innovative strategies extending beyond traditional law enforcement approaches. Co-response models, which pair police officers with mental health clinicians, aim to address these challenges by integrating specialized expertise into crisis interventions. This study examines how officers make key decisions in integrating co-responders during mental health crises, such as determining the co-responder’s proximity to subjects, controlling access to critical information, and assigning specific roles during interventions. To investigate these decision-making processes, we employed virtual reality (VR) simulations, think-aloud protocols, and semi-structured interviews with police officers and a co-responder. Findings illustrate how officers balance safety and collaboration in policing situations, revealing how officers’ discretionary practices influence co-responders’ performance and program outcomes. Themes of authority, trust, and identity highlight both the potential for co-response models to de-escalate crises and the barriers imposed by traditional enforcement practices. Overcoming these barriers requires policies that clarify roles, collaborative training that build trust, and equitable integration that enhances coordination and community representation. Together, these measures can strengthen officers' ability to ensure safety while empowering co-responders to apply their expertise in crisis intervention.