Mason City Police Department Starts Virtual Reality Training Program to Help Officers Better Understand Behavioral Health Crises

The Mason City Police Department is the latest to implement virtual reality training at their law enforcement agency. This recent implementation aims to increase empathy among its officers for an individual in a behavioral health crisis.

During the virtual reality training, Mason City officers engage with simulated scenarios to take on the perspective of an individual in crisis so they can better understand their needs, how it feels to be in crisis, and how they can support them in real situations.

With a partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance through a Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) grant, over 35 police officers have completed the training. Mason City lengthened the opening for this training opportunity among their mental health stakeholders before the end of 2023, further widening the program's capabilities.

Read More About Mason City Police Department's Virtual Reality Training

Click here to learn more about this innovative training model and read about Chief of Police Jeff Brinkley's thoughts on how this training has helped Mason City.