[COLUMBUS POLICE DEPARTMENT 1960s OFFICER TRAINING FILM USE OF DEADLY FORCE SCENARIOS]

Dating to the early 1960s, this film from the Columbus, Ohio Police Department was designed to train officers how to make split second decisions. This high-intensity police training simulation repeatedly immerses the viewer (police trainees or officers) in a series of life-threatening law enforcement scenarios. Throughout the film, the viewer is told by a narrator that they will need to make quick, split-second decisions, often involving the use of deadly force, and is warned that they will likely be killed. The core scenarios, repeated multiple times, include confronting an armed suspect barricaded in a building, stopping and searching suspicious individuals, staking out a parking lot due to robbery reports, searching a warehouse for a possibly armed burglar, and setting up a roadblock to intercept a fleeing robbery suspect in a blue car. Each scenario emphasizes the unpredictability and danger of police work, reinforcing the need for constant vigilance, quick judgment, and readiness to act under pressure.






0:00 – Purpose of the film explained by the narrator. The viewer is told they must make split-second decisions and will likely be killed in simulation.

0:25 – Scenario: Armed suspect who shot a bank guard is barricaded in a deserted building.

0:47 – Suspect yells, “If you want me, come and get me.”

1:02 – Scenario: You and your partner stop three suspicious subjects; you cover while your partner searches them.

1:40 – Scenario: Stakeout in an airport parking lot due to robbery complaints.

2:11 – Scenario: Officers, ADT men, and night watchman search a warehouse for a potentially armed burglar.

2:48 – Scenario: Roadblock is set up; robbery suspect in a blue car is approaching, chased by another cruiser.

3:16 – Instruction: Prepare to draw weapon if suspect exiting vehicle makes suspicious movement.

3:39 – Simulation restarts: Repeat of warning about deadly decisions and likely death.

3:55 – Repeat: Barricaded armed suspect scenario.

4:12 – Repeat: “If you want me, come and get me.”

4:28 – Repeat: Stopping and searching three suspicious individuals.

4:58 – Repeat: Stakeout in airport parking lot.

5:35 – Repeat: Warehouse search for armed burglar.

6:18 – Repeat: Roadblock scenario with suspect in blue car.

6:49 – Repeat: Be ready to draw weapon on suspicious movement.

7:16 – Third iteration of intro: Split-second decisions and near-certain death.

7:32 – Repeat: Armed suspect barricaded in a building.

7:56 – Repeat: Suspect taunts, “Come and get me.”

8:11 – Repeat: Stopping and searching three suspicious individuals.

8:42 – Repeat: Airport parking lot stakeout.

9:13 – Repeat: Warehouse burglary search.

9:51 – Repeat: Roadblock for blue car suspect.

10:22 – Repeat: Prepare to draw weapon if suspect acts suspiciously.

10:47 – Fourth iteration: Critical decisions and possible death.

11:03 – Repeat: Armed suspect in building.

11:21 – Police warning: Suspect is surrounded and tear gas will be used.

11:48 – Repeat: Stopping and searching three suspicious individuals.

12:19 – Repeat: Airport parking lot stakeout.

12:52 – Repeat: Warehouse burglary search.

13:29 – Repeat: Roadblock scenario with suspect in blue car.

14:00 – Repeat: Instruction to draw weapon on suspicious movement.