All Scenarios - Table-Top Scenario Examples for First-Line Supervisors

Sep 26, 2026

Resource compiling seven table-top scenario examples for First-Line Supervisors (FLSs), developed to test decision-making for both new and veteran supervisors. Agency trainers use the scenarios as facilitator-led exercises, presenting events in stages and prompting challenging questions at each step. After collecting responses, facilitators provide alternate viewpoints and sustain thoughtful discussion through the full scenario. Scenarios are designed to be ready for immediate use while allowing trainers to edit variables, personnel, locations, and fact patterns to match local agencies, laws, policies, and training goals.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Officer-Involved Shooting Incident

FLS Response: First actions

Facilitator: Scenario update

FLS Response: Actions

General concerns as you respond

Table-Top Scenario Examples This resource provides seven sample table-top scenarios for First-Line Supervisors (FLSs) . Agency trainers may use them to supplement existing in-service training programs or as templates for designing new curriculum. Subject Matter Experts (SME) from PERF developed each scenario to challenge the decision-making abilities of both new and veteran FLSs. When conducting table-top scenario exercises, agency trainers must act as facilitators who guide the participants through each scenario by presenting the situation in stages, then asking tough, thought-provoking questions at each stage about how the FLSs will respond. After gathering the responses, the facilitator should offer alternate viewpoints for the FLSs to consider before moving to the next stage of the event. The overall role of the facilitator is to generate thoughtful discussion throughout the entire scenario based upon the decisions and overall performance of the participating FLSs. The following scenarios are included in this resource: • Officer-Involved Shooting Incident • Escalating Domestic Violence • Mentally Ill Man on Roof • Unexpected Protest/Civil Unrest • Chemical/Hazmat Spill • Domestic Violence Incident Involving a Police Officer • Active Shooter Event The first scenario, titled “Officer-Involved Shooting Incident,” provides more details and discussion points which are not present in the other scenarios. The additional information was included to provide agency trainers a template for generating and guiding effective discussion during table-top scenario exercises. Subsequent scenarios do not have all of the detailed information and prompts. Agency trainers should add these, based on th model used in the first scenario. All of the sample scenarios are self-sufficient and ready for implementation into any agency training program. However, these scenarios purposely leave open alternative possibilities and variables for each situation. Agency trainers are encouraged to edit or expand upon these scenarios to make them more relevant to their respective agencies, communities, laws, policies, and training objectives. For example, Scenario 2 contains no mention of specific streets or directional compass. Trainers that wish to create a training objective that challenges the FLSs on their knowledge of directional bearings should use information from their own community to fill in those types of details. Trainers may also change the number of personnel, locations, descriptions, and fact patterns to customize training objectives for each scenario. Officer-Involved Shooting Incident Facilitator: You are working as a supervisor on the afternoon shift (1600hrs-0000hrs) . It is approximately 9:30 p. m. when you hear on the radio,“Shots fired, shots fired!” The rest of the transmission is garbled, but you recognize the voice as an officer assigned to your squad and working in your area this evening. The officer is part of a two-officer car. A moment later you hear another garbled transmission “... running!”The radio immediately goes silent. You do not know where the officers are located. FLS Response: First actions: 1. Get on Channel 1 (main channel) and ask for their location. a. Issues: i. The transmission will use up valuable air-time on the radio. ii. The involved officers may be attempting to transmit at the same time. iii. The officers may believe dispatch or other officers in the area are receiving their radio transmissions, but in reality, you may have talked over them. 2. While monitoring Channel 1, switch to another radio channel and ask the other dispatcher to locate the officers’ cruiser using GPS. (This is the preferred action but talking through the options is the point of the exercise.) a. Issues: i. You may miss important radio traffic if you fail to monitor Channel 1 properly while on another channel. 3. Call dispatch on the phone. This may also be the preferred action for age

FAQs

What is the primary purpose of these table-top scenarios for FLSs?

They challenge the decision-making abilities of both new and veteran First-Line Supervisors through facilitated, staged scenario exercises.

How should agency trainers conduct the scenario exercises?

Trainers should act as facilitators, guide participants through each stage, ask tough questions at each point, then offer alternate viewpoints before moving to the next stage.

Can trainers customize the scenarios for their agencies and communities?

Yes. The scenarios are designed to be self-sufficient for implementation, but trainers are encouraged to edit or expand details like locations, personnel, and fact patterns to fit local objectives, laws, and policies.

Sep 26, 2026

Uploaded by MrHarris58