In a groundbreaking step toward transforming public safety and mental health intervention, Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers introduced a state-of-the-art immersive training simulator aimed at equipping first respondersinsouthernOklahoma with the skills and sensitivity needed to navigate mental health emergencies.
The centerpiece of this initiative is the MILO Range Simulator, a high-tech, interactive training platform used by military and law enforcement agencies across the country. The MILO system delivers hyper-realistic crisis scenarios, allowing first responders to refine their decision-making, communication, and de-escalation techniques in a safe yet challenging environment.
TheMILOsystemisamong only a handful of its kind in Oklahoma and represents a major leap forward in how first responders are prepared to engage with individuals in the midst of mental health crises. With the increasing frequency of such incidents, the need for specialized, trauma-informed training has become critical.
CEO of Lighthouse, Jessica Pfau said the MILO system was a great investment.
“This investment reflects ourunwaveringcommitment to the safety of our communities and the well-being of our first responders,” Pfau said. “The MILO system helps prepare first responders for what they may face in the field, ensuring they are equipped not just with tactics, but with understanding and empathy.”
Unlike traditional classroom or video-based instruction, MILO places officers in front of a responsive screen where they interact with realistic, high-pressure simulations. These simulations mimiccommonmentalhealth crisis scenarios, ranging from suicidal ideation to aggressive behavior triggered by psychosis, requiring responders to react in real time.
The system tracks and evaluates body language, vocal tone and verbal commands, giving instant feedback to the trainee. This helps them develop not only tactical responses, but also emotional intelligence and calm, measured communication skills, key elements in de-escalating potentially volatile situations.
Eric Grisham, Lighthouse’s Law Enforcement Liaison, emphasized the system's versatility.
“This technology offers an unmatched training opportunity,” Grisham noted. “Our goal is to give officers tools to de-escalate potentially volatile encounters while also gaining insight into traumainformed responses.”
The MILO simulator is part of Lighthouse’s broader Mental Wellness for First Responders program, which has steadily grown into one ofthemostcomprehensiveresponder support initiatives in the state. It includes not just training, but post-incident peer support, confidential counseling and community outreach.
Grisham said he plays a central role in the program by providing ongoing crisis response training and leading peer support debriefings aftertraumaticevents.These sessions are structured to reduce the psychological toll of high-stress incidents and foster a culture of openness and resilience among responders.
Complementing these efforts is Amy Hodges, a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in first responder mental health. Hodges works confidentially with law enforcement officers and emergency personnel, offering a safe, judgment-free space for processing the emotional impacts of their work.
To date, more than 40 officers in Carter County have participated in sessions with Hodges. Both the Ardmore Police Department and the Carter County Sheriff's Office have reported substantial improvements in officer morale and mental well-being.
Grisham said he believes the integration of the MILO simulator into existing programming isagame-changer.
“Through Amy’s work, our ongoing training, and now, the MILO simulator, we are building one of the most robust and effective programs to support first responders in the state,” he said. “Lighthouse cares greatly about these real-life heroes, and we will continue to support them in any way we can.”
The broader vision, according to Lighthouse leadership, is to set a new standard for first responder training across Oklahoma. and potentially the nation. By combining cutting-edge technology with mental health expertise, Lighthouse is not only improving outcomes for individuals in crisis but also safeguarding the mental health of those on the front lines.
As mental health challenges continue to rise, so does the need for compassionate, informed crisis response. Through initiatives like the MILO training simulator and its Mental Wellness for First Responders program, Lighthouse is proving that innovation and empathy can go hand-in-hand to create safer, healthier communities.
For first responders in Carter County and beyond, this marks a hopeful new chapter, one where they are better prepared, better supported and better equipped to handle the complex challenges of today’s public safety landscape.