NCJ Number
65714
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THE DIRECTOR OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES AT THE SAN JOSE, POLICE DEPARTMENT, CALIFORNIA, DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND SOME PROBLEMS UNIQUE TO POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS CASSETTE TAPE.
Abstract
THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF SETTING UP A PROGRAM THAT INVOLVES FREE, VOLUNTARY, CONFIDENTIAL PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR OFFICERS ARE OUTLINED, AS IS THE NEED FOR POLICE UNION SUPPORT AND CONTINUING FUNDING. PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES FOR SMALLER POLICE AGENCIES AND THEIR USE IN PREEMPLOYMENT SCREENING AND INSERVICE TRAINING ARE DESCRIBED. POLICE THERAPY IS PRESENTED AS A REEDUCATIVE TOOL THAT IS NOT BASED ON THE DISEASE MODEL OF MEDICINE AND THAT FOCUSES ON PROBLEMS UNIQUE TO POLICE OFFICERS, SUCH AS THEIR EMOTIONAL REACTIONS FOLLOWING A FATAL SHOOTING (OFTEN CALLED THE POST-KILLING SYNDROME) WHICH CAN DEVELOP INTO MORE SERIOUS ALCOHOLISM AND DISABILITY PROBLEMS LATER. POLICE MISMANAGEMENT OF POLICE PROBLEMS IS REVIEWED, WITH ATTENTION TO MANAGERS' TENDENCY TO IGNORE SUCH PROBLEMS OR TO FIRE OR TRANSFER THE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ADEQUATE REFERRAL SOURCES. POLICE BRUTALITY IS EXAMINED IN THE CONTEXT OF FAMILIAL OR PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES AND IN TERMS OF SUITABLE THERAPY. OTHER TOPICS COVERED DURING THE INTERVIEW INCLUDE PREEMPLOYMENT SCREENING, INSERVICE TRAINING FOR SWAT AND HOSTAGE TEAMS, POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS, POLICE ATTITUDE CHANGES, THE FUTURE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL POLICE SERVICES, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUNGER POLICE OFFICERS. (AOP)