NCJ Number
16363
Date Published
1974
Length
0 pages
Annotation
POLICE TRAINING FILM ON RECOGNITION OF DANGER AND ASSESSMENT OF SELF AND THE SITUATION TO ENSURE THE PROPER ACTION IN DEALING WITH DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
Abstract
PERCEPTION OF DANGER, A TRAINING FILM FOR POLICE OFFICERS, STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING THE DANGER INVOLVED IN POLICE WORK. SEVERAL EXAMPLES ARE USED TO SHOW THE NEED FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT OF EACH SITUATION, AND AT THE SAME TIME, SELF-ASSESSMENT BY THE POLICE OFFICER. COMMENTS ARE MADE ON THE PHYSICAL REACTIONS TO FEAR OF DANGER, SUCH AS NERVOUSNESS, PERSPIRATION, AND TREMBLING HANDS, AND THE RESULTING DISTORTION OF REALITY, FOR EXAMPLE, LIGHTS BECOME BRIGHTER, SOUNDS BECOME LOUDER, ETC. THESE REACTIONS ARE ALL NORMAL AND INHERENT IN POLICE WORK, HOWEVER, IT IS THE GOOD POLICE OFFICER WHO RECOGNIZES THEM AS NATURAL DEFENSES EMANATING FROM A PERCEPTION OF DANGER AND WHO MAINTAINS A PSYCHOLOGICAL BALANCE WHEN DEALING WITH THEM. EXAMPLES SUCH AS REMOVING A DRUNK PERSON FROM A BAR AND APPREHENDING ROBBERY SUSPECTS ARE USED TO SHOW THE NEED FOR AN OFFICER'S CONSTANT AWARENESS OF HOW THE INDIVIDUALS HE CONFRONTS PERCEIVE HIM. IT IS ALSO ADVISED THAT A POLICEMAN TOTALLY FAMILIARIZE HIMSELF WITH THE PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS OF HIS BEAT. THIS FILM IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR POLICE OFFICERS IN TRAINING TO SHOW THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HUMAN ELEMENTS INVOLVED IN THEIR WORK. A ROBBERY SCENE WHICH DEPICTS A VETERAN OFFICER BEING KILLED THROUGH CARELESSNESS INDICATES THAT THIS FILM IS ALSO APPLICABLE AS A REFRESHER FOR EXPERIENCED OFFICERS. (SNI ABSTRACT)