NCJ Number
197365
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 71 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2002 Pages: 18-24
Date Published
October 2002
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the perceptual and memory distortions in police officers who have been involved in shootings.
Abstract
This article discusses how memory and perceptions are often distorted during highly stressful situations. Past research has indicated that the brain works differently in times of high stress, thus producing perceptions and memories that are inaccurate when compared with what actually occurred. The author collected a written survey from 157 police officers during 1994-1999. All of the officers had been involved in police-related shootings and were asked to provide their account of what happened during the shootings. Results revealed that 62 percent of the officers remembered the event in slow motion, 17 percent said that time sped up during the event, 84 percent said that sounds were diminished, and 16 reported that sounds were intensified. Fifty-two percent reported memory loss for at least part of the event. Thus, this research supports the findings of past research which has shown that memory is not like a video recording of an event. As such, when investigating police-related shootings, investigators should understand that often the police officers’ accounts will differ from the reality of the situation. This does not connote someone who is lying, but rather reflects memory distortion brought on by a highly stressful situation. 20 Endnotes