NCJ Number
166535
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 63 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1996) Pages: 42-44
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a study that surveyed 145 municipal police agencies in Michigan to determine whether they had implemented procedures similar to those contained in the model policy of the International Association of the Chiefs of Police regarding officer post-shooting incident procedures.
Abstract
Designed to minimize posttraumatic stress disorder among police officers who are involved in shooting incidents that result in death or serious injury, this policy addresses procedures for handling an officer at the scene of the shooting incident; post-incident procedures that emphasize the welfare of the officer, family members, and other officers at the agency; the supervisor's responsibility for monitoring the officer for stress-related symptoms; and the proper training of employees and supervisors for the management of stress. The findings from the survey suggest that greater attention should be given officer- involved shooting incidents, particularly the services provided to the involved officers. Recommendations from the study include the following: recognize the risk; include line-level officers in the policy construction; create policy and accompanying procedures; use external community sources in the development process to reduce the organization's cost in time and resources; train all individuals in the agency in the established policy and procedures; and make the policy comprehensive and periodically assess and modify it as needed. 3 notes