NCJ Number
223281
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 30 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2006 Pages: 24,25,28,29
Date Published
July 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
After identifying some of the adverse effects a police officer is likely to confront in the aftermath of his/her involvement in a shooting, guidelines are offered for ways to cope with these effects.
Abstract
The physical and mental effects any officer is likely to experience after a shooting are trouble sleeping, fatigue, crying, appetite loss, recurrent thoughts of the shooting, anxiety, fear of legal or administrative problems, elation, and sadness. These responses typically diminish over time, such that few officers suffer long-term adverse effects after a shooting. There are danger signs, however, that an officer is having difficulty coping in a shooting's aftermath. Out-of-character behavior is a major "red flag." Other warning signs are the increasing use of sick time, increased uses of force, and a progressive decline in productivity. Ways to diminish the risk for long-term maladaptive responses and behaviors among officers who have been involved in a shooting include training in stress management that includes a focus on specific ways to cope with an officer-involved shooting. There should also be structured support mechanisms whereby officers are debriefed following stressful incidents, including shootings. This constant feedback and review of events allows officers to bring issues and feelings into the open so they can be addressed. Also, most agencies offer counseling, with some even mandating counseling in the aftermath of an officer-involved shooting. If such counseling is to be effective, it must be conducted by qualified counselors and be confidential. The latter should include an assurance that the counselor will not report to the employing agency.