Post-Shooting Traumatic Reactions - A Pilot Study (From Psychological Services for Law Enforcement, P 383-393, 1986, J Reese and H A Goldstein, eds. - See NCJ-104098)

• NCJ Number: 104121
• Author(s): R M Solomon; J M Horn
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/NCJRS; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-104098.

Annotation

A survey of 86 police officers involved in line-of-duty shootings solicited incident characteristics, past reactions to the incident, and current feelings about it, followed by recommendations for departmental strategies in responding to such officers.

Abstract

At the time of the survey, the 86 officers were attending a 3-day seminar on postshooting/critical incident trauma. The following postshooting reactions were reported by the officers in the order of their frequency: a heightened sense of danger, anger toward the victim and others the officers perceived as responsible for causing him to shoot, anxiety about future situations, flashbacks, emotional wtihdrawal, sleep difficulties, alienation from peers and the department, depression, problems with authority, nightmares, and family problems. Other reported reactions included guilt, alcohol/drug abuse, sexual difficulties, and suicidal thoughts. Questionnaire items on support variables indicate that departmental and peer support can decrease postshooting trauma, particularly alienation and problems with the department. A checklist of procedures when police shootings occur, 10 data tables, and 3 references.