NCJ Number
7170
Date Published
1969
Length
22 pages
Annotation
NATURE OF THREAT SITUATIONS ARISING FROM INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THEIR MANIFESTATION IN POLICE WORK.
Abstract
IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH THE PUBLIC THE POLICE OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES THE TARGETS OF VERBAL ABUSE. AT WHAT POINT DOES AN IRRITATING TAUNT TURN INTO A POTENTIALLY LETHAL THREAT? THE POLICEMAN MUST UNDERSTAND SUCH THREATS AND CHALLENGES TO HIS AUTHORITY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE SITUATIONS IN A REALISTIC AND SAFE MANNER. THREATS SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING ARE DELINEATED - VERBAL EMOTIONAL RELEASE, THREATS INTENDED AS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS, AND REAL THREATS. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES ARE PROVIDED ALONG WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR HANDLING SUCH THREAT SITUATIONS IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER. CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE POLICE ARE PERCEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND MEANS FOR MINIMIZING THE EFFECTS OF A THREATENING POLICE IMAGE. THE DOCUMENT CONCLUDES WITH TWELVE CONCRETE GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVING A POLICEMAN'S HUMAN RELATION SKILLS. MUCH OF THE DOCUMENT'S DISCUSSION IS BASED ON THEORIES AND CONCEPTS DERIVED FROM THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, YET THE MATERIAL IS PRESENTED IN A CLEAR AND CONCISE MANNER WHICH LENDS ITSELF TO READY IMPLEMENTATION BY POLICE IN THEIR EVERDAY WORK. (SNI ABSTRACT)