| Police Shootings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Administrative guidelines for officer involved shooting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1. AT THE SCENE: Show concern! Givve mental and physical first aid. 2. PSYCHOLOGICAL BREAK: Get the officer away from the suspects body and the scene The officer can be with a supportive peer or supervisor and return to the scene only if necessary. This break should be of a nonstimulant nature, with discretionary use of drinks and caffine. 3. EXPLAIN TO THE OFFICER: Tell hm or her what will happen administratively during the next few hours and why, so he or she does not take the investigation as a personal attack. 4. OFFICERS WEAPON: If it is taken as evidence, replace it immediately or when appropriate. Tell the officer that it will be replaced. 5. RECOVERY TIME: The officer should be in a secure setting, insulated from the press and curious officers, and permitted some recovery time before detailed interviewing. However, totally isolating the officer may breed feelings of resentment and alienation. The officer can be with a supportive friend and or a perr who has been through a similar experience. To avoid legal complications,, The situation should not be talked about prior to preliminary investigation. It is important to show concern and support to the officer at this time. 6. FAMILY NOTIFICATION: If the officer is not injured, the officer or department should contact the officer's family, via a phone or personal visit, and let them know what happened before rumors, scanner messages and phone calls reach them. If the officer is injured, a department member whom the family knows should should pick up the family and drive them to the hospital. make sure the family has support, such as friends , chaplins etc. 7. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT: concern and support for the officer from a high ranking officer communicated face-to-face, goes a long way toward alleviating future emotional problems. The administrater does not have to comment on the situation or make premature statements regarding the legal o department resolution, but can show concern and empathy for the officer. 8. TIME OFF:The officer should be given some administartive leave (not suspension) with pay to deal with the emotional impact. Three days more or less, as the situation dictates, usually appropriate. Depending on the situation and the officers reaction, it may be best to keep the officer off the streetuntil after the investigation, grand jury review, coroner's inquest and district attorney's statement are over. To avoid the possibility of another critical incident before the shooting is resolved. All other personnel at the scene, plus dispatchers should be screened carefullly for thier reactions and also given leave, or the rest of the shift off as neecessary. 9: DEBRIEFING: As soon after the incident as is practical, the officer should attend a mandatory (to diffuse stigma), confidential debriefing with a licensed mental health professional who is experienced with the law enforcement culture and and with critical incident trauma, before returning to duty. Everybody else at the scene plus the dispatcher, should also have a debriefing with the mental health professional (possibly as a group) within 72 hours. The officer(s) involved may or may not want to be involved in the group debriefing. Opportunity for family counseling (spouse, children, significant others) should be made available. 10. PHONE SCREENING: If the involved officer's phone number is published, consider having a friend or answering machine screen calls , as threats to the officer and family often occur. 11. DEPARTMENT ADVISORY: An administrator should tell the rest of the department (or the supervisor should tell the rest of the team) what happened, so the officer is not bombarded with questions, and rumors are held in check. Screen for various thrill seekers. 12:MEDIA: Consider the officer's interests in all media releases. 13. RETURN TO DUTY: Allow a paced return to duty; e.g., the officer can ride around with another officer or work a different beat or shift until he or she becomes acclimated again. 14:FOLLOW THROUGH: Expedite the completion of administrative and criminal investigations and keep the involved officer(s) advised of developments and outcomes. by Roger solomon, phd, I.A.C.P. police psychological section obtained from calibre press Street survival | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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