Critical incidents, particularly those involving use of force, can become risk management liabilities due to a variety of issues. These include questionable performance by police officers, public perception leading to lawsuits and community mistrust of police services, stress and physical disability claims, sick time abuse, and morale problems contributing to lowered performance and supervision difficulties, discipline and termination of officers and supervisors, imprisonment of employees, and, most tragically, even death. These incidents have the potential to cause serious long-term problems for officers, the agency, and the community as the unfortunate consequences of high profile events have clearly documented.

Dr. Artwohl will review research from multiple disciplines, including law enforcement, psychology, and sociology, that address these issues and draw upon her experience working with hundreds of officers involved in critical incidents. She will discuss the "big picture" as well as specific recommendations and guidelines so participants can start enhancing their own ability to reduce adverse consequences to employees, the agency, and the community. She will discuss what can be done to prevent incidents from becoming serious problems and how to deal with the aftermath. This class will be useful for managers, supervisors, attorneys, mental health professionals, and anyone concerned about managing the adverse consequences of these events.

The Responsibility Triad

The Survival Triangle

The Psychology of Fear & Stress

Stress Inoculation Training

Artwohl’s Research on Perceptual and Memory

Distortions during OIS

Epstein’s Research on Thinking Processes During High Stress Events

The 4 R’s of Peak Performance Training

The Aftermath of Critical Incidents

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

IACP Administrative Guidelines for Dealing with Officer Involved Shootings

Intervention Programs — What works?

Dr. Artwohl is co-author of DEADLY FORCE ENCOUNTERS, written with Loren W. Christensen