Deadly Force Encounters: What Cops Need to Know to Mentally and Physically Prepare for and Survive A Gunfight

276 Pages·1997·11.656 MB·English

by  Alexis Artwohl, Loren W. Christensen

DEADLY FORCE
ENCOUNTERS
What Cops
Need to Know
to Mentally
and Physically
Prepare for
and Survive
a Gunfight
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2022 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation
https://archive.org/details/deadlyforceencou0000artw
DEADLY FORCE
ENCOUNTERS
This book is dedicated to all the men and women in law
enforcement. Every day you put your lives on the line to serve
and protect.
DEADLY FORCE
ENCOUNTERS
What Cops
Need to Know
to Mentally
and Physically
Prepare for
and Survive
a Gunfight
Dr. Alexis Artwohl
Loren W. Christensen
PALADIN PRESS * BOULDER, COLORADO
Deadly Force Encounters:
What Cops Need to Know to Mentally and Physically Prepare for
and Survive a Gunfight
by Dr. Alexis Artwohl and Loren W. Christensen
Copyright © 1997 by Dr. Alexis Artwohl and Loren W. Christensen
ISBN 13: 978-0-87364-935-3
Printed in the United States of America
Published by Paladin Press, a division of
Paladin Enterprises, Inc.,
Gunbarrel Tech Center
7077 Winchester Circle
Boulder, Colorado 80301 USA
+1.303.443.7250
Direct inquiries and/or orders to the above address.
PALADIN, PALADIN PRESS, and the “horse head” design
are trademarks belonging to Paladin Enterprises and
registered in United States Patent and Trademark Office.
All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, no portion of this book may be
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Visit our website at www.paladin-press.com
Table
of
Contents
Introduction
Part One
Chapter 1: The Survival Triangle
Chapter 2: Are We Fueling The Fire Here?
Chapter 3: Sudden Violence
Chapter 4: Those Who Can’t Shoot
Chapter 5: Fear
Chapter 6: The Four Rs Of Deadly Force Training
Part Two
Chapter 7: Beyond The Headlines
Chapter 8: Psychological Injuries
Part Three
Chapter 9: When The Shooting Is Over
Chapter 10: Traumatic Incident Debriefings
Chapter 11: Psychologically Surviving the Aftermath
of a Traumatic Event
Chapter 12: Family And Trauma
Chapter 13: Investigating Officer-Involved Shootings 245
Conclusion: Components of a Police Trauma
Survival Program 253
References And Suggested Reading 261
Vi
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I want to thank all the law enforcement
personnel and their family members who have allowed me to
serve them as a police psychologist and law enforcement
trainer. It has been an inspiration and a privilege to learn
about your unique world and to make a contribution to it.
A special thanks to all the officers and family members
who contributed their stories to this books.
I want to thank Sergeant Lonn Sweeney of the Portland
Police Bureau. He is a man of courage and compassion who
has gone beyond the call of duty to serve his community and
help fellow officers. | appreciate his valuable insights into the
minds and hearts of street cops.
I appreciate the mentoring I have received from police
psychologists Dr. Jim Shaw and Dr. Roger Solomon, and I
thank them for their support over the years.
I want to thank my husband, Captain Dave Butzer of the
Portland Police Bureau. In his usual cheerful manner, he put
up with my having little time to spare for him during the year
it took to write this book. As he has risen through the ranks,
he has maintained his integrity and stood firm in his dedica-
tion to taking care of his troops and treating them with fair-
ness and compassion.
Vil
Vill Deadly Force Encounters
I want to thank my co-author, Officer Loren Christensen of
the Portland Police Bureau for taking the chance to work joint-
ly with me on this project. His wealth of experience as an edi-
tor and published author made the task less painful. He has
been a pleasure to work with.
Alexis Artwohl, Ph.D.
It is only because of the understanding and support of my
family and friends that I am able to write a single word. Thank
you for your patience during those times I was completely
preoccupied with this book.
This project would not have been possible without my co-
author, Alexis Artwohl. Her knowledge of the subject is as
boundless as her affection for the officers she serves.
Many thanks to my friend Dave Butzer for giving up so
many weekends so his wife, Alexis, and I could work on this
project. Now you two can get back to your white-water rafting.
Loren W. Christensen