2nd Edition

Officer-Involved Shootings and Use of Force Practical Investigative Techniques, Second Edition

By David E. Hatch, Randy Dickson Copyright 2007
    250 Pages 24 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    250 Pages
    by Routledge

    Officer-Involved Shootings and Use of Force: Practical Investigative Techniques, Second Edition continues to provide sound and sober models, protocols, and procedures to handle the highly charged fall-out from officer involved shootings. Written by cops for cops, it is designed to address the needs of the agency, the rights of the employee, and the concerns of the public, and give law enforcement the policies and tools to properly investigate and document this high profile area.

    Updated and expanded, the second edition welcomes contributions from Randy Dickson, one of the nation’s leading experts, who presents new recommendations for post-incident support and the emotional aspect of these traumatic events, including the potential for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder suffered by the officer. Other new chapters include a study of incidents involving less lethal weapons, such as Tasers, a model policy for documenting these incidents, and the latest findings on positional asphyxia and Excited Delirium Deaths. The book also includes additional information on report writing and the proper handling of media and public information policy. The author offers expert tips on procedures including handling suspects, interviewing witnesses and employees, and investigating the scene, as well as critical points for working with assisted suicides. New, up-to-date case studies illustrate and explain the need for consistent, reliable protocols to protect the agency, the officer, and the public from unnecessary litigation, public distrust, media frenzy, and harm to either the agency’s or the officer’s reputation.

    Applicable to all levels including city, county, state, and federal law enforcement, thisSecond Editioncontains an “outstanding presentation of guidelines, authority, and assignment responsibility to establish the best organizational team structure to investigate [officer-involved] shootings,” says Larry Moore, Certified Emergency Manager, Knoxville, Tennessee.

    Why Use a Model Policy
    Background
    Homicide Investigation
             
    Developing a Use of Force Policy
    Introduction
    Taser Model Policy
                   
    Assigning Investigative Responsibility
    Need for Investigative Guidelines
    Investigative Authority
    Organizational Structure
    Investigative Response
    Summary
    Scene Investigation
    Introduction
    Duties of Incident Scene Investigators
    Incident Scene Investigation
    Handling Suspects
    Introduction
    Uninjured Suspect
    Injured Suspect
    Deceased Suspect
    Interviewing Witnesses
    Introduction
    General Guidelines
    Preliminary Statements
    Opening Questions
    Questioning About Incident
    Closing
    Interviewing Employees Involved in Incidents of Violence
    Introduction
    General Guidelines
    Protecting the Employee’s Welfare and Civil Rights
    Employee Interview
    Post-Interview Procedures
    Summary
    Documenting Incidents
    Introduction
    Report Preparation
          
    Investigating Forced and Assisted Suicides
    Introduction
    Suicidal Actions
    Strategies for Crisis Negotiators and First Responders
    Investigating Suicidal Suspect Incidents
    Employee Interview
    Summary
    Investigating In-Custody Deaths
              Introduction
              Investigative Guidelines
                      
    Positional Asphyxia and Excited Delirium Deaths
    The Myth of Positional Asphyxia
    Excited Delirium
    Less lethal Weapons
    Case Studies
    Comments/Conclusions
    Excited Delirium Model Policy
    Summary
    Working with Incident Review Boards
    Introduction
    Incident Review Boards
    Model of Review Board
    Garrity v New Jersey, 385 U.S. 493 (1967)
    Examples of Administrative Warnings
    LVMPD Officer Training Program
    Board Presentation for Use of Force Incidents
     Alternatives to Use of Deadly Force
    Use of Force by Tactical Units
    Introduction
    Liability Issues
    Responsibilities of Tactical Units
    Documentation of training and operations
    National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA)
    Investigations involving Tactical Unit Officers
    Multijurisdictional Investigations
            Introduction
            Implementation of Multijurisdictional Team
            Model Policy
            Definitions
            Investigative Response
            Summary
    Handling the Media and Politically Charged Situations
    Introduction
    Dissemination of Information
    Case Studies
    Summary
    The Individual Impact of Officer-Involved Shootings
    Perceptions, Reactions and Reality
    The Body’s Response
    The Mind’s Response
    Measuring the Occurrence Rate: Perceptions, Responses and Distortions
    Summary
    Post-Incident Officer Support
    Introduction
    Pre-Incident Preparation and Education: Mechanics and Mindsets
    The Role of the Peer Support Officer
    Peer Support Team Development
    Peer Support Personnel Recruitment
    Peer Support Training
    Psychological Services
    Policies
    Mental Health Service Providers
    Mental Health Services and the Bigger Picture
    Summary
    Checklists and Sample Forms
            Introduction
            Incident Roster
            Crime Scene Access Log
            Crime Scene Checklist
    Index

    Biography

    Randy Dickson, David E. Hatch