Force Science News

Force Science News #36
January 20, 2006

ARE CONTROVERSIAL RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT OFFICERS IN SHOOTINGS REALLY VALID?

How do you think an officer should be treated after he has shot and killed
an offender:

A. Like a suspect or a civilian witness–required to give a statement
ASAP…isolated for fear he’ll collude with others to concoct a
self-serving fairy tale of what happened…interrogated rather than
interviewed, with every discrepancy and hole in his version of events
regarded suspiciously as probable evidence of deceit?

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Force Science News #35
January 3, 2006

IN THIS ISSUE:

I.SHOULD TROUBLED OFFICERS TAKE ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATION?

II. FSRC RESEARCH AMONG LATEST INFO ON FORCE ENCOUNTERS FEATURED IN NEW
AELE WORKSHOP

III. MORE FEEDBACK ON IACP’S REPORT ON HOW TO DEAL WITH SUICIDE BOMBERS

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I.SHOULD TROUBLED OFFICERS TAKE ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATION?

Are antidepressants dangerous medications for cops?

That question was raised recently on the listserv for the IACP’s
Psychological Services Section. A psych professional from south Florida
reported noticing of late “a marked increase in police officers being
prescribed” antidepressants, known pharmacologically as SSRIs (selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These include common brand-name drugs such
as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvoc and Lexapro.

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