Archive for March, 2010
Force Science News #146: 10 tips—and more—for effective cognitive interviewing of OIS survivors and other cooperative witnesses
Training note: The Force Science Certification Course scheduled for April 26-30 in Wisconsin is sold out. However, we will be announcing the dates and locations of the next two FS Cert Courses very soon, so stay tuned!
10 tips—and more—for effective cognitive interviewing of OIS survivors and other cooperative witnesses
In one word, name a critical–and unfortunately common–mistake investigators make when interviewing police officers who have been involved in shootings.
The answer, according to UCLA psychology professor, Dr. Ed Geiselman, is interrupt.
Force Science News #145: Do head cameras always see what you see in a force encounter?
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Force Science airs on the DISCOVERY Channel. Check it out here.
The Force Science Research team was recently in Oregon working with the Hillsboro Police Department on our new Prone Subjects Study and the DISCOVERY Channel was permitted to be there to film a sample of the research. As previously reported in FS News, the study focuses on documenting to the millisecond how quickly a prone subject can produce a hidden handgun and fire on an officer. FS researchers are also analyzing body movements officers may be able to spot that might telegraph a pending attack.
Specific details on the testing and an exclusive announcement of the results will follow in the next several weeks. Prior to that, you can watch the DISCOVERY Channel feature which aired last night (3/11/10). CLICK HERE to watch the clip.
I. Do head cameras always see what you see in a force encounter?
News reports about the head camera currently being tested by selected law enforcement agencies may be raising false expectations regarding the device that could have serious repercussions in some use-of-force investigations, warns the Force Science Institute.
Force Science News #144: “Excessive” shots and falling assailants: A fresh look at OIS subtleties
Training note: A handful of seats have opened up for the next Force Science Certification Course scheduled for April 26-30, 2010 in Wisconsin. Click here to download an informational brochure. To reserve one, please e-mail your name, rank and all contact information to: training@forcescience.org.
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“Excessive” shots and falling assailants: A fresh look at OIS subtleties
A new look at why officers often fire controversial “extra” shots after a threat has ended has been published by an independent shooting reconstructionist and certified Force Science analyst.
Researcher Alexander Jason reports that even under benign experimental conditions brain programming compels roughly 7 out of 10 officers to keep discharging rounds after being signaled to stop shooting. “In a real gunfight, under extraordinary stress and threat of death, an even much higher percentage would likely deliver extra shots,” Jason asserts. Read the rest of this entry »
