Archive for the ‘Force Science News’ Category
Force Science News #188: Overcoming the “Achilles heel” of use-of-force investigations, Part 1
Part 1 of a 2-part series
As an expert in interviewing skills, Dr. Ed Geiselman has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to officers being questioned by investigators after use-of-force events.
Recently he was asked to review transcripts and audio recordings of interviews in cases where LEOs’ jobs were on the line because of allegedly inappropriate force. In each he concluded that poor interviewing techniques had hampered the officers in their efforts to explain their actions adequately. One interview, he told Force Science News, was the worst he’d come across in his 28 years of working with law enforcement.
“In many cases,” Geiselman says, “interviewing involved officers remains the Achilles heel of otherwise good investigations. When an interviewer fails to thoroughly and accurately mine an officer’s memory, everyone loses.”
With his recent reviews still fresh in his mind, we asked Geiselman, a UCLA psychology professor and a faculty member of the Force Science Analysis certification course, what lessons he’d offer investigators for conducting fair, impartial, and comprehensive interviews in OISs and other critical-incident cases.
Force Science News #187: Case studies: How Force Science Analysts helped accused officers
In this issue:
I. Case studies: How Force Science Analysts helped accused officers
II. Free officer-safety training workshop coming up
I. Case studies: How Force Science Analysts helped accused officers
Time-and-motion concepts researched and taught by the Force Science Institute are most often used to unravel the complexities of officer-involved shootings. But 2 recent cases demonstrate the value of these principles in assessing other types of law enforcement encounters as well.
In Nevada and British Columbia this summer, graduates of the certification course in Force Science Analysis, where human behavior studies are explored in depth, have used that training to help officers accused of wrongdoing in pursuit and physical control situations.
In one case an officer was saved from a possible prison term on felony charges. In the other, an officer’s controversial pre-emptive actions in stopping an attack before it started were vindicated, clearing him and 2 backups in a citizen’s “excessive force” complaint case. Read the rest of this entry »
Force Science News #186: Readers speak up about ER docs and suspected police abuse
Pausing a moment.
On the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 we stand with the millions worldwide who pause not only to remember the horror of that day and the pain of shocking loss, but to salute those who, even in the face of tremendous risk, selflessly committed themselves to helping the helpless and to those who immediately stepped forward in defense of our country. In the midst of chaos they stood as an inspiration to us all. A decade later, we have not forgotten. We never will.
In-box: Readers speak up about ER docs and suspected police abuse
Force Science News #185: Cops not guilty in mistaken killing of child + Scan patterns, OIS’s & the Lizard Brain
Interested in earning Force Science Certification? Additional seating is available in the Force Science Certification Course scheduled for OCT. 17-21, 2011 in the greater Toronto area. To register now, send us an e-mail at: training@forcescience.org expressing your interest in the course and someone from our staff will get back to you promptly to complete your registration and get you information on the training site and a recommended hotel.
In this edition:
I. Cops not guilty of unreasonable force in mistaken killing of child hostage: Appeals Court
II. Scan patterns, OIS investigations & the Lizard Brain…
Force Science News #184: Should ER docs be required to report suspected cases of police brutality? Controversy flares over what’s needed
Training note: The Force Science Certification Course scheduled for San Jose, CA in December is now sold out. HOWEVER, registrations are still being taken for active law enforcement personnel for the course scheduled for Oct. 17-21, 2011 in the Greater Toronto, Ontario area. To register or for details on the class, the location and a recommended hotel please e-mail: training@forcescience.org.
Should ER docs be required to report suspected cases of police brutality? Controversy flares over what’s needed
A resounding clash between researchers has erupted over the question of whether emergency room doctors should report suspected cases of excessive force by LEOs. Read the rest of this entry »
