8-10 PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN SHOOTING INCIDENTS
HOMICIDE BUREAU
DETECTIVE DIVISION
BUREAU ORDERS
Bureau Order Number: 8-10
Subject: PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN SHOOTING INCIDENTS
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Effective Date: |
09/01/1995 |
Last Date Revised: |
04/30/2021 |
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Last Date Reviewed: |
04/30/2021 |
Next Review Date: |
04/30/2022 |
Personnel assigned to the Department's Psychological Services Bureau do not routinely respond to Deputy Involved Shooting incidents. A Unit Commander, or his designate, evaluates the need for Psychological Services response on a case by case basis. Essentially, the Unit Commander decides if his employee could benefit from a Psychological Services intervention, based on his or her (the Unit Commander's) assessment of the employee's emotional state.
Psychological Services personnel are aware that they should not discuss any of the aspects of the actual incident with an employee prior to a Homicide Bureau interview.
In rare situations it may be critical that Psychological Services representative have some form of initial communication with a Department member who has been involved in a shooting or a similarly emotionally charged situation. It may be necessary that this contact take place in advance of a Homicide Bureau interview (either Homicide Lieutenant level or investigator level). This should typically occur only after mutual agreement by Homicide and Psychological Services personnel, and then only for good cause. An employee's emotional well-being should be the overriding concern. This can only help to assist in any subsequent interview.
It is the policy of the Homicide Bureau to facilitate the work of an on-scene Psychological Services representative as necessary and appropriate for the circumstances. A decision to allow access in advance of any initial Homicide Bureau interview will normally be made by the concerned Homicide Bureau Lieutenant or Homicide Bureau Captain. This will occur after consultation with the handling investigative crew whenever possible. The concerned employee's emotional well-being shall be the paramount issue in making any such decision.