Crisis intervention midterm Flashcards
(28 cards)
Today we are looking for police officers with social abilities more than physical abilities. What are the social abilities?
- interacting with people
- communicating
- showing the right attitude
What is the foundation of an effective interaction for a police officer?
Understanding the emotional needs and motivations of human beings
What will you be communicating to someone who may be intent on attacking you?
Commanding presence
Everyone is aware that the way an interaction begins affects this interaction as a whole, therefore:
Why is this concept not taken into consideration when interacting?
a) Lousy habits and attitude
b) They just don’t care
Police officer get into what is known as an « unconscious routine »
We look at what we have to accomplish and our focus quickly becomes:
Handle-finish-move on
Communicating during a crisis (2 principal)
- accept that people are not rational during a crisis
- you have to reassure the person
Intervention strategies (7)
- Isolate and contain.
- Do not invade personal space (a person’s bubble).
- Do not touch without permission and/or do not get too close. (within reason)
- Speak slowly and calmly using simple and clear terms.
- Avoid verbal confrontation.
- Verbalize your intentions and your actions. (ie: search)
- Keep on track (stay on the subject)
Listening dillemma
Thinking about the response while the person is talking to you
The magic of questions
A question will often induce a response
What do you do to establish a positive connection with your colleagues and superiors?
Ask questions. The questions don’t have to be about work. Ask about their personal life
What is so magical about questions?
It demonstrates that you listen
Since the questions are based on what the other person said, subsequent communication that includes empathy, respect and appreciation will help build rapport and trust
Dealing with people under stress is much easier if you are not under stress
You can help reduce your own stress by asking yourself questions, such as:
- What’s my goal?
- Is there danger?
- What does this guy really want?
- Does what he is saying affect my life in any way?
Exemple of easy thing to do to do active listening:
Use little gestures or verbal affirmations such as nodding or uttering brief reinforcing comments taking care not to interrupt the speaker
Active listening should be done by asking questions
Asking questions = controlling
You should not be telling them things, you should be asking questions
The solutions to make people feel like people while you intervene with them:
Make eye contact, be empathetic and think family member
Upon arrival, take a moment to :
- find out how the person is doing following the crime or the event
- Get the summary of the event
- Explain that you will need to take this information in writing in order to pursue the investigation
- By stating that you will have to write means that you won’t be able to keep your eye contact with the victim as much
Repeating yourself to a suspect is giving him the power to choose to comply or not. Why?
Because repeating shows that there are no consequences for the failure to comply…
Otherwise, the person issuing the orders appears weak, indecisive, and, even worse for police officers, apprehensive about taking action
Points to remember in an intervention:
We are there to help the citizen We should be clearly identified We think of our security We remember our partner’s security While intervening, we always talk to our partner through the suspect Espouse an understanding of all parties Use of « VOUS » (courteous terminology) Speak firmly and clearly Pride must never take the place, or get in the way of, professionalism
What is a crisis?
A crisis is an unusual situation characterized by its instability, forcing an officer to react in a specific manner in order to reestablish order
What can affect the perception of a message?
1) Emotions and physiological state
2) Culture
3) Social role
4) the gender makes us perceive things differently
5) Self esteem
What is ”de-escalation”?
It is communication focused on:
- the gradual decrease of a crisis or a tense situation
- whose objective is to restore balance,
- to restore the predictability of the behavior of the individual
- resolve the situation peacefully while taking into account tactical considerations »
When is de-escalation used?
person with a disturbed mental state person in crisis intoxicated person (difficult) person Inconsistent / irrational person with disturbing behaviour suicidal person, etc.
Why De-escalate (5)
Numerous calls with regards to mental illness
Reduction of use of force and violence
Reduction of injuries
Reinforcement of trust with family members and the clients
Increased awareness to the people with mental disorders
Use of force model (3 primary component):
evaluation
planification
action
