Customer Reviews

Deadly Force Encounters: What Cops Need To Know To Mentally And Physically Prepare For And Survive A Gunfight

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I am Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, author of the Book "On Killing." I train and speak to law enforcement, military, and medical personel world-wide. The information in "Deadly Force Encounters" has become one of the cornerstones of my presentations, and I recommend the book strongly to everyone I train. In particular, the information (based on Dr. Artwohl's groundbreaking research) on perceptual distortions in combat provides vital, revolutionaly new insight into what happens to people in combat. This book is an absolute must for ANYONE who wants to understand the reality of combat, in law enforcement or military, in history or in their personal future. The book will be extremely useful to individuals after a deadly force encounter, but its greatest value is to prepare those who will have to face combat. Like a bulletproof vest, the mental preparation that this book can provide is best when in it is put in place BEFORE the bullets fly, thereby, enevitibly, undoubtedly, saving lives.

As a former Oakland, CA police sergeant and veteran of a number deadly force encounters, I can recommend this book to all street officers. In 1972 I was involved in an incident with an armed suspect who was killed. Today I can still relate the incident second by second. It will never leave me. This book allows you to gain from experience of deadly encounters without having to go through it yourself. This is very helpful and will certainly save lives. I recommend the book.

Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D, author of Managing Police Stress. docwifford@msn.com

This is a very important book about officer survival. The focus is not on tactics, but on mental aspects of combat, and especially the aftermath of violent encounter.

The book starts with introduction of Survival triangle: You have to survive both physically, mentally, and legally to fully survive an violent encounter. The authors keep that in mind through the book, while the stress is on mental survival. Next the authors discuss the selection process of police recruits, and the nature of violence the police are forced to encounter in their line of duty. Next they give a thorough explanation of fear and it's effects on a person, and they address the issue of training, as well.

The main portion of the second part of the book (about 100 pages) is real-life stories told by cops, and the author's comments of the events. There is not any tactical reviewing, but the incidents are discussed on a psychological point of view. At the end of the second part there is a chapter of psychological injuries, starting from physical effects right after the incident, going to post-traumatic stress disorder and difficulties with relationships with other persons.

The third part of the book covers the treatment of a traumatic event survivor. The authors cover all aspects: What the survivor himself can do, what his superiors, family members, peers and so on can and should do. The authors also stress that there are many different kinds of encounters that can cause post-traumatic stress disorder other than gunfights, and that all participants of such encounter can develop mental problems, not just the ones who pull the trigger. There is also advise to detectives who investigate officer-involved shootings.

All things considered, this book is a very complete package. It is easy to read and the text is not too "scientific" for a layman to understand. This was the first book by Loren Christensen I have read, but it sure won't be the last!

Finally, the much anticipated book by police psychologist Dr. Alexis Artwohl and 25-year police veteran Loren W. Christensen has been released.

Deadly Force Encounters sold so fast that it went into a second printing one week after it was released.

Caliber Press has praised this book as a must read!

This one-of-a-kind book reveals to law enforcement officers, agencies and citizens the hidden dangers of deadly force encounters.

The authors help officers understand how to stay alive when faced with a kill-or-be-killed threat and gives them information and resources on how they and their families can survive the personal and professional pandemonium that follows.

From training tips and first person accounts by officers who have survived deadly threats, to the impact on the officers' familes and traumatic incident debriefings, this remarkable book offers a wealth of information about deadly force encounters. It is a must read for officers, command staff, mental health professionals and citizens.

Chapters include:

Shocking personal accounts of officers and their families The Survival Triangle: Physical, legal, psychological The nature of police work and violence Mastering the psychobiology of fear Perceptual, memory and cognitive distortions during traumatic events The 4 R's of deadly force training Recognition and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder Making yourself stress resistant The four tyupes of traumatic incidents Helping officers' families Administrative guidelines for agencies Peer support recommendations Guidelines for investigators on investigating shootings and interviewing officers The components of a comprehensive officer survival program

I am Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, author of the Book "On Killing." I train and speak to law enforcement, military, and medical personel world-wide. The information in "Deadly Force Encounters" has become one of the cornerstones of my presentations, and I recommend the book strongly to everyone I train. In particular, the information (based on Dr. Artwohl's groundbreaking research) on perceptual distortions in combat provides vital, revolutionaly new insight into what happens to people in combat. This book is an absolute must for ANYONE who wants to understand the reality of combat, in law enforcement or military, in history or in their personal future. The book will be extremely useful to individuals after a deadly force encounter, but its greatest value is to prepare those who will have to face combat. Like a bulletproof vest, the mental preparation that this book can provide is best when in it is put in place BEFORE the bullets fly, thereby, enevitibly, undoubtedly, saving lives.

As with any book authored by Christensen, one feels the reality and truth of the content. This book is no different, it is enlightening to all inexperienced and experienced police officers. It should be mandatory reading for all police recruits in the academy as well as veteran officers on the job.

The mind MUST be prepared for what it will go through during a lethal encounter and more importantly, what it will go through after the encounter; unless of course you lost and are DEAD. Then, your loved ones must now deal with your failure to have survived. Do not do that to them ! Read this book, train and be prepared.

"The mind must be trained and then the body will follow." Anthony M. Cataldo www.blackbeltdojo.com

As the wife of an officer with PTSD, I highly recommend this book to the other survivors of a shooting: the family, the agency and the counselors. All law enforcement, but especially training officers should read this book. Very readable style - management has no excuse NOT to read this book!

Deadly Force Encounters by Dr. Artwohl and Loren Christensen is an excellent book detailing what law enforcement officers need to know in order to mentally and physically survive a lethal force encounter. Dr. Artwohl is a clinical psychologist and Mr. Christensen is a retired police officer with years of experience.

The book begins with The Survival Triangle which breaks down to the physical, psychological and legal aspects. Going home alive at the end of your shift is not enough. Then the book goes on to discuss topics such as: sudden violence, those who can't shoot, fear and the four "R's" of deadly force training which are 1) realism, 2) repetition, 3) review of performance and 4) responsibility. Excellent information is covered in this section of the book.

Part two of the book covers numerous stories of incidents aptly titled Beyond the Headlines. These are stories as told by the officer's and each story ends with a "commentary" section to discuss the incident. The next section discusses the psychological injuries which range in symptomology from physical, emotional, and cognitive. There is a discussion on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is important to note that many officers involved in critical incidents and lethal force encounters never suffer from any long term symptoms. Being involved in a lethal force encounter does NOT relegate an officer to a troubled life. Many officers are solid on the Survival Triangle.

Part three discusses the aftermath of a shooting. How long should it be before an officer hits the streets? How do you know when you are psychologically ready? Also discussed is the importance of a debriefing, the use of peer support groups, other support systems, family issues and good leadership.

One of the gems of this book is the review of perceptual distortions that officers may encounter during lethal force encounters. The information provided on perceptual distortions has been used and referenced in numerous other books, articles and training classes.

Deadly Force Encounters is a classic book that remains relevant as much today in the law enforcement community as the day it was published. Get this book and stay safe.

This book is much more than the title indicates.It is an excellent resource for police officers, firefighters, the Coast Guard, paramedics and others doing emergency work on how to avoid "bystander" PTSD. Emergency work can expose a person to gruesome, sometimes disgusting, heart-wrenching experiences that sear into one's brain and soul. In Deadly Force Encounters Artwohl and Christensen draw on their many years experience working with police officers and Vietnam veterans to describe a very effective trauma survival program. They show how to overcome the impact of extreme experiences and heal instead of being emotionally wounded for life. Highly recommended. Al Siebert, Ph.D., author of The Survivor Personality.

This book is much more than the title indicates.It is an excellent resource for police officers, firefighters, the Coast Guard, paramedics and others doing emergency work on how to avoid "bystander" PTSD. Emergency work can expose a person to gruesome, sometimes disgusting, heart-wrenching experiences that sear into one's brain and soul. In Deadly Force Encounters Artwohl and Christensen draw on their many years experience working with police officers and Vietnam veterans to describe a very effective trauma survival program. They show how to overcome the impact of extreme experiences and heal instead of being emotionally wounded for life. Highly recommended.