Empowering law enforcement officers to engage effectively with individuals in crisis

As first responders with a duty to protect the safety of civilians, law enforcement officers are required to carry firearms. Over the course of a career, officers are exposed to multiple traumatic events and are required to make rapid decisions regarding safety. In the last few years, the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers has become a public concern. Persons with untreated mental illness have a comparatively higher risk than most for deadly outcomes in crisis situations. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe policies and programs that have been developed and implemented by teams that include psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to help law enforcement officers recognize and interact effectively with persons in crisis.

Source: Archives of Psychiatric Nursing - August 17, 2023 Category: Nursing Authors: Renee T. White, Julia Kaye Knauff, Karan S. Kverno Source Type: research