Police Psychological Services

Police Psychological Services

Section Newsletter

March 2009
Volume 8, Issue 2

Police Psychology’s Backstage Pass

Dave Corey, Ph.D., ABPP annual conference is one annual conference of at least Inside this issue:
General Chair way to help ensure that our one of the two other major
work is consistent with the organizations representing Guidelines 2
It’s said that police officers latest legal, ethical, police psychology. The Revisions 2
have a front row seat at the empirical, and practice Society for Police & Criminal
greatest show on Earth. If developments. Even Psychology (SPCP) Police Psychology
that’s true, then police journals, with the time (http://psychweb.cisat.jmu.e and the Moral
psychologists hold a required for article du/spcp/conference.html) Compass
backstage pass. preparation, editorial review, usually holds its conference
and publication, cannot no closer than 30 days before Perspectives: 3
With the privilege of aiding, outpace the timeliness of or after ours, and the Police Dr. Jim Shaw 4
assessing, consulting, conference presentations. & Public Safety Section of New Member 5
training, and advising police Division 18, American Spotlight
agencies and officers comes The IACP Police Psychological Association Section Officers
the responsibility of ensuring Psychological Services (you do not need to be an
that our work reflects the Section Conference offers a APA member to join the Call for 5
highest standards of practice. broad range of presentations Division) holds its “Mini- Conference
covering all four domains of Conference” in conjunction Proposals
The time and effort that goes police psychology, and I with the annual APA
into producing and revising hope that you are able to convention in August. Visit Our Website:
the Section’s guidelines helps attend at least once every
us to measure our work other year to help you By attending at least one of http://psych.iacp.org
against these aspirations, but remain informed about new these conferences each year,
with revisions occurring only and emerging developments your backstage work is far v Easy access to
once every five years, there in your area(s) of practice. more likely to reflect the member search
can be a long lag before the highest standards and
guidelines reflect substantial But if you’re unable to attend traditions of our field. v Large collection of
changes in practice. the Section conference, Meanwhile, enjoy the show. articles associated
please consider attending the with police
Regular attendance at the psychology’s
domains and
Economic Troubles Hit Home competencies

The deep economic retirements, 49 percent have recession is certain to v Links to guidelines,
recession is beginning to reduced or eliminated impact police psychology, prior newsletters,
have a significant impact on funding for technology as well. If you have conference agendas,
police agencies. More than a updates, and 61 percent experiences with or ideas and other valuable
quarter of U.S. departments have cut overtime, about this topic you think resources
have implemented a hiring according to the Police might be helpful to others,
freeze, 12 percent have Executive Research Forum consider submitting a
implemented or are (ABC News, 1/27/2009). proposal for the fall
considering layoffs or forced The ripple effect of the conference (see page 5).

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Guidelines Revisions Underway Psychological Fitness-for-Duty Evaluation Guidelines
Dr. Gary Fischler, Chair, [email protected]
The Section reviews each of its published guidelines no less Dr. Mark Zelig, Co-Chair, [email protected]
than every five years. Here is a listing of the three guidelines
now under review, and the names and emails for the Officer-Involved Shooting Guidelines
committee chairs. Please contact them with any questions. Dr. Suzanne Best, Chair, [email protected]
Preemployment Psychological Evaluation Guidelines Dr. LaMaurice Gardner, Co-Chair, [email protected]
Dr. Herb Gupton, Chair, [email protected]
Dr. Jay Supnick, Co-Chair, [email protected]

Police Psychology and the Moral Compass

Philip S. Trompetter, Ph.D. fight fiercely for our safety in the most effective manner possible,
General Vice Chair we do not forsake our ideals of holding them accountable. We
must be mindful of our own guidelines (IACP PPSS Guidelines
I already find myself fascinated by the first few weeks in office for Consulting Police Psychologists) that state:
of the 44th President of the United States. His style and
substance excite and energize me in these daunting times. In [C]onsulting police psychologists must exercise reasonable judgment to
listening to his words, including those that attempt to weigh the duty to protect individual rights with the need to protect the
persuade, remind, explain and challenge, plus those that safety and welfare of others. While all psychologists must weigh these
refreshingly admit error, I find parallels in what police potentially competing interests, those who consult to police and public
psychologists can and should bring to the departments they safety agencies are more frequently involved with the prevention and
serve. I wonder if our emerging proficiency will be moving in control of conduct recognized as threatening to life and property. They
step, at the local level, with the promises of President Obama are often called upon to help resolve conflicts between individuals,
at a national and international level. between groups, or between individuals and their government. As such,
they can more often be expected to confront the tension between
As a police psychologist, I was particularly struck by these individual needs and societal duties.
words from President Obama’s Inaugural address:
So, like our new President, we must help maintain a moral
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our compass for the law enforcement agencies that form the thin
safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers faced with perils that we blue line, without apologizing for the appropriate use of force in
can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and those situations where force is the only reasonable response.
the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.
Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for
expedience's sake.

What a smart and important distinction! You can promote
safety without sacrificing your ideals.

Cops are my heroes. They confront what most of us fear.
When we need warriors to fight the hardest criminals and
relentless predators among us, we want steely soldiers who
know how to fight the fight. Yet, fighters without strong
leaders to target the mission and hold everyone accountable,
and battles without embedded core human values to guide
them from misuse, will surely lead to unintended abuses of
power and ill-gained adverse outcomes.

Within the broad skills and services psychologists bring to law
enforcement, all of our activities contain the core value to
ensure that while we support our agencies and their right to

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Perspectives:
Recollections by Our First General Chair, Dr. Jim Shaw

In this first article in a series, issued a deputy sheriff alcoholism treatment center. instrumental in setting up
James H. Shaw, PhD., the commission card, badge and These programs continue to that meeting. The majority of
Section’s first General Chair an army surplus .38 caliber be operational. attendees were "academics"
(1986-1987) writes about his revolver, which I was and the meeting terminated
career and the origin of our cautioned not to carry or fire Sheriff Porter received with more direction
Section. until I had range training. I national recognition for his disagreement than
completed the basic law programs. Federal funds agreement.
While an undergraduate enforcement academy and became available and I
psychology student in Seattle, would periodically work in learned to write grants which Psychologists were being
I had the opportunity to all the departments. were all approved. The fact hired by agencies though
observe actions of police Department management that King County had a staff there were no serious efforts
officers which led me to the gave me considerable psychologist became known to establish a law
conclusion there was a fertile, support and freedom. I made to top IACP management, enforcement psychologist
untapped field working as a it a point never to compete especially to Dr. Nelson group until four or five
police psychologist. Through with deputies and to keep Watson, who had recently psychologists met together
graduate school, I pursued their duties and mine retired from the FBI and had one evening at a conference
this work goal, but could not separate. There was good an interest in developing at the FBI Academy and
find any agency that determined we needed a
employed a "police Dr. Shaw at the 2008 Section Conference in San Diego formal organization. IACP
psychologist." There were had changed top
several psychologists who natured kidding to keep me psychological services within management, but some of us
were conducting research on in my place such as when the law enforcement agencies. were members, and we
specific projects, but none new police vehicles were Fortunately, for me, I was received encouragement to
were employed by an agency. delivered, I was told that if I invited to numerous national meet together at annual IACP
could pick out my vehicle, it leadership programs which meetings. We were
Upon completing my would be assigned. In the lot, dealt with improving law authorized to form a "police
internship as a prison filled with green painted enforcement effectiveness. psychological services
psychologist, evaluating patrol vehicles, was a bright committee" which gave us an
inmates entering the system, I red vehicle with white The Psychological Services entrance status to the
decided to actually interview upholstery. Section began as the result of organization. Within IACP, a
for work that police the efforts of Dr. Watson. In committee was made up of
psychologists currently I conducted some agency fact, IACP hosted a meeting individuals interested in a
perform. I made an research projects which had at their Washington, DC subject, any member could
appointment with the King their basis in rehabilitation of headquarters and invited attend and there was no
County Sheriff to advise him jail inmates. From this those psychologists who were specific status. As a
of "all the wonderful things" I research a public high school consulting, contracting or committee, we were working
could do for the agency. was opened in the jail as well employed with a law to become a recognized
as a lending library from the enforcement agency. Our Past "Section." This was not an
Sheriff Jack Porter, upon Seattle Library System. A General Chair, Dr. Susan easy feat! Sheriff Porter's
hearing my presentation, work release program was Saxe-Clifford, was an IACP admonishment regarding
asked if I thought his agency initiated as well as an staff member who was working within the agency
"was so screwed up" that they suddenly became very real.
needed a psychologist? I was There was a lack of trust of
hired, however, during psychologists by many of the
November, 1963, and my title Executive Board and a fear
was "Department that as a Section, we could
Psychologist." Sheriff Porter "do things" that would harm
stated that if I wanted to IACP. We never learned
succeed in my goal, it would exactly what those things
be necessary to work from were, but had to make several
inside the agency because as promises on how the Section
an outsider, I would never be would be governed and
trusted or accepted. I was
continued on next page

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Perspectives, continued was the Chief of the license. Tricia and I spent the reviewed the tapes of
Washington State Patrol and winters of 2006, 2007 and conversations recorded
how members would be very supportive of 2008 in Mexico, Australia from microphones
selected, backgrounded and psychological services. We and New Zealand. We implanted in Randy
monitored. A piece of eidetic now had a section! That, my stayed home this winter to Weaver's home, provided
imagery continues to be very colleagues, is a brief look at enjoy the rain, and avoid daily emotional status
clear with an Executive the history of psychological those 80 degree days in reports to the FBI
Board member statement: "If services. The Section has December and January. commanders, interviewed
we bring you in we can take continued to meet the initial While attempting to be a "the friend" who made
you out!" goals outlined at the FBI farmer and rancher to better daily trips to the Weaver
Academy and IACP utilize our 15 acres, I have home and debriefed the
At that point, I was chair of Committee. I have not heard learned to plant, plow, repair FBI sniper while sitting on
the Psychological Services that any member has ever fence and become skilled a large rock overlooking
Committee and had just embarrassed IACP. with a farm tractor. Next the Weaver residence.
been elected as the first week we will purchase some Also, I was involved with
general chairman of the I have recently been going calves to round out our the Earthquake in Guam,
scheduled to be approved through old boxes of papers agricultural endeavors. Federal Building blast in
Psychological Services and documents and found Oklahoma City, Post Office
Section. All was going well my original badge and the My career as a police shootings, hurricanes in
when the sky fell—the November 29, 1963, $8.25 psychologist has been a great Texas and Louisiana and
incoming IACP president receipt for my badge ride. Working with Federal numerous Federal law
cancelled both the Section deposit. In addition to law enforcement has enforcement related deaths
and the Committee. Fortune keeping my shredder busy, I provided travel and in Washington, Montana,
smiled upon the continue to conduct a few experiences beyond my Hawaii and Alaska.
disappointed psychologists, pre-employment wildest dreams. Some of
but not the new president, assessments, testify when these experiences included
who resigned. The required and keep up my being the psychologist at
replacement IACP President CEUs to maintain my Ruby Ridge where I
was Robert Landon, who

New Member Spotlight: Jason A. King, Ph.D., ABPP

Dr. Jason King Daniel W. Clark, Ph.D. findings at national and Medicine. He is board
Jason A. King, Ph.D., ABPP Membership Chair international conferences. certified in clinical
neuropsychology by the
Jason A. King, Ph.D., ABPP Jason completed his American Board of
recently joined our section. bachelor's degree in Professional Psychology.
He currently works with psychology from the
Stone and Associates, Pennsylvania State Want to write a brief
focusing on psychological University and a master's article featuring a new
assessment, including pre- degree in psychology and a
employment and fitness-for- Ph.D. in clinical psychology member? Send your
duty evaluations. He also from Nova Southeastern “New Member
maintains a private practice University in Fort
in Atlanta specializing in Lauderdale, Florida. He Spotlight” with photo to
clinical and forensic completed one year of Dr. Dan Clark,
neuropsychology. In clinical internship at Baylor
addition to his applied and College of Medicine in Membership Chair.
clinical work, Jason has Houston, Texas and
conducted research subsequently completed a
investigating various two-year postdoctoral
neuropsychological residency program in
disorders, presenting his neuropsychology at Emory
University School of

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Police Psychological Services Section Officers
2008-2009

General Chair Dave Corey, Ph.D., ABPP [email protected]
General Vice Chair Phil Trompetter, Ph.D. [email protected]
Member-at-Large/Membership Chair Daniel W. Clark, Ph.D. [email protected]
Member-at-Large/Education Chair Elizabeth K. White, Ph.D. [email protected]
Immediate Past Chair Audrey L. Honig, Ph.D. [email protected]
Secretary-Treasurer/IACP Liaison Kim Kohlhepp [email protected]

Call for Proposals: What the Chiefs Really Want to Hear

Elizabeth K. White, Ph.D.
Education Chair

We are in the process of accepting presentation proposals for the IACP 2009 Convention. We decided to try something new this
year. One of the IACP-PPSS’s goals has been to continue to be attentive to the needs of the chiefs we serve. We do that on an
individual basis with the agencies with which we have personal contact. We also have an opportunity to provide assistance to
the larger group of chiefs through our attendance at the convention and through presentations that we make to the chiefs, as
well as to our section. But what exactly do the chiefs need the most?

We created a survey to ask chiefs about topics of particular interest. The questions were keyed to the core competencies. We
received 258 responses! Job related assessment services (pre-employment, FFDE, PEPSA) was the most highly endorsed topic
with 91% expressing interest in this area, followed by preventative assistance (wellness, burnout, well-being during specialty
assignments) at 85% and employee assistance services (counseling, CISM, substance abuse) at 84%.

The chiefs also were able to provide specific feedback. I am still evaluating the data, but some early trends are clear. For job-
related assessment, chiefs were interested in how to better understand assessment results, how to evaluate the accuracy and
appropriateness of their process, and how to assess special issues or specific target populations (e.g., PTSD or other issues in
OIF/OEF veterans, integrity, promotions, learning disabilities).

Preventative and employee assistance focused on how to improve workplace wellness, stress management among employees,
prevention of burnout and early identification and assistance for officers in trouble (stress, divorce, substance use, domestic
violence, disability recovery). A second area of interest was critical incident intervention. What should be done? Should it be
mandatory? What are best practices for handling an officer after s/he has been involved in a critical incident?

Unfortunately, the survey idea was conceived and implemented a little later than we had hoped. The deadline for IACP 2009
proposals to the general assembly is Friday, February 27. However, our section has some control over the proposal process for
presentations within our section. Consequently, we have extended the deadline until March 31 to allow our section to consider
the feedback provided by the chiefs and design presentations that would be of interest to the section and to the chiefs we serve.

The application process is initiated by going to the IACP 2009 Convention website (www.theiacpconference.org) and clicking
on the Speaker/Proposal link. You will then be guided through a number of steps to submit your proposal. You will be asked for
contact information for yourself and any other presenters, bios, title, description, learning objectives, audio-visual needs and
intended track (PPSS or Chief Executive). Please keep in mind that learning objectives must be concrete and measurable (e.g.,
“Participant will be able to list five ethical guidelines that must be considered when providing both management consultation
and confidential counseling to the same agency”).

The new deadline for proposals is March 31, 2009. (The deadline for the Chief Executive Track is March 20.) The PPSS
Conference Committee will conduct a blind review of the proposals. Acceptance letters will then be sent in May to those
presenters whose proposals have been selected. This will allow presenters enough time to develop their presentations and to
submit the paperwork required to qualify the conference for continuing education credit. If you have any questions or would
like more specific information about topics of interest, please contact Elizabeth White ([email protected]). We are looking
forward to putting together an interesting and informative 2009 conference!

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