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Deadly Force Encounters: Cops & Citizens Defending Themselves And Others

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In a field often plagued with subjective impressions, anecdotal mythology, and political agendas, this volume stands out as a science-based practical guide to understanding, preparing for, enduring, and recovering from a law enforcement deadly force encounter with your safety and sanity intact. ~ Laurence Miller, PhD, clinical, forensic and police psychologist

In 1997, renown police psychologist Dr. Alexis Artwohl and retired police officer Loren W. Christensen (coauthor of On Combat) wrote Deadly Force Encounters: What Cops Need To Know To Mentally And Physically Prepare For And Survive A Gunfight. It quickly became the book for police officers, police academies, college courses, and citizens legally carrying a concealed weapon.

In this information-packed second edition, Deadly Force Encounters, Cops & Citizens Defending Themselves And Others, the authors again focus on the most infrequent but most challenging part of the police profession: the use of deadly force. This book isn't about laws, tactics, and equipment but about the people behind the badge and the human performance factors that influence them.

The studies, stories, and references that fill this volume are also important for any person caught in a life-threatening situation, particular citizens in the concealed carry community.

The goal is to help officers (and citizens) win the fight and win the aftermath.

Introduction
Chapter 1: Shootout with the Devil
Chapter 2: The Survival Triangle
Chapter 3: Community Policing
Chapter 4: Human Performance Factors
Chapter 5: Mindset
Chapter 6: Fear
Chapter 7: Responses to Handgun Wounds are Unpredictable
Chapter 8: Citizen Force Multipliers
Chapter 9: Attention, Perception, and Memory
Chapter 10: Decision Making
Chapter 11: The Survival Bias in Decision Making
Chapter 12: Training
Chapter 13: Legal Survival
Chapter 14: Investigations and the Courtroom
Chapter 15: Short-Term Reactions to a Deadly Force Encounter
Chapter 16: Traumatic Stress Reactions
Chapter 17: Police Officers and Job Stress
Chapter 18: Organization Stress
Chapter 19: Resiliency
Chapter 20: Impact on Families
Bibliography

520 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 1997

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About the author

Alexis Artwohl

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Kb.
25 reviews
February 20, 2018
This is highly recommend to every Warrior who may have to use deadly force during a lethal encounter.
31 reviews
April 29, 2021
Book review

A great read for any law enforcement or armed security types to read and understand and should be mandatory reading policy writers who supervise them!!
Profile Image for Jessica.
370 reviews17 followers
Want to read
February 20, 2024
Included on The Cornered Cat's good books:

Don’t let the word “cop” in the title fool you—this book is as relevant to you as an armed citizen as it is to law enforcement officers. In it, you’ll find crucial information about the effects of sudden stress on the human body, and learn ways to use that stress to help you fight and win against a determined attacker.


On The Active Response Training's recommended reading.
Profile Image for Jerry Smith.
881 reviews16 followers
February 9, 2010
Written with those who may have to use lethal force clearly in mind. Therefore goes through the typical consequences faced by those who, let's face it, have to kill someone in the line of duty.

Therefore naturally factual and pragmatic and highly interesting even for those of us who, hopefully, never find ourselves in this position.
Profile Image for Stephen Challis.
Author 24 books4 followers
July 28, 2015
Another book I read while researching my book,debarred the use of Arms.
This book was recommended to me by Lt Col Grossman .and it does contain a wealth of information gleaned from debriefing Offices involved in deadly force situations.
If you carry a gun as part of you lifestyle then this book is a real eye opener.
17 reviews
January 19, 2020
Should be read by anyone who carries a gun.

Cops and unsworn citizen carriers alike should read this book. So much good info here. I'll be recommending it to others on my department and rereading it.
4 reviews
February 23, 2020
The 1st edition was a must read....this edition even more so in today's world of policing.

Great source of vital information for those who wish to understand law enforcement and it's challenges. Thoughtful, insightful and well resourced.
Profile Image for Sparta.
40 reviews
December 26, 2019
I was a bit disappointed in this 2nd edition. I would have liked less stories and more indepth science. Still, a useful resource.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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