Force Under Pressure: How Cops Live and Why They Die

by Lawrence N. Blum

In Force Under Pressure , Dr. Lawrence Blum, who has devoted his life's work to the survival and wellness of "those who serve," describes the sources of danger, injuries, and victory to police officers in a down-to-earth, readable style.

Blum argues that there are missing “ingredients” in the training and socialization of police officers. These ingredients include techniques and tools to condition the officer’s decision-making and concentration during conditions of emergency; internal controls necessary to maintain the will to survive; and aids that will prevent officers being defeated by any threat.

Distressing and/or disturbing physical and psychological reactions are common in a police officer's workday, and the officer must be prepared for them. Blum's work has uncovered many of the casues of compromise to officer safety and wellness, and he contends that police officers will be well prepared to cope with unanticipated or rapidly changing encounters if they possess the right tools and the know-how to command and control field encounters and life's pressures. Here Blum provides practical tools for survival in law enforcement, by combining his clinical knowledge with true stories of police officers for an attention-grabbing and informative book.

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book to read after surviving a deadly force encounter. One whole chapter is devoted to the aftermath of an officer involved shooting and the effects on the phsychological well being to that officer. It gave me some really good insight to what I was feeling and helped overcome those feelings.

The whole book handles the stresses related to police work, how they affect individual officer's lives, and how to overcome the stress. Dr. Blum is a phychologist who works with police departments in stress-related issues. He has made a career studying the effects of stressors on police officers. He has a deep appreciation of law enforcement tactical encounters, particulalry those requiring deadly force. Dr. Blum has a clear understanding of the ambiguity, confusion, high risk and extreme time constraints that accompany law enforcement tactical encounters. He describes the effects of stress on human thinking and why perceptual distortion can lead to false conclusions.

This was a fantastic book for anyone who has been involved in a deadly force encounter. It is a good book for those who are seeking an understanding of the stressors and exeprience that accompany those in this profession.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of useful info for cops. There is some technical material to read through and understand but it also has good scenarios with which most can relate in some way.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good look at the importance of training and mental conditioning to survive use-of-force incidents.