Legitimate Profiling Assessments - Paper Example

Officers are expected to react appropriately while in the field to ensure that the discharge of duties follows the work guidelines and procedures. During recruitment, officers receive training on how they are expected to behave and conduct themselves while in duty. Like any other profession, discharge of duties should follow the guidelines and expected standards to enhance work performance (DeJong, Mastrofski, & Parks, 2011). In the scenario provided, the partners are expected to coordinate and react in their best ways to effectively conduct the operation. The partners should relate well with each other and maintain a mutual understanding to execute the assigned duties.

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The partner's actions to engage in unnecessary shootouts and wrestling with suspects is a clear indication that the partner has impaired judgment. It is expected for officers to make sound decisions when dealing with suspects in order to assess the possibility of offenses before conducting an arrest. It is highlighted in the case that the partner reported being having the flu, which made the officer fail to report to work the following day. However, at the beginning of the work, the partner's behaviors were exemplary, and showed an excellent record while in the academy. The changes in the partners' actions and reactions while on duty send an important message that the officer might have post-traumatic stress disorder, which has affected the way he conducts himself with other officers. From the incidence of trying to handcuff the sawmill worker, the partner was screaming on the radio from a far distance instead of giving support to the fellow officer to arrest the suspect. The partner's action not to bother with the ongoing attempt to handcuff the sawmill worker who had three outstanding felony warrants for assaults and robbery, shows that the partner was battling with some mental issues that he could not offer aid.

The partner's actions and reactions during important operations, such as dealing with crimes and stopping the suspects, indicate that the officer had the post-traumatic stress disorder developing without his knowledge. The partner officer started the work on a good note from the scenario and made several successful arrests to combat the crimes. The first three months with the officer were great; no bad actions or reactions were reported. However, in the fourth month, the behavior of the partner started to change. For instance, it is indicated that three of the last twelve traffic stops resulted in unnecessary shootouts with the suspects and were linked to the partner. This indicated that the officer partner had experienced changes in reactivity. When relating to post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, most officers would become more easily startled and react to frightful incidences resulting in damages. Therefore, from a new partner's actions, it is shown that he could easily engage in risk destructive or risky behaviors such as the shootouts and wrestling with the suspects, which is one of the common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (Armour, Fried, Deserno, Tsai & Pietrzak, 2017). The new partner also demonstrated a lack of concentration when he opted for screaming on the radio and distancing himself from his colleague, who was attempting to handcuff the sawmill worker, but he could not offer assistance.

Several actions can be taken to help the new partner repossess himself and resume the normal behavior as a trained officer. However, the two specific actions that could be used to correct the problem are conducting a cognitive behavioral therapy to the new partner and giving the officer a rest so that he resumes work later. Behavior therapy would help the new partner replace negative or destructive thoughts with less distressing thoughts (Armour et al., 2017). The therapy will also enable the new partner to cope with feelings whenever they trigger and combat physical sensations to trauma. Allowing the new officer to take a break and resume duties later is another important action that would help the department prevent further damages and risky behaviors.

Working with new officers on a patrol shift can be quite challenging, especially if the actions and reactions depict health issues. In the given scenario, the officers on duty were well-armed to carry on the operation. Still, they lacked a mutual understanding to work effectively due to the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on the new partner. The unit that had planned for a high-risk stop needed the support in order for the officers to conduct the operation; one officer had accompanied them to offer aid. Still, the new partner was battling with behavior changes and could be easily engaged in wrestling with the suspects instead of conducting a sober assessment to make legitimate profiling assessments of potential smugglers. This incidence showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder that affected their cooperation during the mission. From this scenario, it is evident that the majority of officers face critical health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorders that eventually affect their commitment to work, as well as causing misunderstandings. The officer's action to scoot under the vehicle while on the shift is a clear indication of a health problem that needs to be addressed to help the officer continue with the assigned duties (Burke et al., 2017).

Survivor's guilt is a common personality disorder that is experienced by surviving victims of a life-threatening experience. This disorder occurs as a result of a person's feelings of guilt for surviving a life-threatening event when others could not manage (Murray, 2018). For instance, the survivors of a traumatic event such as a mass shooting or killings may question why they managed to escape death while others, including their relatives and close friends, lost their lives. People with survivor's guilt also wonder if there was anything they could do to save others' lives during a life-threatening event. Survivor’s guilt disorder is common among war veterans, first responders, crash survivors, and witnesses to traumatic events. Therapy is a recommended treatment for people with survivor's guilt to help them regain control of their lives, as well as experience relief from symptoms.

The second personality disorder that is common to surviving victims of a life-threatening event is psychological trauma. This disorder is caused by an overwhelmingly negative event that results in a lasting impact on the survivor's mental and emotional stability. Psychological trauma causes damage to the victim's brain leading to an inability to cope with increased stress and emotional feelings. Surviving victims of a traumatic event often find it difficult to live a normal life as a result of mental interruptions that lead to confusion, shock, disbelief, mood swings, and anger. The types of people who commonly succumb to psychological trauma are rape victims, domestic violence, natural disasters, and witnesses of major traumatic acts. Several methods can be used in the treatment of psychological trauma; one important approach is the use of medication to treat typical symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Another treatment approach is behavior therapy through professional counseling to restore the patient to normal mental and emotional stability.

References

Armour, C., Fried, E. I., Deserno, M. K., Tsai, J., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2017). A network analysis of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and correlates in US military veterans. Journal of anxiety disorders, 45, 49-59.

Burke, R., Violanti, J. M., Andrew, M., Burchfiel, C. M., Hartley, T. A., Charles, L. E., & Miller, D. B. (2017). Posttraumatic stress symptoms and cortisol patterns among police officers. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management.

DeJong, C., Mastrofski, S. D., & Parks, R. B. (2011). Patrol officers and problem solving: An application of expectancy theory. Justice Quarterly, 18(1), 31-61.

Murray, H. L. (2018). Survivor guilt in a posttraumatic stress disorder clinic sample. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 23(7), 600-607.