Dr. Laurence Miller

Practical Police Psychology

Laurence Miller, PhD is a clinical, forensic and police psychologist based in Palm Beach County, Florida. Dr. Miller provides clinical and training services for local, regional and national law enforcement agencies. He is a forensic psychological examiner and serves as an independent expert witness in civil and criminal cases across North America. He is an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University and is the author of over 400 print and online publications dealing with the brain, behavior, criminal justice, law enforcement, traumatic disability and workplace issues.

Dr. Miller has consulted and/or testified in a number of high-profile police shooting cases in the United States and Canada. In February 2015, he was selected to be a panel member testifying before the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing in Washington, DC. His latest book is "The Psychology of Police Deadly Force Encounters." If you have a question for this column, please email editor@policeone.com.

Full list of Dr. Laurence Miller results

Police intervention and the suicidal subject: Suicide facts and fictions
–

How can police officers effectively intervene against citizens' attempted suicide?
Understanding the psychology behind deadly force encounters
–

What turns any given police-citizen encounter into a deadly force scenario characteristically involves a complex web of interacting factors
Perceptions about police use of deadly force and race: A psychologist's view
–

Police-citizen deadly force and other use-of-force encounters can be reduced through training, education and community engagement
How to pass your police pre-employment psych screening without going nuts
–

While it's unlikely you’re going to enjoy the exam, there are some things you can do to help it go as smoothly as possible
5 questions answered about pre-employ psych testing for cops
–

The public expects police to be professionals — police agencies should expect no less from the psychologists who evaluate their personnel
How officer health fits into Obama’s police community task force initiative
–

I was privileged to be selected as one of the panel members reporting to the Task Force on Officer Wellness and Safety in Washington DC
When cops kill: The psychology of deadly-force encounters
–

The law does not require police officers to utilize the absolute minimum force necessary in a threat situation — only that the level of force used be reasonable to control a deadly threat
One year after Newtown: Mental wellbeing following a critical incident
–

You’ve just done an incredible job dealing with an impossible situation, so respect yourself and get the help you deserve
The Dorner case: When cops turn rogue and how to prevent it
–

What makes a LEO turn from protector to punisher? How can we predict when this will happen and to whom? How do fellow officers react to an eruption of violence by one of their own?
Survival mindset: What it really means to be a tough character
–

The formula of dedication combined with flexibility is what maximizes mental toughness and the survival mindset
Blue on Blue: Reactions to a cop-on-cop shooting
–

In a few, fortunately quite rare cases, a good guy becomes the bad guy and these encounters turn deadly
10 years after 9/11: Reluctant heroes
–

While some public safety personnel just eat up the hero-worship stuff, others are uncomfortable with all the attention and just want their life back
Police intervention and the suicidal subject: Principles of crisis intervention
–

How can police officers effectively intervene against citizens' attempted suicide?
Warning signs of suicide
–

Coworkers, family members, and friends can all be valuable resources in identifying people in distress who may be at risk for suicide. Clues may be few or many, verbal or behavioral, direct or indi...
Unfriendly fire: Dealing with the aftermath of a blue-on-blue death
–

You shot another cop — how the hell are you supposed to feel and what the hell can you do to survive and recover from this life-changing episode?
Load More