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.
How can police officers effectively intervene against citizens' attempted suicide?
What turns any given police-citizen encounter into a deadly force scenario characteristically involves a complex web of interacting factors
Police-citizen deadly force and other use-of-force encounters can be reduced through training, education and community engagement
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
The public expects police to be professionals — police agencies should expect no less from the psychologists who evaluate their personnel
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
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
You’ve just done an incredible job dealing with an impossible situation, so respect yourself and get the help you deserve
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?
The formula of dedication combined with flexibility is what maximizes mental toughness and the survival mindset
In a few, fortunately quite rare cases, a good guy becomes the bad guy and these encounters turn deadly
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
How can police officers effectively intervene against citizens' attempted 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...
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?
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