Preparation
Read Week 4 Assignment: Policing in America [PDF], which is based on a true case scenario, for insight into the psychological factors that come into play between police and the community.
Put yourself in the shoes of a criminal justice intern shadowing the forensic psychologist at your local police station. You’ve been asked to conduct research to help prepare for a workshop about the psychological aspects related to policing. In doing so, you will help police understand the value a forensic psychologist can bring to situations that the police must face in the field regarding mental illness and addiction.
Refer to Chapter 4 in your textbook and the B.S. in Criminal Justice Library Guide for resources for completing this assignment.
Write a 2–3 page report in which you answer the following questions:
What are the roles of police and law enforcement today when dealing with individuals with mental illness?
How do these roles factor in the encounters between police and citizens?
What are some of the stressors police faced in relation to the scenario you read?
What are some assessments forensic psychologists conduct that help police learn to intervene and re-focus or de-escalate situations?
According to the text, the Joint Committee on Police Psychology Competencies has identified four general domains of proficiency that include the assessment domain, the intervention domain, the operational domain, and the consulting domain. In what capacity was Maggie Hendriks working with Officer Smith to help his future performance?
Use three academic resources to support your responses. Your textbook can be included as a resource. Consult Basic Search: Strayer University Online Library and the B.S. in Criminal Justice Library Guide for the other two sources.
This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:
Examine the psychological understanding and response to offending behavior, encompassing the police.
Week 4 Assignment: Policing in America (Based on a true case)
Scenario: Police officers Russ Cameron and his partner, Eugene Smith, were on duty in Salem, Massachusetts on July
17, 2019. Both Cameron and Smith had been on the force for more than five years, and neither officer had been
disciplined for any prior issues on the force. Cameron had complaints against him for assault in the police station, but
there was never any evidence produced against him.
Both police officers were in the squad car when the call came in at 8:04PM. There was a 911 call to report to a
domestic violence and firearm discharge on Milk Street. Cameron and Smith confirmed they were in the area, and they
called in and were discharged to the scene.
Upon arrival at the scene, there was a male with a firearm in the upstairs window, an apparently intoxicated female in
the front yard, with one young male child who appeared to be about 3 years old. The child appeared to be unharmed.
Cameron exited the vehicle, drew his firearm, and asked the male suspect to drop the weapon. The male disappeared
into the upstairs of the house and turned off the lights. Cameron ran into the open front door of the house and proceeded
up the stairs.
Smith approached the female, who was clearly in distress and had a large laceration on her face. The female was held
without incident and was placed in the back of the squad car with the child. Smith called for back up and an ambulance.
At the time the victim was being placed in the squad car, the female victim’s mother approached Smith on the scene.
The mother explained that lived in the same residence, was in the back apartment, heard the argument and the firearm
discharge and called 911.
The female victim explained to Smith that she and her boyfriend had an argument. She said that her boyfriend hit her
on the face with the firearm, and the firearm discharged into the room. She then ran down the stairs, collected her son
and ran outside. Smith was able to transfer the victim to the ambulance staff for assessment, place the child in the care
of the grandmother, and then proceed to back up his partner.
At this time, another squad car came on the scene. Officers James and McMillan came on the scene. The three police
officers entered the home and went up the stairs. The lights were off in the house on the second floor. The police were
using flashlights. Cameron had been in the house and was not accounted for. Smith found Cameron unconscious at the
top of the stairs with a stab would to his leg and a laceration across his face. Smith determined that Cameron needed
medical care and called for an ambulance on the scene.
Smith had his service revolver and his flashlight in his hands. Officer James found the lights, and Smith saw the suspect
across the room. Smith ordered the suspect to drop the firearm, and the suspect did. The suspect was speaking in words
that made no sense and claimed that demons were in his head. Smith then began to use what appeared to be excessive
force while trying to arrest the suspect.
James and McMillan removed Smith from the suspect. The suspect was a male, approximately 30 years old, covered in
blood, and did not appear to be mentally coherent. The suspect was arrested by James and McMillan and charged with
Illegal Possession of a firearm, Discharge of a Firearm in City limits, Aggravated Assault, and Risk of Injury to a
Minor.
Smith then left the scene. Smith then took the victim’s statement at the hospital, Cameron’s statement at the hospital and
then reported back to the police department. He was then ordered to meet with Maggie Hendricks, the Forensic
Psychologist to discuss the arrest.
In her report, Maggie Hendricks determined that Officer Smith was capable of his duties, but needed some de-escalation
techniques, as he overreacted to do stress and the injury of his long-time partner. Smith was returned to desk duty for 4
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