Line Of Duty Research Articles

Military personnels' experience of deployment: An exploration of psychological trauma, protective influences, and resilience.

Military personnel are at a heightened risk of being exposed to potentially traumatic incidents in the line of duty. Evidence would suggest that the risk of developing psychological trauma and/or PTSD after a traumatic event is predicted by the interaction of pre-trauma, peri-trauma and post-trauma risk and protective factors. This research will explore military personnels' experience of potentially traumatic events while deployed. In particular, the research aims to gain an understanding of both protective and risk factors which influence personnels' experience of potentially traumatic events. One to one, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 members of the Irish Defence Forces. We conducted a thematic analysis in line with the recommendations provided by Braun & Clarke 2006. There was a wide variety of potentially traumatic events experienced by participants, ranging from stressful naval migrant rescues to armed standoffs. Aside from more pointed events, chronic stress was reported to negatively affect personal resilience while factors such as positive mindset and a belief in the mission had a galvanizing effect. Both the family back home and the "military family" were reported to provide sources of comfort and support, while at times being a source of significant stress. The organisational context of the military, including training and formal psychological supports was viewed with mixed opinions by our participants. The findings of this research illuminate the unique stress and strains faced by Irish military personnel at pre, peri and post deployment. The results highlight the need for effective predeployment resilience building programmes to equip personnel with the tools to deal with traumatic events. This foundational work provides the basis for further research into the military peacekeeper and humanitarian domain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

National EMS Memorial Service: Honoring the Emergency Medical Services and Air Medical Fallen

It was 30 years ago that Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Kevin Dillard and a group from the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads who founded the volunteer-based National EMS Memorial Service (NEMSMS) to honor and recognize emergency medical services (EMS) and air medical providers who died in the line of duty, held the first service. They realized that although there were memorial services for police and fire professionals, there was no formal recognition of EMS and air medical providers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service to others.

Surveillance for Violent Deaths - National Violent Death Reporting System, 39 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 2018.

Surveillance for Violent Deaths - National Violent Death Reporting System, 39 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 2018.

Why Do We Still Not Know How to Prevent Firefighter Entrapments?—Thoughts and Observations from a Few Perplexed Fire Practitioners

Wildland firefighters continue to die in the line of duty. Flammable landscapes intersect with bold but good-intentioned doers and trigger entrapment—a situation where personnel is unexpectedly caught in fire behaviour-related, life-threatening positions where planned escape routes or safety zones are absent, inadequate, or compromised. We often document, share and discuss these stories, but many are missed, especially when the situation is a near miss. Entrapment continues to be a significant cause of wildland firefighter deaths. Why do we still not know how to prevent them? We review a selection of entrapment reports courtesy of the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Centre (WFLLC) and focus on human factors involved in entrapment rather than the specifics of fire behaviour and the environment. We found that in order for operational supervisors to make more informed strategic and tactical decisions, a more holistic and complete trend analysis is necessary of the existing database of entrapment incidents. Analysis of the entrapment data would allow training to include a more fulsome understanding of when suppression resources are applying strategies and tactics that might expose them to a higher likelihood of entrapment. Operational supervisors would make more informed decisions as to where and when to deploy resources in critical situations in order to reduce the exposure to unnecessary risk of entrapment.

On the question of occupational syphilis

Professor A. P. Jordan in his work: "Occupational syphilis of midwives" (RVD, 1925, No. 2) cites the work of Tgub, where the author gives 407 cases of hard chancre from doctors received by them in the line of duty ... According to existing statistics, surgeons fall ill with professional syphilis, then gynecologists and venereologists (K. A. Karysheva, R. V. D., 1925, No. 7).

Effect of variable priority training on police officer driving performance and workload

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of police injuries and deaths in line of duty. These crashes have been mainly attributed to the use of in-vehicle technologies while driving. Police officers receive extensive training on driving skills; however, limited training is provided on the use of in-vehicle technologies. Variable priority training (VPT) is a computer-based training that has shown promising results in improving multi-tasking performance. Eighteen police officers participated in a driving simulation study to assess the effect of VPT on officers’ performance and workload. Findings suggested that although VPT was effective in improving officers’ performance in dual and multi-task simulations across the training sessions, this effect was not generally transferred to driving. However, the VPT might be effective for training of high-demand situations involving pursuit driving and multiple secondary tasks. The findings can be beneficial for police agencies to improve training protocols. Practitioner summary: A driving simulation study was conducted to assess the effect of a computer-based training approach on police officers’ driving performance and cognitive workload. The findings suggested that the proposed training approach might be effective for training of high-demand situations involving pursuit driving and multi-tasking.

Note from the Guest Editor

“You’re going to make a difference. A lot of times it won’t be huge, it won’t be visible even. But it will matter just the same. Don’t do it for praise or money, that’s what I want to tell you. Do it because it needs to be done. Do it to make your world better.” - James Gordon, in Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka’s Gotham Central Book One: In the line of duty. This annual Special Edition once again combines outstanding papers from two conferences: The 33rd annual conference of the Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering (SAIIE33), held from 3 to 5 October 2022 in Zimbali, South Africa, and The 23rd annual Rapid Product Development Association of South Africa (RAPDASA) conference, joined by the 15th Robotics and Mechatronics (RobMech), the 33rd Pattern Recognition Association of South Africa (PRASA), and the 3rd South African Advanced Materials Initiative (CoSAAMI) conferences. This joint conference was held from 9 to 11 November 2022 in Somerset West, South Africa. This Special Edition presents the best work presented at these conferences. Papers undergo the same double-blind peer review process, using the journal’s criteria. They are selected on the basis of reviewer rankings and a final check of quality and suitability by the journal editors. The theme of this year’s SAIIE conference introduced us to The marvellous world of industrial engineering, comparing the work done by industrial engineering professionals with that of superheroes, while the RAPDASA conference showcased the wonders of Digital technology in production development. These themes highlighted the industrial engineering profession’s versatile nature and far-reaching impact. The papers in this Special Edition are, without a doubt, excellent, and they contribute both visibly and invisibly to making the world a better place. I encourage you to explore the papers, and I trust that you, too, will be able to see our industrial engineering professionals as the superheroes of the future. Teresa Hattingh Guest Editor

Safety Awareness at Sea: Perspectives from Marine Unit, Royal Malaysian Custom Department

Law enforcement officers face many dangerous and stressful situations in the line of duty. Some, such as gun violence, are obvious; other dangers (e.g., fatalities while working at sea) are hidden but common and can hinder officer performance. Officer performance is also affected by training and other factors. This article uses best-practice research to examine the relationship between safety culture, safety training, employee involvement, and safety awareness at the workplace, specifically to law enforcement employees working at sea. Safety awareness considered a vital element in every organization to enhance their employees’ performance. Quantitative research methodology was applied to examine the relationship between independent variables and dependent variable. The questionnaire are divided into five sections, covering demographic factors, safety culture, marine safety training, employee involvement, and safety awareness at the workplace. A total of 30% of 550 employees from the Marine Unit of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department were selected randomly as respondents. This study indicates that safety culture, safety at sea training, and employee involvement have a significant positive relationship to safety awareness at the workplace. A recommendation is then offered for law-enforcement safety management that can apply to the Marine Enforcement Unit of Royal Malaysian Customs to eliminate accidents, injuries, and fatalities at sea in the marine enforcement profession. The Marine Customs law enforcement professionals may benefit from studying the safety practices and safety management systems implemented in other high-risk professions to develop more effective programs that prioritize safety and mitigate risk in the workplace, especially safety at sea. The high-risk environment and nature of work conducted by Marine Customs law enforcement officers demand a holistic and dedicated approach to safety to reduce fatalities and injuries throughout the profession.

Law enforcement suicide: The depth of the problem and best practices for suicide prevention strategies

The purpose of this research study was to review the current literature on the prevalence of suicide deaths, attempts, and ideation, and resistance for seeking help among law enforcement officers by examining current suicide prevention programs among those that support the country's police officers. The exact number of law enforcement officer deaths by suicide is unknown due to inconsistent data collection practices. Approximate estimates range from being at or significantly above the national average; one study reported the rate of suicide to be twice the rate of officers who die in the line of duty, another study reported three times the rate and another reported to be eight times that of the general population. The inconclusive nature of the literature has made obtaining the number of officer suicide deaths challenging. A comprehensive examination of the law enforcement mental health and suicide prevention literature revealed a lack of consistency in reporting; a multitude of maladaptive behaviors; and a lack of adequate suicide prevention programing for this profession. • Law enforcement officer rates of suicide are higher than the general population. • Relationship problems and job stress are the top variables among officer suicides. • Critical events contribute to officers' trauma and stress, increasing suicide risk. • Leadership must instill a department mentality of help-seeking from a top-down response. • Suicide prevention for law enforcement officers requires unique interventions.

Gun Victimization in the Line of Duty: Fatal and Non-Fatal Firearm Assaults on Police Officers in the United States, 2014-2019

Gun Victimization in the Line of Duty: Fatal and Non-Fatal Firearm Assaults on Police Officers in the United States, 2014-2019

Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty: Contextual and Situational Factors Relating to Body Armor

Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty: Contextual and Situational Factors Relating to Body Armor

Serious injuries and dental trauma in the line of police duty and their long-term consequences.

Confrontations between police officers and citizens have become almost commonplace in today's world. The propensity for violence towards police officers is an ongoing topic. Statistics show a clear increase in violent crimes of this nature. The aim of the present study was to evaluate police officers' risk of injury including orofacial involvement in the line of duty. One hundred and sixty-eight members of a regional police corps in northwestern Switzerland were interviewed with the help of an online questionnaire. The data were kept completely anonymous. Survey questions related to police officers' life on and off the job and focused on serious line-of-duty injuries (LODIs) that led to a loss of work time. LODIs resulting in work absences were not uncommon: 60.9% had been injured in the line of duty. During their free time, the officers showed a moderate risk-taking behavior (mean 50, IQR 30-67.2) and a slightly higher level of perceived risk of being injured while on duty (mean 59.1, SD 20). Most line-of-duty injuries occurred during the first 15 years of service. Among the injured police officers, the level of perceived threat of violence while on duty (mean 40, IQR 20-60) was higher than their non-injured colleagues (mean 50, IQR 21.2-60). The most commonly injured body parts were the hands (20.8%), head (14.9%) and knees (11.3%). Dental injuries were reported in only one case (0.6%). Greater work experience seems to improve the reactions and protective behavior of this occupational group in dangerous situations. Albeit the risk of being injured is high among police officers, dental trauma and orofacial involvement occurs rarely.

Serious injuries and dental trauma in the line of police duty and their long-term consequences.

Confrontations between police officers and citizens have become almost commonplace in today's world. The propensity for violence towards police officers is an ongoing topic. Statistics show a clear increase in violent crimes of this nature. The aim of the present study was to evaluate police officers' risk of injury including orofacial involvement in the line of duty. One hundred and sixty-eight members of a regional police corps in northwestern Switzerland were interviewed with the help of an online questionnaire. The data were kept completely anonymous. Survey questions related to police officers' life on and off the job and focused on serious line-of-duty injuries (LODIs) that led to a loss of work time. LODIs resulting in work absences were not uncommon: 60.9% had been injured in the line of duty. During their free time, the officers showed a moderate risk-taking behavior (mean 50, IQR 30-67.2) and a slightly higher level of perceived risk of being injured while on duty (mean 59.1, SD 20). Most line-of-duty injuries occurred during the first 15 years of service. Among the injured police officers, the level of perceived threat of violence while on duty (mean 40, IQR 20-60) was higher than their non-injured colleagues (mean 50, IQR 21.2-60). The most commonly injured body parts were the hands (20.8%), head (14.9%) and knees (11.3%). Dental injuries were reported in only one case (0.6%). Greater work experience seems to improve the reactions and protective behavior of this occupational group in dangerous situations. Albeit the risk of being injured is high among police officers, dental trauma and orofacial involvement occurs rarely.

The Situation and Preventive Measures Related to COVID-19 Infection for Medical Staff

The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, emerged from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and has recently spread all over the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers struggle against this microscopic enemy due to their job responsibilities, thus leading to be infected in some of them, even some of them are died in line of duty. As of 2 February 2021, 37 million cases of COVID-19 among health workers from 183 countries and regions were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), a figure that represents 36% of the total cases globally. The median age of these cases was 42 years and 68% were women. On May 24, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that at least 115,000 healthcare workers have died due to COVID-19 worldwide since the pandemic began last year. It is important to pay attention to the situation related to COVID-19 infection for medical staff and their preventive measures. This paper reviews the literature on all available information about the situation and preventive measures (The primary prevention of COVID-19 is to break the chain of transmission from infected to healthy people, secondary preventive measures comprise the use of health screening and recognition activities to ascertain those infected with COVID-19 and tertiary prevention consists of treatment and proper rehabilitation) related to COVID-19 infection for medical staff.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Guidance and Counselling Establishment Programme on Administration Police Officers’ Self Efficacy in Nairobi County, Kenya

Police officers in many countries face a myriad of social, psychological, and occupational challenges in their line of duty which has a significant effect on their mental health; Kenya is no exception. The Administration Police Service established a guidance and counselling programme to address the said challenges. This study, sought to assess the effectiveness of the Guidance and Counselling programme on Administration Police (AP) officers’ self-efficacy. The study was guided by the Self-efficacy theory by Albert Bandura and the Well-being theory by Martin Seligman. The study adopted the ex-post-facto research design. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 367 participants from a total population of 7,404 AP officers while 20 key informants were purposively sampled. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection. The study revealed that though the APS offers peer counselling services to its officers, these services were not effective in training self-efficacy among AP officers. Additionally, it was established that the individual counselling services offered to AP officers were not effective in enhancing the officers’ self-efficacy in the delivery of service. The study recommends the introduction of incentives for officers to encourage them to seek professional guidance and counselling training; decentralization of the APS guidance and counselling services up to the County level; employment of professional counsellors to cater for the counselling needs of the APS; the continuous awareness training of the officers on the existence of the Guidance and Counselling programme within the APS; and, provision of environments where officer counsellors can share experiences, exchange ideas and have professional and intellectual discourses.

Organizational levers supporting police officers’ psychological health in the workplace after exposure to a potentially psychologically traumatic event

One in two police officers report having experienced a potentially psychologically traumatic event (PPTE) in the course of their career that has had an impact on their professional or personal life. In addition, daily exposure to PPTEs results in major adverse effects that affect all aspects of health: psychological, emotional, and physical. However, it is not necessarily PPTEs as such that cause psychological distress at work; rather, the determining factor seems to be the organization’s response to police officers’ exposure to PPTEs. The purpose of this study is therefore to identify the organizational factors that explain psychological health at work for police officers who have experienced a PPTE in the line of duty. The results show that the quality of relationships with the superior and colleagues, the availability of support such as advice, job demand, and job decision latitude are factors that partially explain the psychological distress that police officers experience at work after a PPTE [R2 = .38, p<.05; F(1,451) = 55.99, p<.001]. Conversely, quality relationships with co-workers, job demand, and job decision latitude partially account for the workplace psychological well-being experienced by officers after a PPTE [R2=.42, p<.05; F(1,457) = 109.55, p<.001]. This study highlights the importance for police organizations to promote good relationships between police officers and, above all, to encourage managers to invest in their relational skills and counseling-type social support. The study limitations and new avenues for research are also discussed.

Polling stations - the main cornerstone of elections

In this article, we discuss the legislative proposal submitted by us, according to which we request an amendment to Article 61, Part 1, Paragraph 1 of the Election Code of Georgia, according to which a new function was added to the member of the flow regulation commission - if necessary, electronically check In the list. In addition, Article 58 (4) (b) of the law requires a change, according to which special places for election observers and party representatives will be allocated at the polling station on polling day, from where they will be able to freely observe the election process at the polling station. With these changes, the Election Code of Georgia will be able to better regulate the problems existing at the polling station on the polling day; It serves to create a safe, comfortable electoral environment for both the voter and the other persons involved in the election process in the line of duty. Keywords: Elections, Legislative Proposal, Election Code

Studies Detail Heart Risks for Firefighters

Studies Detail Heart Risks for Firefighters

Physical and cognitive demands associated with police in-vehicle technology use: an on-road case study

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of police officers’ deaths in line of duty. These crashes have been mainly attributed to officers’ driving distraction caused by the use of in-vehicle technologies while driving. This paper presents a 3-h ride-along study of 20 police officers to assess the physical and cognitive demands associated with using in-vehicle technologies. The findings suggested that the mobile computer terminal (MCT) was the most frequently used in-vehicle system for the officers. In addition, officers perceived the MCT to significantly increase their visual, cognitive, and physical demands compared to other in-vehicle technologies. Evidence from electromyography and eye-tracking measures suggested that officers with more experience as a patrol officer and those who were working in more congested areas experienced higher cognitive workload. Furthermore, it was found that as the ride-along duration increased, there were indications of muscle fatigue in medial deltoid and triceps brachii muscles. Practitioner summary: This study assessed the impact of police in-vehicle technology use in an on-road case study. The findings provide new data and knowledge for police agencies and vehicle manufacturers to develop administrative measures and in-vehicle technology innovations to improve police officers’ health and safety.

Interacting with Persons with Disabilities: South African Police Officers’ Knowledge, Experience and Perceived Competence

Abstract Police officers increasingly come into contact with persons with various disabilities in their line of duty. This study aimed to determine police officers’ knowledge, experience, and perceived competence in interacting with persons with disabilities by using questionnaires (n = 98). Participants spanned different genders, age groups, educational levels, ranks, and years of experience. Results showed fair knowledge of the different disability types, despite no prior training. This was attributed to 52% of participants with a family member with a disability and 39% who had previously come into contact with various disability types in their line of duty. Knowledge was poor in identifying specific characteristics of various disabilities. Regarding experience, police officers reported that they most frequently encountered persons with physical disabilities. Perceived competence in interacting with persons with disabilities in the course of policing varied from high to low. A need for training related to disabilities was expressed by 94% of participants.