Recommendation 22

MPD should document the critical incident support services offered and provided to officers involved in officer-involved shooting and use of force cases and require they be included in IAD reports.

Current:

Currently, SOP 453.120(F)(2) (Officer-Involved Deaths and Other Critical Incidents) requires the primary and secondary member(s) involved in a critical incident to attend a confidential psychological debriefing with a mental health professional within 72 hours following the critical incident unless unusual circumstances arise. Arrangements for the debriefing and any subsequent counseling sessions are made through the Early Intervention Program (EIP). After mandatory debriefs are completed, a letter of completion is submitted by a mental health professional to the Early Intervention Program (EIP) administrator. A copy is also retained in the Office of the Chief and the EIP administrator provides the Internal Affairs Division with a copy of the completion letter for their files.

Future:

SOP 453 is currently in the process of being revised to ensure officers receive even more support services following a critical incident. The department has recently retained a department psychologist to assist members in successfully returning to active service following a critical incident. In addition to the above requirements, the revised policy will require the primary and secondary member(s) to attend a follow up confidential psychological debriefing with the department psychologist 30-45 days following the critical incident and then again in six months following the critical incident. In addition, if a member is involved in more than one critical incident as a primary or secondary officer, the member will be required to attend a follow up confidential psychological debriefing with the department psychologist one year following the critical incident.