Citation

McClure KA, McGuire KL, Loftus EF. Psychol. Crime Law 2020; 26(3): 248-266.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1068316X.2019.1652748

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Sworn law enforcement officers (N = 151) were exposed to two different simulated lethal force encounters, a motorcycle-traffic-stop (MTS) and a workplace violence incident. Workplace violence incidents (WPV) consisted of two versions: an original version (WVO) and an enhanced version (WVE) with additional tactile and auditory stimuli within the simulation environment. Officers' recognition memory (immediate and 48 h later), perceived stress, and physiological stress responses were examined. Delayed reporting led to impaired memory for event information in the MTS and perpetrator information in the WVE simulation. Moreover, perpetrator information was remembered more accurately than event information. Two physiological stress markers - alpha amylase and immunoglobulin-a - were correlated with memory for the simulated experiences; however, cortisol and interleukin-6 were not. These findings support current theory related to arousal and memory suggesting that officers should be interviewed as soon as reasonably possible after a lethal force incident. Implications for legal parameters in defining a 'reasonable officer' exerting lethal force are considered.

Language: en

Keywords

Lethal force; memory; officer-involved-shooting policy; physiological arousal; stress response; virtual simulation