Planning Ahead: The John Schoen Incident
Tell Us About It! Police Marksman intends to run an “Offi cer
Down” article every few months. In order to ob- tain incidents that provide clear and relevant case studies, we would like to draw from our largest available resource—you, the reader. If you have, or can obtain, factual information on actual incidents you think we can use, please contact Brian at:
7412 Lynn Grove Ct. Hazelwood, MO 63042 E-mail:
pmbrianod@charter.net Tel. 314/921-6977 (call collect) Cell: 314/941-2651
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian McKenna is a retired lieutenant from the Hazelwood (Mo.) Police Department, where he served in patrol, traffic, mobile reserve and training. He is a 32-year police veteran, with a strong background as a police trainer at both the recruit and in-service levels, and served his department as lead firearms instructor as well as in various other training functions. He is a state certified police instructor, a certified force science analyst, and holds a Master’s Degree in human resource development. Brian is a member of ILEETA and IALEFI, writes extensively on officer safety topics, and trains police officers nationwide in winning mindset and other topics related to officer safety. His book, Offi cer Down: Lessons from the Streets, is based on this column and is only available for purchase on his website. Contact him at
pmbrianod@charter.net or visit his Web site at
www.we-training.com.
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to as Warrior Optimism, and it is one of the most common traits among offi cers who win against all odds on the streets. Regardless how bad things get, they focus on their resources, no matter how limited those resources may be, and use them to fi nd a way to win. Deputy Schoen’s ability to maintain that kind of optimistic focus should serve as an inspiration to us all. Return to Question 7
Winning Mindset T ere can be little doubt that Deputy Schoen’s mindset saved his life. We have already discussed how essential his preplanning was to the favorable outcome, but that wasn’t the only element of mindset that paid off . Like other winners, he never stopped think- ing on his feet. He didn’t panic, or give in to his wounds, or the fear spawned by them. He kept planning, kept moving, kept doing whatever he needed to do to improve his situation. Even his inability to draw his gun didn’t stop him. Instead of allowing it to get him down, he took immediate action to get to a safer place where he could work on the problem, and then stuck with it until he had his gun in hand. T is kind of tenaciousness and focus on what you can do to help yourself is what can be referred
44 The Police Marksman Jan-Feb 2014
Emotional Aftermath Deputy Schoen suff ered a considerable amount of emotional trauma as a result of the shooting. Plagued with initial fears that Shimpi had escaped (it was two weeks before Shimpi’s body was identifi ed), he felt highly vulnerable during the critical time immediately following the shooting. T is problem was aggravated by the fact that he had just closed on a new house, which meant that he had to move into unfamiliar surroundings after leaving the hospital, thus denying him the vital feelings of security that normally come with going home. Unaware of what to expect after such a traumatic event, he contin- ued to suff er unreasonable fears and other serious emotional issues for several months until he fi nally sought help from a professional counselor who specialized in PTSD. On his fi rst visit, the counselor made it clear that his thoughts and emotions were perfectly normal for someone who was in his situation. T e eff ects of the counselor’s comments were almost instantaneous. With the revelation that he wasn’t emotionally weak, mentally ill, or alone, his symptom quickly dissipated and he was able to move on. T ree things played a signifi cant part in Deputy Schoen’s recovery: 1. His willingness to get help: Seeking help is not a sign of weak- ness. Rather, it is a sign of courage. It shows a willingness to face your fears and get help, not only for your own sake, but for the sake of your loved ones, fellow offi cers, and the citizens you serve. Your emotional pain aff ects them too, and the sooner you recover, the better off they will be. Many police agencies now require their offi cers to meet with a psy- chologist following shootings and this has many positive benefi ts, in- cluding removing the stigma of seeing the psychologist and allowing the offi cers to learn more about what they are going through, but this may not be enough. Many offi cers are reluctant to talk frankly with the department “shrink” out of fear that their conversations will not be held in confi dence. In addition, departmental psychologists vary in their level of expertise in dealing with the emotional aftermath of traumatic events. Offi cers who are not comfortable or satisfi ed with the departmental psychologist should seek further consultation with a private psychologist through their personal medical insurance. 2.T e realization that he wasn’t mentally ill or emotionally weak. T e thoughts and emotions experienced in the aftermath of a traumatic event can be very disturbing. Failing to understand that these reactions are normal can lead you to the belief that you are emotionally weak, mentally ill, or even insane, which only makes it that much harder to recover. T is is why it is so important for offi cers to know about the reactions they are likely to experience in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Knowing what to expect is a critical step in dealing with the emotional aftermath of a shooting or other critical incident.
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