Among critical incidents, a shooting is perhaps most traumatic for police officers. Even with stringent firearms training and exercises, officers may still not be totally immune from the stress induced by a life and death shooting encounter.

These situations often develop rapidly with unpredictable changes. When it comes to a kill-or-be-killed moment, the decision on whether to fire is often extremely taxing and lonely, this despite every armed officer knowing PGO guidelines on firearm use.

Besides, the physical changes (pounding heart, trembling) and perceptual distortions (tunnel vision, diminished sound, slow motion time, memory gaps and distortions) induced by the high physical arousal state under intense stress, may impair an officer's judgement, shooting accuracy and affect their decision making.

The internal investigation that follows an incident can be as stressful as the shooting itself. Police officers, being tired after the intense physical and psychological impact, have to repeat the whole story several times and give detailed statements on the incident that probably lasted less than a minute.

The perceptual and memory distortions during the shooting may lead to inconsistencies and prolong the statement taking process, adding further stress to the officers. If unfortunate injury and death of colleagues or citizens are involved, the officers may become vulnerable to extreme guilt over their decision. The pressure from the media, internal investigation, and legal proceedings that often are not completed until one or two years later, also intensify and maintain psychological impacts.

Apart from physical exhaustion, a number of other reactions are commonly reported after a shooting incident. They include sleep disturbance, nightmares and cognitive intrusion of memories of the shooting. Some family members may fail to appreciate the situation and pressure involved in a shooting incident and put more stress on the officer. The officers may become isolated and depressed.

Of course, not all officers involved in shootings are traumatised as each incident differs. In view of the potentially stressful effect of a shooting, officers having experienced such incidents are required to attend the Post-shooting Mandatory Interview conducted by a Police Clinical Psychologist. This is to assess the psychological wounds of the incident and minimise any negative impact it has had on the officer.

Seek help from the Psychological Services Group! Police Headquarters, Hong Kong Island and Marine: 2866-6206 (5/F, 111 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay).

Kowloon and the New Territories: 2735-3739 (22/F, Ocean Building, 80 Shanghai Street, Kowloon).

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