The Thin Blue Lifeline - by Ellis Amdur & Hutchings John (Hardcover)
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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>Individuals suffering from psychiatric or substance abuse disorders can display verbal outbursts, physical threats and even violence. This comprehensive guidebook offers law enforcement officers a comprehensive set of strategies to keep themselves as well as the general public safe, while functioning at the highest level of professionalism.<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br><p>The first section of this book is tactical: everything from field safety and strategic planning on one side, to honing your intuition to pick up early signs of danger on the other. In the second section of the book, the authors focus on us: what we can do to achieve a state of integrity and powerful calm. Rather than abstract pronouncements, they offer specific strategies, including a method of breathing for the purpose of maintaining one's own center in crisis situations.</p><p>They then move on to the heart of the book, discussing specific behaviors ranging from confusion and obsessive concerns to psychosis, mania and acute disorganization. In one very important section, they discuss interactions with opportunistic and manipulative individuals (at worst, those referred to as psychopaths), people who present a danger to the psychological and physical well-being of anyone with whom they come in contact.</p><p>Amdur and Hutchings do not merely confine themselves to the important subject of despondent suicidal individuals who attempt to kill themselves. They also offer strategic interventions for "parasuicidal" individuals, those who either threaten to harm themselves, or repetitively do so, requiring almost constant involvement of police, hospitals and the mental health system. In one very important chapter, the authors discuss "suicide-by-cop," where self-harm and interpersonal aggression are folded into the same act.</p><p>They then move on to a discussion of anger and potentially violent behavior, whether directed at law enforcement officers or others. The authors give succinct information on how to immediately recognize different modes of aggression, whether displayed by adults, youth, or children, and then outline how to quickly and effectively implement de-escalation or control tactics best suited to deal with the type of aggression one is facing.</p><p>Finally, in essential appendices, they present protocols on current information on positional and compression asphyxiation (authored by Dr. Gary Vilke), and a protocol, specific to police, on excited delirium (authored by Lieutenant Michael Paulus, ret.) Rather than abstract information, more useful in a consulting room than in the field, The Thin Blue Lifeline is tactically based, from start to finish. This book can function as the foundation of any law enforcement Crisis Intervention Team program, providing a comprehensive course of study of "boots-on-the-ground" encounters with emotionally disturbed individuals. In the same vein, the information in this volume provides core information on communication, which will be invaluable to any crisis/hostage negotiation team.</p><p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br><p>I have had the opportunity to review & read <strong>THE THIN BLUE LIFELINE: </strong> <strong>Verbal De-escalation of Mentally Ill and Emotionally Disturbed People - For Law Enforcement Officers</strong><em>.</em> I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is relevant, well-written, operationally-based, and goes to the heart of the matter in dealing with people who are in crisis - not just for dealing with "mentally ill" folks - but virtually everyone with whom police officers come into contact. This moves policing communication so far beyond "Verbal Judo" and "Tac Com" that those systems cannot even compare (though, to be sure, there are some similar techniques that they utilise in those systems). In an age where police officers are under increasing pressure to move from call-to-call, there can be accompanying pressure to resolve situations more quickly than they should be resolved - which, when time is compressed, usually leads to the application of physical force. This book offers perspective, is incredibly insightful and will help officers recognize specific issues and conditions. It provides real-world, usable tools, tactics and techniques to help resolve situations at the preferred threshold of "Officer Presence" and "Communication." II wish I had read this book 25 years ago.</p><p><strong><em>Joel A. Johnston, Staff Sergeant 1314, Use of Force & Municipal ERT Coordinator, Province of British Columbia</em></strong></p><p>Unlike other books or seminars I have attended on this topic, this book does not try to train you to diagnose a patient -- the authors want you to be able to recognize certain behaviors in individuals and then give you tools to help successfully handle the event.</p><p>Ellis and Chief Hutchings really do get it. They understand that we have a dangerous job and that we will not be able to talk everybody into handcuffs. Nor do they place unrealistic demands upon us and put us into unsafe situations. Indeed, in the preface the book clearly mandates that "it's about safety."</p><p><strong>- Sergeant Ed Flosi (retired) former lead instructor for use-of-force training, as well as defense and arrest tactics for the San Jose Police Department.</strong></p><p>There's much more in the book, including an excellent and thought-provoking section on managing rage and violence, and a section on communicating with troubled (read drug addicted, mentally ill, and emotionally disturbed kids) youths.</p><p>There are also several useful appendices, including one on dealing with active-duty and veteran military personnel, setting up a Crisis Intervention Program, information for support staff (especially station personnel) on how to deal with aggressive individuals in the police lobby and on the phone (just in case you can't get around to buying the volume aimed at dispatch centers, <strong>Everything on the Line</strong>, which you should absolutely add to your set), and a suggested response protocol for police dealing with a possible excited delirium incident.</p><p><strong>- Steve Ashley of ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association)</strong></p><p> </p><br>
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