[Assessment of psychological conditions for the use of firearms in law enforcement]. / Evaluación de las condiciones psicológicas para el uso del arma de fuego en los cuerpos de seguridad.

To handle firearms safely, an individual needs to be in sound psychological conditions. This point is especially relevant in law enforcement, given that this group is likely to experience situations where there is a reasonably severe risk to life, physical integrity and that of third parties. These conditions cause high levels of stress and become a significant source of psychological strain. The assessment of these psychological conditions in law enforcement must stay ahead of this strain and should act preventively, establishing surveillance that is the product of a consensus between the needs of professionals and organizations. This evaluation should be conducted by technical specialists who understand and know the occupational reality of these professionals. A good assessment methodology starts with the need to discover the basic areas that need exploring, the ideal procedure for assessing these issues and the criteria that determine the aptitude (or lack thereof) for handling firearms. Once these goals have been established, we can be assured that the assessment will follow a set of principles that will give it homogeneity, effectiveness and efficiency. This type of assessment will help accomplish the mission that these security professionals are entrusted to by law, which is to protect the free exercise of rights and freedoms and ensure citizen safety.

Evaluación de las condiciones psicológicas para el uso del arma de fuego en los cuerpos de seguridad / Assessment of psychological conditions for the use of firearms in law enforcement

Para utilizar un arma de fuego es necesario estar en plenas condiciones psicológicas. En los cuerpos de seguridad es especialmente relevante este punto, dado que este colectivo es susceptible de sufrir situaciones en donde exista un riesgo racionalmente grave para su vida, su integridad física o la de terceras personas. Estas situaciones producen unos niveles de estrés muy elevados y acaban siendo una fuente importante de desgaste psicológico. La evaluación de estas condiciones psicológicas en los cuerpos de seguridad se ha de adelantar a este desgaste y debe actuar de forma preventiva, estableciéndose una vigencia que sea el producto de un consenso entre las necesidades de los profesionales y de las organizaciones. Esta evaluación tiene que estar realizada por técnicos especializados que entiendan y conozcan la realidad laboral de estos profesionales. Una buena metodología de evaluación parte de la necesidad de descubrir cuáles son las áreas básicas a explorar, cuál es el procedimiento más idóneo para valorarlas y cuáles son los criterios para decidir la aptitud o no aptitud frente al uso del arma de fuego. Establecidos estos extremos se puede asegurar que la evaluación seguirá unos principios que le darán homogeneidad, eficacia y eficiencia. Este tipo de evaluaciones ayudará a cumplir la misión que estos profesionales de la seguridad tienen encomendada por ley, que es la de proteger el libre ejercicio de los derechos y de las libertades y garantizar la seguridad ciudadana (AU)

To handle firearms safely, an individual needs to be in sound psychological conditions. This point is especially relevant in law enforcement, given that this group is likely to experience situations where there is a reasonably severe risk to life, physical integrity and that of third parties. These conditions cause high levels of stress and become a significant source of psychological strain. The assessment of these psychological conditions in law enforcement must stay ahead of this strain and should act preventively, establishing surveillance that is the product of a consensus between the needs of professionals and organizations. This evaluation should be conducted by technical specialists who understand and know the occupational reality of these professionals. A good assessment methodology starts with the need to discover the basic areas that need exploring, the ideal procedure for assessing these issues and the criteria that determine the aptitude (or lack thereof) for handling firearms. Once these goals have been established, we can be assured that the assessment will follow a set of principles that will give it homogeneity, effectiveness and efficiency. This type of assessment will help accomplish the mission that these security professionals are entrusted to by law, which is to protect the free exercise of rights and freedoms and ensure citizen safety (AU)