Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Police”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Isoniazid prophylaxis for tuberculosis prevention among HIV infected police officers in Dar es Salaam.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the acceptability, compliance and side effects of isoniazid (INH) prophylaxis against tuberculosis among HIV infected police officers (PO) in Dar es Salaam. DESIGN: A nested study from a prospective follow up of a cohort of police officers. SETTING: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. SUBJECTS: One hundred and forty three HIV-1 infected police officers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acceptance and compliance to INH prophylaxis. RESULTS: Of the 400 HIV-1 infected officers, 143 (35.7%) came forward for post-test counselling and HIV test results. Sixty per cent (87/143) of them accepted to be on INH prophylaxis. However only 42.5% (37/87) came forward for evaluation regarding their suitability for INH prophylaxis. During the evaluation, eight (21.6%) of 37 otherwise asymptomatic PO were found to have active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Eventually only 29 PO were actually started on INH, and only 16 (55.2%) of them completed the six months course. No serious side effects were observed. One PO developed TB two months after loss to follow up before completing the six months. CONCLUSIONS: There was low acceptability of and poor compliance with INH prophylaxis among the HIV-1 infected PO despite being educated on the benefits of prophylaxis. The prevalence of PTB among asymptomatic HIV-1 infected PO was high, and therefore persons with HIV infection should be examined for TB even in the absence of symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of air pollution on the lipid balance of traffic police personnel.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of urban pollution on the lipid balance of members of a municipal police force in a big city. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Our case-control study comprised 118 male members of the police force performing traffic duties, and 118 blood donors who perform office work, and was paired by age and length of service. Total cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides were studied. RESULTS: The comparison of the average values of HDL cholesterol and triglycerides between the exposed traffic police group and the control group showed significant differences. The difference in the frequency distributions of HDL cholesterol and triglycerides between the exposed group and control group was significant as well. The results suggest the possibility of an alteration in the lipid balance among asymptomatic people who are exposed to air pollution. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that some chemical agents (such as carbon dioxide) contained in the urban pollution of a big city could cause dyslipidemia among people exposed to such air pollution.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Can police car colored flash light induce encephalographic discharges and seizures?

AIM: To explore the epileptogenic potential of a newly introduced police car flash light device (930 Heliobe Lightbar). METHODS: A 930 Heliobe Lightbar was installed in the EEG laboratory. Thirty patients with known epilepsy, 30 otherwise healthy subjects with chronic headache, and 15 healthy volunteers were examined. All the subjects signed an informed consent and underwent an EEG during which photostimulation was performed first with the standard stroboscope, and later with the Police lightbar. RESULTS: In all 75 examinees the lightbar did not induce clinical or electrographic seizures. In a single patient with epilepsy, the lightbar enhanced epileptiform activity induced by standard photic stimulation. CONCLUSION: The new Police light bar was found to be non-epileptogenic.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Survey on postmortem examination to police surgeons and emergency physicians. Possibility of physicians' assist in mass-disaster].

We conducted a questionnaire survey of police surgeons and emergency physicians, inquiring about their experience of medicolegal investigation of death and their willingness to join a death investigation team in a major disaster. The questionnaire also asked about their knowledge about and interest in the forensic specialist system established by the Japanese Society of Legal Medicine. Police surgeons were generally willing to join an investigation team only if a disaster occurred in or close to their hometown, because they could not afford more than several days away from patient care. Although many of the emergency physicians were willing to join a death investigation team, they had difficulty in doing so without permission or orders from their employer or the authorities concerned. The survey found that the percentage of aged police surgeons was increasing among those surveyed. This fact, in combination with the current emphasis of postgraduate education on specialty training, threatens to cause a substantial lack of physicians available for medicolegal investigation of death. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to establish a system of training resident and emergency physicians in medicolegal investigation of death. In addition to providing postgraduate training in medicolegal investigation of death to prospective trainees who are emergency physicians at major hospitals in potential disaster-stricken areas, the medical school should incorporate forensic medicine in postgraduate training programs so that they can actively perform death investigation on disaster victims dying before or after arrival at their hospitals. Furthermore, the forensic community should make every effort to increase the number of autopsies in each department of forensic medicine and to expand the medical examiner system throughout Japan that is currently in practice only in the Metropolis of Tokyo and Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka and Kobe Cities in order to incorporate forensic training in the postgraduate clinical training programs that will become compulsory in 2004.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2002

Sleepiness and sleep disorders in shift workers: a study on a group of italian police officers.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: evaluation of shift-work effect on sleepiness, sleep disorders, and sleep-related accidents in a population of police officers. DESIGN: Aquestionnaire-based survey was used to gather information on age and physical characteristics, working conditions, sleep problems, and accidents. Sleepiness was measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) while the presence of sleep disorders was evaluated by a score (SDS) drawn from indicators of insomnia, breathing disorders, periodic limb movements and restless legs syndrome, and hypersomnia. The effects of age, gender, body mass index, working conditions, and seniority on ESS, SD score, and accidents were analyzed by linear and logistic regression. SETTING: The self-administered questionnaires were filled in by police officers in the district of Genoa (Italy). PARTICIPANTS: 1,280 police officers: 611 shift workers (SW) and 669 non-shift workers (NSW). INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The ESS score was not higher in SW than in NSW, while the SDS was significantly influenced by shift-work conditions and seniority in shift work. The occurrence of sleep-ascribed accidents was significantly increased in the SW group and related to the presence of indicators of sleep disorders. There was evidence for sleep disorders in 35.7% of SW and in 26.3% of NSW. CONCLUSIONS: Shift-work conditions and seniority may enhance sleep disorders and may favor sleep-related accidents, but they do not influence ESS score. Stressful conditions could cause sleepiness to be underestimated, or else they might overcome sleepiness. However, our data should alert occupational health physicians for the diagnosis and prevention of possible undetected intrinsic sleep disorders, which could possibly worsen shift workers' health and increase the risk of accidents.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Emergency treatments for police dogs used for illicit drug detection.

The key to saving police dogs that have been exposed to large quantities of illicit substances is rapid action. Removal from the gastrointestinal tract, adsorption, and catharsis are the first steps. Some of these measures can be instituted on site by the attending officer. In case of accidental drug exposures of a dog during a search, police officers should have on hand apomorphine, syringes for administration of the drug and rinsing of the conjunctival sac, activated charcoal, a saline cathartic such as sodium sulfate (not needed if the activated charcoal product contains sorbitol), a resuscitator bag, and a well-fitting canine face mask. If bags of drugs are ingested intact, immediate surgery by a veterinarian may be required to remove the bag and prevent an obstruction or rapid absorption of a lethal dose. Injectible medications to antagonize the effects of the drugs should be reserved for administration by a readily available veterinarian upon arrival of the dog at the veterinary hospital. Pharmacologic antagonistic agents may have adverse side effects, especially if used in the treatment of a drug exposure against which they are not specifically indicated. Proper dosage and route of administration are additional important factors with such treatment. The veterinarian must instruct the police officers on the proper use, dosages, and methods of administration of the detoxifying agents as well as the proper procedures for using the face mask and resuscitator bag before an emergency arises. The officer should also be aware of the clinical signs likely to be produced following exposure to the agents for which these dogs search.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amphetamines↗
PubMed1990

Mortality associated with the use of upper-body control holds by police.

A review of police records for the nine-year period from 1974 to 1982 identified 20 men who died following restraint by an upper-body control hold while in the custody of a large, urban police department. Using evidence from autopsy findings and police reports of events immediately preceding death, we concluded that control-hold use was associated with death in 19 of the 20 cases. This investigation points to three factors potentially associated with control hold-related death that deserve further investigation: Phencyclidine (PCP) use, sickle cell trait, and stress-related arrhythmias in the heart. PCP was detected in blood or other tissues from 6 of 17 decedents tested. Intravascular red blood cell sickling was found at autopsy in 4 of 14 black decedents (29%). Four decedents had some indication of cardiovascular abnormalities.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Police custody: deaths and medical attention.

Information was obtained from all the county constabularies regarding deaths and medical attention given to those in police custody. It was presumed that this information covered all deaths in custody in Denmark during the period 1981 through 1985. There is no apparent increase in the absolute number of deaths during detention during the period 1969 through 1985. The number of deaths occurring in custody in relation to the annual number of persons incarcerated has fallen during the period 1955 through 1985. Simultaneously, a marked rise has occurred in the number of persons held in police custody. During the period 1981 through 1985, 7.9 persons were incarcerated per 1000 population per year. One homicide and nineteen other deaths occurred. The most frequent cause of death was asphyxiation as a result of aspiration of gastric contents during alcohol intoxication, drug poisoning, and intracranial hemorrhage. A physician had been consulted but had not diagnosed the seriousness of the condition in 42% of the deaths. All the deceased were men, and all suffered from the effects of social, psychiatric, and physical diseases. The lethality evaluated from hospitalized clients with the same type of life-threatening conditions was found to be 25%. A discussion is presented of the costs which will be incurred if a large group of those kept in police custody were admitted to hospital. Similarly, changes in the present arrangements are suggested that could ensure a greater certainty of avoiding deaths in detention.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Validation of police officer recruit candidates' self-reported drug use.

Three hundred and fifty-nine Chicago Police Department recruit candidates submitted urine specimens as part of a drug-screening program. Candidates were tested in two groups about a week apart. About 20% of the recruit candidates in each group evidenced drug, primarily marijuana use. As part of a psychological screening test battery all the candidates also took the Inwald Personality Inventory (IPI). The IPI contains a self-report Drug Use Scale. Drug-Positive and Drug-Negative candidates' Drug Use Scale scores were matched by age, sex, and racial/ethnic group and compared to evaluate the accuracy of self-reported drug use when screening police recruit candidates. Results showed that Drug-Positive candidates' self-reported drug use was consistently higher than that of Drug-Negative candidates. Item-level analyses showed which drug use items best discriminate between Drug-Positive and Drug-Negative candidates. Implications are drawn for use of self-report as part of a police candidate screening process.

False Negative Reactions↗
PubMed1983

Recommended vision standards for police officers.

A recommended vision standard for police officers is presented. The visual capabilities needed to perform various police duties are described. A specific vision standard, along with criteria for screening referral or screening failure are given for each category of visual skills required for police work.

Color Vision Defects↗
PubMed1978

Status of police officers with regard to selected cardio-respiratory and body compositional fitness variables.

Physical performance and body composition characteristics of members (n = 75) and recruits (n = 61) of the Louisville Police Department (total n = 136) were assessed. Members were randomly selected males and ranged in age from 20 to 55 years and were ranked from the newest inductee through and including the Chief of Police. Members between the ages of 20 and 29 years assigned to active duty possessed average cardio-respiratory fitness (Vo2max). With age, cardio-respiratory fitness decreased and body weight and body fatness progressively increased. Male and female recruits entering basic training also demonstrated average cardio-respiratory fitness. Significant (P less than .05) increases for males and females in Vo2max and decreases in body fatness (males) were found following 4 months of physically rigorous recruit training. Fifteen of the male recruits who completed training were retested following 1 year of active duty. During active duty, physical activity involvement was limited to job requirements with no additional physical training imposed. Cardio-respiratory fitness and body fatness reverted to pre-training levels. It was concluded that the physical demands associated with police work are too low to permit maintenance of physical fitness.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Breathalizers in practical use by the Hamburg police].

The pretest, which measures the alcohol content in one's breath, will remain necessary within the field of police work regardless as to whether this process will be recognized in the future as a means of reaffirming existing evidence. Inaccurate measurements, especially those which are lower than should be in the area of 0.08% and 0.11%, lead to inaccurate rulings, which in turn, directly influence traffic safety. After examining 682 breathalizer measurements, the Hamburg police department released the following information: even after having replaced the older Dräger AT 7310 with the newer AT 7410 breathalizer, larger discrepencies than those that had appeared in earlier examinations still occurred. There are too many inaccurate measurements which, in actuality, are overwhelmingly a result of the conditions surrounding police use of breathalizers. More detailed instructions describing proper application of these devices are, at present, more suitable for increasing the accuracy of the breathalizer measurements than the technical improvement of the instruments would be.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Civil commitment viewed from three perspectives: professional, family, and police.

This study was designed to uncover differences in interpretation and implementation of civil commitment laws. Such problems in interpretation may contribute to mentally ill persons remaining untreated and potentially joining the thousands of homeless mentally ill persons in our communities or the incarcerated mentally ill persons in our prisons and jails. The study examines differences in the assessments of the severity of mental illness, and the appropriateness and judged feasibility for commitment in different commitment categories, made by emergency room admitting personnel, police officers, and families of mentally ill persons. The results demonstrate that police are significantly less likely than families or mental health professionals to perceive mental disability or a need for involuntary commitment on any grounds. Professional psychiatric staffs were much more likely than the other two groups to consider commitment in all three cases as legally feasible. Family ratings of appropriateness for commitment based on the presented symptomatology are similar to those of professionals. However, they are significantly less likely than professionals to judge the cases as legally feasible for commitment, and they interpret the laws similarly to the police raters in believing that commitment laws will not allow involuntary hospitalizations. Consequences and implications of these differences are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of a community-based police surveillance program on snowmobile injuries and deaths.

Serious snowmobile injuries are preventable and associated with late-night travel, alcohol use, and speed. We studied the effectiveness of a community-based policing (STOP) program in the prevention of serious injuries related to snowmobile trauma in Sudbury, Ontario. Volunteers were trained in police protocol and were appointed special constables to increase policing on snowmobile trails from 1993-95. Snowmobile admissions and deaths in Sudbury were examined; the pre- (1990-1992) and post- (1993-1995) STOP seasons were compared. In the pre-STOP period, 102 injuries, 87 admissions, and 15 deaths occurred compared to 57 injuries (p = 0.0004), 53 admissions (p = 0.00001) and 4 deaths (p = 0.13) in the post-STOP period. All other event and demographic features of the crashes remained similar. Significant economic savings were realized from this intervention; acute care costs savings exceeded $70,000/year and costs from death decreased by $5 million. An intervention involving enforcement on snowmobile trails can reduce the incidence of injuries from snowmobile-related trauma.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1998

Mortality of a police cohort: 1950-1990.

This study presents findings from an updated retrospective cohort mortality study of male police officers from January 1, 1950 to December 31, 1990 (n = 2,593; 58,474 person-years; 98% follow-up). Significantly higher than expected mortality rates were found for all cause mortality (Standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 110; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.04-1.17), all malignant neoplasms (SMR = 125; 95% CI = 1.10-1.41), cancer of the esophagus (SMR = 213; 95% CI = 1.01-3.91), cancer of the colon (SMR = 187; 95% CI = 1.29-2.59), cancer of the kidney (SMR = 2.08, 95% CI = 100-3.82), Hodgkin's disease (SMR = 313; 95% CI = 1.01-7.29), cirrhosis of the liver (SMR = 150; 95% CI = 1.00-2.16), and suicide (SMR = 153; 95% CI = 1.00-2.24). All accidents were significantly lower (SMR = 53; 95% CI = 0.34-0.79). Mortality by years of police service showed higher than expected rates for (1) all malignant neoplasms in the 1- to 9-years-of-service group; (2) all causes, bladder cancer, leukemia, and arteriosclerotic heart disease in the 10 to 19-year group; and (3) colon cancer and cirrhosis of the liver in the over 30 years of service group. Hypotheses for findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cancer incidence among Ontario police officers.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a report in 1995 suggesting the possibility of increased incidence of testicular cancer, leukemia, and cancers of the brain, eye, and skin among police officers working with traffic radar. NIOSH recommended epidemiologic study of the issue. This report presents the results of a retrospective cohort cancer incidence study among 22,197 officers employed by 83 Ontario police departments. The standardized incidence ration (SIR) for all tumors sites was 0.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.83-0.98). There was an increased incidence of testicular cancer (SIR = 1.3, 90% CI = 0.9-1.8) and melanoma skin cancer (SIR = 1.45, 90% CI = 1.1-1.9). These anatomical sites might absorb energy from radar units, but at this time the author has no information about individual exposures to radar emissions, and it is not possible to draw etiologic conclusions. Nested case-control studies are planned to assess individual radar exposures.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Police perspectives on responding to mentally ill people in crisis: perceptions of program effectiveness.

In this study, we sampled sworn police officers from three law enforcement agencies (n = 452), each of which had different system responses to mentally ill people in crisis. One department relies on field assistance from a mobile mental health crisis team, a second has a team of officers specially trained in crisis intervention and management of mentally ill people in crisis, and a third has a team of in-house social workers to assist in responding to calls. Calls involving mentally ill people in crisis appear to be frequent and are perceived by most of the officers to pose a significant problem for the department; however, most officers reported feeling well prepared to handle these calls. Generally, officers from the jurisdiction with a specialized team of officers rated their program as being highly effective in meeting the needs of mentally ill people in crisis, keeping mentally ill people out of jail, minimizing the amount of time officers spend on these calls, and maintaining community safety. Officers from departments relying on a mobile crisis unit (MCU) and on police-based social workers both rated their programs as being moderately effective on each of these dimensions except for minimizing officer time on these calls where the MCU had significantly lower ratings.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Police officer candidate MMPI-2 performance: gender, ethnic, and normative factors.

Eighty-four police officer applicants (61 White males, 12 White Females, and 11 minority males) were administered the MMPI-2 as part of an employment screening assessment. All the applications showed a defensive style, low scores on scales 2 and 0, and extreme scores on scale 5. Implications of high scale 5 scores for female and low scale 5 scores for male police officer applicants are discussed.

Employment↗