Police officers are often the first contact for victims following a traumatic encounter and the importance of that police/victim interaction cannot be underestimated. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a reaction to a violent event that evokes intense fear, terror, and helplessness; and the police officer needs to be familiar to the typical behavior which can be displayed by a person suffering this disorder. The outcome of effective police/victim interviewing can have a positive dual effect, aiding police in retrieving pertinent evidence and factual data relevant to the case, while protecting the immediate and potential future mental well-being of the victim. Eleven victim/witness intervention techniques are discussed; and a table listing the sequence of behaviors for various traumatic events, including three criminal activities, is presented. Three victim/witness interview techniques are discussed as well as a brief discussion of the two generally accepted principles of memory. 1 table and 2 references