{"id":7765,"date":"2016-10-26T12:42:38","date_gmt":"2016-10-26T17:42:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.thechicagoschool.edu\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T15:43:31","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T21:43:31","slug":"going-beyond-badge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/community\/going-beyond-badge\/","title":{"rendered":"Going beyond the badge: Why a police veteran chose forensic psychology"},"content":{"rendered":"

For three decades, Gary Goines was the man behind the badge. He protected members of Congress and other dignitaries. He ran the U.S. Congress Speaker of the House security detail. And he worked as a supervisory special agent with the U.S. Capitol Police<\/a> in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

But as he rose through the ranks from rookie officer to working on a hostage rescue team, he began to question the purpose of a life\u2019s work that, in one form or another, revolved around putting bad people behind bars.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started asking myself, \u2018Why am I arresting people?\u2019\u201d explains Goines who earned a Forensic Psychology masters degree<\/a> at The Chicago School in 2014 as a way to marry his criminal justice background with an interest in studying the psychology of why offenders do the things they do.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was at The Chicago School that I started working on an active shooter study, which has since inspired me to write a book about active shooters and individual warning signs,\u201d says Goines, who completed his degree through an online hybrid program while continuing to work for U.S. Capitol Police\u2019s Containment Emergency Response Team (CERT). \u201cThe Chicago School allowed me to fine tune my own experience through a forensic psychology lens. At the same time, I was able to offer a different perspective from my career in law enforcement, being on the CERT, practicing active shooter situations, and being a part of dignitary protection.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI worked for years in law enforcement, being trained to protect and serve. Now I get a chance to protect and serve society by providing mental health education and awareness.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Goines\u2019 ongoing research on active shooters is a timely topic, one that he sees as an opportunity to give back\u2014both by providing recommendations for mental health care to potential offenders and also helping to educate the public about how troubled individuals can get help before a situation goes too far.<\/p>\n

\u201cI worked for years in law enforcement, being trained to protect and serve,\u201d he says. \u201cNow I get a chance to protect and serve society by providing mental health education and awareness. My particular focus is about social risk factors of active shooters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Risk factors<\/h3>\n

Working with instructors at The Chicago School, Goines was able to study the warning signs that someone might turn anger into violence.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do live in a stigmatizing society,\u201d he says. \u201cIf we could find ways for that individual to get help before a tragedy occurs and create some kind of social support system, we might be able to avoid incidents such as the Colorado movie theater shooting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Goines is retired from the U.S. Capitol Police and works as a private consultant. He is often tapped to speak at panels about the psychology of active shooters, including a 2015 presentation to a local Homeland Security task force in the Boston area. He also works as an adjunct professor at The Chicago School, teaching a course in the Psychology of Law Enforcement.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s his way to paying it forward to the family who has helped him bring his long career in criminal justice to a higher level.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The book project also continues, as does Goines\u2019 engagement with The Chicago School. In addition to speaking at a February 2016 webinar panel about active shooters and trauma, Goines currently serves as Chair of The Chicago School Alumni Council.<\/a> It\u2019s his way to paying it forward to the family who has helped him bring his long career in criminal justice to a higher level.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor 30 years, the U.S. Capitol Police was my family. Now The Chicago School is my family, too,\u201d explains Goines, who remains involved in The American Psychological Association<\/a>, The American Society of Criminology<\/a>, and The International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs an alumnus, my goal is to bring us together and help to assist other alumni after graduation,\u201d he says. \u201cI look forward to giving back to the institution that has given me so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Learn more about The Chicago School<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Chicago School offers a range of academic programs that can prepare you to positively impact mental health. Fill out the information below to request more information, or you can apply today through our application portal.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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