Survival Triangle Training
email - alexisartwohl@msn.com

Alexis Artwohl, Ph.D • Asst. Chief Dave Butzer (Retired)
12995 N Oracle Rd., Ste. 141 • PMB 207 • Tucson, AZ 85739
520-834-7468 • Fax 520-818-2162 • alexisartwohl@msn.com
Force Science Resarch Center
 
Seminar Topics
 
 

Evaluation Comments

 
 
 

Training Options

 
 
 

Messages of Thanks

 
 
 

Alexis Artwohl, Ph.D.

 
 
 

Publications

 
 
 

Message from Kosovo

 
 
 

Praise for "Deadly Force Encounters"

 
 
 
 

ILEETA -
International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Associatio
n  

 
 
 
 

"Dr. Alexis Artwohl is a true pioneer.  Her research and training is of enormous value to cops, military, and mental health professionals and should be required for all professionals in those fields."
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (Ret.)
Author of ON KILLLING

"Dr. Artwohl knows the cop world and what happens in an officer's head in a critical incident. She played a key role in designing Utah's top-rated course in mental preparation for combat. She is an entertaining educator, skilled at teaching vital survival skills in a way that officers will remember her instruction on the street."
Ken Wallentine
Chief of Law Enforcement for the Attorney General, State of Utah

"We hosted DEADLY FORCE ENCOUNTERS and had outstanding response, both from attendance and comments after the class. Alexis is a superb instructor with a powerful message." Ken Jenkins
Training Coordinator

"As a veteran of 20 years, I have come across numerous mental health professionals that have no idea what cops really go through.  In her seminars, books, and in person I have found Dr. Artwohl to be sincerely concerned about officers.  As a trainer I have used to book and seminar material to prepare rookies and veterans.  As a gunfight survivor, I have found her training to be right on target."
Kevin Davis
Akron Police Department
Training Bureau, SWAT


"The insights afforded by Dr. Alexis Artwohl are invaluable to any audience.  Her critical incident research became an integral part of the training that NLSI currently presents to aircrews from around the world.  Her message is empowering thousands.  If you are a member of the public safety or tactical community you cannot afford to miss her training.  There is truly life-saving information in these seminars."
Mike Gillette
Director of Training
National Law Enforcement & Security Institute
www.NLSI.net

"Dr. Alexis Artwohl is one of the nation's foremost experts in the field of critical incident stress.  Her expertise in the field of deadly force encounters and keen insights into the psyche of street cops have contributed tremendously to the curriculum presented inn today's police academies.  Without a doubt, she is responsible for saving the lives and careers of many police officers."
Lt. Dave Grossi (Ret.)
Former Lead Instructor with Calibre Press

"Dr. Artwohl's book and lecture are stuffed full of vital information that will not only prepare officers for armed confrontations but also for the tough days to follow.  If you care about your personal well-being, read the book, attend the seminar, and be better prepared for the realities of the street."
Lt. Dave Spaulding
Author of HANDGUN COMBATIVES and DEFENSIVE LIVING

"Dr. Alexis Artwohl is a one-of-a-kind "warriors Doc."  She is respected by street cops and after surviving a deadly force encounter she helped me and so many others with the aftermath.  She get a thumbs up and if you get a chance to attend one of her trainings you won't regret it."
Detective Robert King
President, Portland Police Association

"Alexis Artwohl IS the definitive source for cutting edge research into the most important and overlooked area of law enforcement training:  an officer's mental response to stress.  If you are an officer, administrator or trainer, you need to attend her training to get vital information that will give you the edge in patrol survival, administrative defense of officer's actions, and state of the art training tips."
Charles E. "Yoda" Humes, JR.
Director, Police Institute of Tactical  Training

"In 1980 myself and another officer were taken hostage in a violent escape attempt from a correctional institute.  For 14 years I lived with the negative emotional consequences that impacted my career and family.  In 1994 I met Dr. Artwohl in a class she was providing to the Portland Police Bureau.  For the first time in many years her words moved me from injury to recovery.  Today I am a professional trainer and I urge you to take the time and invest in her message."
John "Randy" Butler
President/CEO, Law Enforcement Associates Response Network International
Learnintl@aol.com

"When listening or speaking to Dr. Artwohl, it's evident she truly cares about cops.  The information provided in her book and seminars has helped us make what we consider some of the best Defensive Tactics Training even better.  By adding stress conditioning into our training based on Dr. Artwohl's information we're certain we have already saved lives."
Phil Messina, President
George Demetriou, Police Training Supervisor
Modern Warrior Defensive Tactics Institute
www.modernwarrior.com

 


ILEETA - International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association  

Law Enforcement legend Ed Nowicki has founded this excellent organization for law enforcement trainers.  The annual conference held in April is getting rave reviews.  This is a great way to network with other trainers, get updated on the latest information, and perhaps present a class yourself.  Find out more at http://www.ileeta.org


The FORCE SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER

The FORCE SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER, founded by Dr. Bill Lewinski, is sponsoring, conducting, and publishing excellent research in the area of police use of force. The research of Dr. Lewinski and others is saving the lives and careers of police officers all over North America. Go the FSRC website at www.forcescience.com to sign up for the free e-mail newsletter.


Seminar Topics

EMOTIONAL SURVIVAL OF USE OF FORCE/CRITICAL INCIDENTS
During this one day class Dr. Artwohl will present a detailed analysis of the psychology of high threat and combat situations and the implications for physical, legal, and psychological survival. This class is oriented toward officers, family members, mental health professionals, and supervisors. However, anyone interested in the emotional survival of officer involved shootings and critical incidents will find the class relevant.
Go here for description and a printable copy

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF USE OF FORCE/CRITICAL INCIDENTS: INVESTIGATIONS
During this one day class Dr. Artwohl will present a detailed analysis of the psychological dynamics of police combat and other high stress critical incidents. This information is vital to investigators investigating officer involved shootings and other critical incidents. This class is oriented toward investigators and those who supervise them. However, anyone interested in police use of force will find the class relevant.
Go here for description and a printable copy

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PEAK PERFORMANCE: MAXIMIZING TRAINING RESULTS FOR USE OF FORCE/ CRITICAL INCIDENTS
During this one day class Dr. Artwohl, will present a detailed analysis of the psychology of high threat and combat situations and the implications for helping officers and agencies train for physical, legal, and psychological survival. This class is oriented toward police trainers and training division supervisors and managers. However, anyone interested in police use of force will find the class relevant.
Go here for description and a printable copy

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF USE OF FORCE/CRITICAL INCIDENTS : INVESTIGATIONS
RISK MANAGEMENT FOR MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS
During this one day class Dr. Artwohl will present a detailed analysis of the psychological dynamics of police combat and other high stress critical incidents. This information is vital to investigators investigating officer involved shootings and other critical incidents. This class is oriented toward police managers and supervisors, investigators, and attorneys. However, anyone interested in the investigative aftermath of use of force will find this class relevant.  
Go here for description and a printable copy

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF USE OF FORCE/CRITICAL INCIDENTS: BEFORE AND AFTER
Preparing to Win, Emotionally Surviving the Aftermath, Investigations

During this two day class Dr. Artwohl will present a detailed analysis of the psychology of high threat and combat situations and the implications for physical, legal, and psychological survival. This class is appropriate for anyone concerned about police use of force including police managers and supervisors, officers, trainers, other government officials, attorneys, and mental health professionals.
Go here for description and a printable copy

 

Evaluation Comments
Dr. Artwohl consistently receives excellent ratings for her seminars. Following are comments from her student evaluations:

  • "The best class I have had in 11 years of police work. All police officers should attend this training, especially administrators and management."
  • "Excellent presentation. Confident, articulate, caring - passionate about the topic."
  • "In 23 years on the job this is the first conference with a 'shrinks' presentation with 'cops' in mind."
  • "Very informative. Most of the thought process taught by Dr. Artwohl was new to me and superbly explained."
  • "I wish someone had told me what Alexis did - at the beginning of my career."
  • "Very compassionate speaker - great handouts."
  • Extremely practical class. I will now begin to get more involved in the issue of stress management for life longevity."
  • "I think it is highly needed for all law enforcement training. The topic should be put into basic classes, then followed up the rest of the officer's life. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you."
  • "This has helped me understand some past experiences and be armed for the future."
  • "Most of us have a prejudging of a psychologist but Dr. Artwohl was extremely interesting and very supportive of law enforcement."
  • "This was the best presentation to date - relevant, concise, useful."

Messages of Thanks

Dr. Artwohl, like many law enforcement trainers, has the great privilege of receiving messages of thanks from officers she has trained. 

    "Just a note of thanks. Less than 72 hours after attending your seminar myself and some other fellow officers were involved in a shooting. I want to thank you for the dedication you put into your classes and for giving me the ability to handle this event. We were treated appropriately by our department and peers, and we were aware of the psychological, investigative, and legal issues necessary for our post-shooting survival. YOU made a lot of this possible. I am not an overtly religious individual, but I do believe I was sent to your seminar for a reason. A reason that became all too clear three days later."


    "Just a short note to say that I appreciate all that you have done in the area of teaching officers how to survive deadly force encounters. I have read your book and articles again in preparing to serve as an expert witness in a deadly force incident case. I remember when I was hired by the Portland Police Bureau and hearing you speak to my advanced academy class years ago. Your comments remain with me to this day. Thank you for all you have done for law enforcement." Randy Butler


Training Options

  • Dr. Artwohl is available for agency training and conference presentations. Length and topic can be individualized for your needs. Contact her to discuss training options.

For further information:

Alexis Artwohl, Ph.D.
Survival Triangle Training
12995 N Oracle Rd., Ste. 141
PMB 207
Tucson, AZ 85739

E-mail: alexisartwohl@msn.com
Phone: 520-834-7468 • Fax 520-818-2162


Alexis Artwohl, Ph.D.

Alexis Artwohl, Ph.D. (www.alexisartwohl.com) is an internationally recognized behavioral science consultant to law enforcement as a trainer, researcher, and author. She is an advisory board member to the Force Science Research Center (www.forcescience.org) and the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (www.ileeta.org), and a Certified Trainer with the Western Community Policing Institute (www.westernrcpi.com). Her areas of training include: achieving peak performance in high stress situations, preparing to survive deadly force encounters, and investigating officer-involved shootings. Dr. Artwohl is co-author of the book DEADLY FORCE ENCOUNTERS and other publications. During her 16 years as a private practice clinical and police psychologist, she provided traumatic incident debriefings and psychotherapy to numerous public safety personnel and their family members along with consultation to multiple agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her husband, retired Asst. Chief David S. Butzer, is an international policing consultant with missions to Kosovo, Jordan, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Dr. Artwohl has presented for the following organizations in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico:

London Metropolitan Police Federation International Managers of Police Academies and Cadet Training Conference
International Congress of Executive Protection, Mexico City Michigan State Police Troopers Association
Canadian Police College, Ottowa Canadian Officer Safety Conference
Command College, Kentucky Dept. of Criminal Justice Training Force Science Research Center
National Community Policing Conference International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association
U.S. Bureau of Land Management Ontario Police College, Canada
Phoenix (Arizona) Law Enforcement Association Phoenix (Arizona) Police Sgts. and Lts. Association
Lakewood, Colorado Police Department Overland Park, Kansas Police Department
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Kansas Department of Parks and Wildlife
American Parole and Probation Association Salt Lake City Police Department
International Association of Chiefs of Police U.S. Border Patrol
NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association Boston Police Department
Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police National Tactical Officers Association
Connecticut Police Academy TREXPO West
Sioux City Police Dept. Regional Training Center Lincoln City Police Department, Oregon
W. Central Illinois Criminal Justice Council E. Central Illinois Mobile Law Enforcement
Law and Justice Commission, Illinois Wisconsin Association of Homicide Investigators
Law Enforcement Training Advisory Commission, IL Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles
Justice Institute of British Columbia, Canada Arizona Game & Fish Law Enforcement
Oregon Dept. of Public Safety Standards & Trg. Americans for Effective Law Enforcement
Portland Police Bureau, Oregon Association of Threat Assessment Professionals
Washoe County Sheriffs Office, Nevada Jackson County OR Narcotics Enforcement Team
Multnomah County Sheriffs Office, Oregon Public Safety Employees Pension and Benefits Conference
Eugene Police Department, Oregon Oregon Narcotics Enforcement Association
Kelso Police Department, Washington Advanced Institute for Prosecutors, Oregon
Oregon Police Corps Snohomish County Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Washington
Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans Brazoria County Community Supervision/Corrections
Western States Vice Investigators Assoc. Hillsboro, Oregon Police Department
New Mexico Municipal League Western Canadian Use of Force Conference
Sam Houston State University, Texas Salem Police Department, Oregon
Gresham Police Department, Oregon Colorado Chiefs of Police Association
Dayton, Ohio Police Department Tigard Police Department, Oregon
Oregon State Police Boise Police Department, Idaho
Orange County, FL Corrections Department Clark County Emergency Services, Washington
Bend Police Department, Oregon Beaverton Police Department, Oregon
Washington CISM Network Alexandria Technical College
National Association of Police Organizations Oregon Peace Officers Association
   
   
   

 

Download Dr. Artwohl's Vita


 

Publications

ENJOY YOUR FREEDOM? THANK A COP.
This article honoring Democratic Ethical Warriors is in the book WARRIORS: ON LIVING WITH COURAGE, DISCIPLINE, AND HONOR written and edited by Loren W. Christensen and soon to be published by Paladin Press. Many of the nation's top warriors and writers have contributed to this book; you don't want to miss it. Check out Christensen's website at www.lwcbooks.com for updates on its publication.
Click here for a printable copy of the article.

'NO RECALL OF WEAPONS DISCHARGE" was published in the May, 2003 issue of the LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVE FORUM JOURNAL. To subscribe to this excellent journal and/or get a copy of the article call the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute at 309-298-2646
or click here for a printable copy of the article.

"PERCEPTUAL AND MEMORY DISTORTIONS IN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS"
Dr. Artwohl's research article on "Perceptual and Memory Distortions in Officer Involved Shootings" was published in the October, 2002 issues of the FBI LAW ENFORCEMENT BULLETIN. It can be accessed on the web at:
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2002/oct2002leb.htm

or click here for a printable copy of the article

Dr. Artwohl is co-author of the acclaimed book, Deadly Force Encounters, written with retired police officer Loren W. Christensen. Reviews of the book and ordering information are available at Loren W. Christensen's website at:

 http://www.lwcbooks.com

To order by mail, write to Loren Christensen at:

LWC Books
P.O.Box 20311
Portland, OR 97294-0311


 

Praise for Deadly Force Encounters
written by Alexis Artwohl, Ph.D. and Loren W. Christensen

"A superb book. It is destined to become a classic. It should be mandatory reading for all members of the professions or arms, in blue or green. Thanks for writing this book and thanks for caring."

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (Retired)
Author of On Killing

"This book is much more than the title indicates. It is an excellent resource for police officers, firefighters, the Coast Guard, paramedics and others doing emergency work on how to avoid "bystander" PTSD. They show how to overcome the impact of extreme experiences and heal instead of being emotionally wounded for life. Highly recommended.

Dr. Al Siebert
Author of The Survivor Personality

"I am impressed by the depths of her insights. An enlightening and truthful book about two individuals who really care about the well-being of the protectors of society. I highly recommend this book for all officers, administrators, force investigators, trainers, and significant others. In my years as a police trainers and writer, I have collected a lot of training material. On my bookshelf there are two books that I consider premiere officer survival resource publications. Now Deadly Force Encounters joins them"

Guy A. Rossi
Law Enforcement Trainer and Writer


"If there was book that should be mandatory reading for all law enforcement officers, this would be it.  "Boot" or "Old Salt", the depth and breadth of DEADLY FORCE ENCOUNTERS makes it a must-have for any officer in your life."

Nancy Ford
Partners Off Duty

"The books we consider must reading for cops can be counted on one hand.  DEADLY FORCE ENCOUNTERS is absolutely one of them.  It's not just a theory base book - you will read about actual encounters and what the officers experienced, felt, and what they went through in the aftermath.  Reading this book will enhance your survival skills.  "
George Demetriou
Detective
Police Training Supervisor - Modern Warrior Defensive Tactics Institute

"Dr. Artwohl's book is the most informative I have ever read on the subject.  It is a must read for officers, supervisors, and police managers."
Detective Robert King
President, Portland Police Association

"Dr. Artwohl's book DEADLY FORCE ENCOUNTERS has become an indispensable resource for innovative police trainers all across the country."
Charles E. "Yoda" Humes Jr.
Director, Police Institute of Tactical Training

"DEADLY FORCE ENCOUNTERS is essential material for any law enforcement officer.  Her information on how to control fear is worth the price of the book alone.  If you care about your personal well-being, read the book."
Lt. Dave Spaulding
Author of HANDGUN COMBATIVES and DEFENSIVE LIVING

"Dr. Artwohl's book, DEADLY FORCE ENCOUNTERS, is on the reading list for every new recruit at our law enforcement academy and is a text used in our classrooms. I highly recommend it and our students love her book."
Ken Wallentine
Administive Counsel/Curriculum Development Director
Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training


MESSAGE FROM KOSOVO
FROM DAVE BUTZER

Dear Colleagues,

My husband, Assistant Chief Dave Butzer, retired from the Portland OR Police Bureau in 1999. On September 16, 2003, he went overseas for a nine week community policing training mission in Kosovo. It was so rewarding he went on to Jordan and Baghdad to help train the new Iraqi Police Sevice and wound up being overseas for a year. After taking a three month break in the USA he has gone back for another training mission in Iraq. Contrary to what you might believe in much of the media, the great majority of the people in Kosovo and Iraq like Americans and appreciate what we are trying to do for them. In fact, Dave said he feels much more appreciated as an American cop in Kosovo than he ever did in Portland, OR where he was a cop for 26 years.

Here is a story from Dave that will help remind us all why cops wear their badge over their hearts:

We all went to one of the villages we are working in the other day for a "cultural event" which combined a musical, a play, and poetry reading put on by the local youth group (14-30 years of age).  The group is sponsored by an NGO (a non-profit helping organization). There were about 800-1000 people in the audience and we were the only internationals. The theme was to educate kids and help them resist bad things such as drug abuse, prostitution, smoking, drinking, domestic violence and war.  They were good and it was quite entertaining.  Even though it was in Albanian and we could not understand the words, the visuals were clear and powerful.  The final number was anti-war. The skit started with friends gathering and talking to one another.  One couple started arguing with another.  Then everyone took sides and all the friends started fighting.  Finally, all the friends have been killed.  This is what actually happened in many places in Kosovo. Then one kid came on the stage with a flag that said "PEACE."  He was followed by more kids displaying other flags. The first flag out was the American flag! My God it was powerful. I felt very proud to be an American!  The next flag was the UN, followed by all the other primary countries that have helped here. The kids were holding hands and swaying back and forth, waving.  That is the reason why I am here!

I hope this story will give you a boost in your day and help counter some of the media negativity we are all bombarded with.  I too am proud to be an American, proud of my husband, and proud of all the American warriors overseas who are trying to bring the principles of democracy and freedom to those who have lived so long with oppression and terrorism. 


Additional Website Links:
For the ultimate in cutting edge training on how to conduct safe and effective reality based scenarios go the website of Ken Murray: www.armiger.net. Murray, one of the co-inventors of simunitions training weaponry, has also written a superb book: TRAINING AT THE SPEED OF LIFE. This should be mandatory reading for ALL law enforcement trainers.

This website is loaded with valuable guidelines on how to be resilient and bounce back from adversity.
http://www.thrivenet.com

This is a valuable resource for officers and family members on coping with the stress of police work.
http://www.policefamilies.com

For information on dynamic speaker Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and his must-read book, ON KILLING, go to -
http://www.killology.com

For information on tactical training and resources, go to -
http://www.defensivetactics.com

For information on the American Society of Law Enforcement Training, the premier organization for law enforcement trainers worldwide, go to -
http://www.aslet.org

For information on multiple law enforcement resources, go to -
http://www.officer.com

For information on the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, go to -
http://www.ialefi.com

Labor Relations Information Systems offers excellent books and seminars on a variety of legal and other issues vital to all public safety personnel. Visit their website at:
www.LRIS.com

For important communication information for police officers on Spanish and hand signals visit the websites:
 www.Survival-Spanish.com and www.SilentSignals.com.

For information on the excellent training of police psychologist Dr. Kevin Gilmartin and his must-read book, EMOTIONAL SURVIVAL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, go to:
www.emotionalsurvival.com

For information about Rocky Warren, one of the USA's top trainers, visit his website at:
www.rockywarren.com

For information on cutting edge training, research and technology, contact the NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY INSTITUTE at: 
www.NLSI.net

For information on tactical training, visit the Charles "Yoda" Humes website at:
http://hometown.aol.com/nodonuts

For information on defensive tactics training for both public and private law enforcement agencies visit the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. website at:
www.controlledforce.com.

For training opportunities visit the website of the United States National Standards of Training Associations at:
www.usnsta.com.

For cutting edge research on police stress go to the website of the Police Stress and Health Program at:
www.policestressandhealth.net.

For articles, resources, and training in CISM for emergency services personnel go to:
www.thecounselingteam.com

For great information and training opportunities visit the website of the NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING COUNCIL at
www.ncjtc.org

For organzational consultaton on high risk employees and excellent books on anger control, visit Dr. Lynn McClure's website at:
www.McClureassociates.com.

Dr. Bill Lewinski is doing cutting edge research that will revolutionize how we think about the dynamics of a deadly force encounter. To find out more, visit his website at:
www.ultimateperformancetraining.com.

For information on cutting edge training in use of force issues and techniques, as well as books and expert witness testimony, visit the website of Lt. Dave Rose (Ret.) at:
www.usaaikijujitsu.com.

For your "One stop cop shop" go to:
www.policespecial.com

For excellent training, consultation, and expert witness testimony on use of force visit Dave Rose’s website at:
www.rosetraininggroup.com.

For cutting edge training on using the power of the subconscious mind to enhance training and performance visit the website of Brian Willis at
www.winningmindtraining.com

Lt. Howard Rahtz of the Cincinnati PD has written two thoughtful, excellent books on use of force and community policing issues. His presentation, “When the DOJ Comes to Town: Lessons Learned by the Cincinnati PD” is a fascinating cautionary tale for all agencies. He can be reached at:
Howard.Rahtz@cincinnati-oh.gov.

The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association is a great way to meet your colleagues, get excellent training, and enjoy other benefits. Join Now! Visit their website at
www.ileeta.org.

Rabbi Cary Friedman has written an excellent nondenominational book for those seeking religious guidance.
www.spiritualsurvivalbook.com

I have greatly appreciated Ken Wallentine’s keen legal insights.  Get some of the best expert advice in the field by going to:  
http://www.kenwallentine.com/
 
Kevin Dillon is one of law enforcements most outstanding warriors and his training is one of the best for a practical way to teach combat skills to the average officer:
http://www.policecombat.com/> .
 
Mike Conti has written one of the best firearms training books in the business:  POLICE PISTOLCRAFT.  Get more information at:
http://www.sabergroup.com/
 
Wes Doss is an outstanding trainer whose books offer excellent detailed strategies for getting the best training results:  
http://www.khybertraining.com/
 
Returning war veterans need our support.  For some excellent resources for veterans, their families, and the rest of us, go to:  
http://www.courageafterfire.com/   &   http://www.battlemind.org/


For further information:

Alexis Artwohl, Ph.D.
Survival Triangle Training
12995 N Oracle Rd., Ste. 141
PMB 207
Tucson, AZ 85739

E-mail: alexisartwohl@msn.com
Phone: 520-834-7468 • Fax 520-818-2162

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