NCJ Number
213581
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 33 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2006 Pages: 40,42-48,50,51
Date Published
February 2006
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the vulnerability of law enforcement officers to stress and how police departments can respond through the education of officers about stress and through the development of a supportive police organization.
Abstract
Research indicates that an organization that runs well, smoothly, confidently and consistently reduces stress for all employees. For police organizations to change the stress culture it can cultivate, they will need to change and provide organizational health. Ways in which to accomplish this include: (1) run things efficiently by handling things effectively, quickly and confidently; (2) place people in command who are clear in their goals, in their commands to officers and are highly supportive of officers; and (3) pay close attention to an officer’s reactions after an incident and make sure his/her feelings of stress are not discounted or ignored. In addition, for any change to occur, the management of the organization must be willing to work it out with a commitment from the top-down. There should also be a review of existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Research shows that these types of efforts get officers back on the job healthier and faster. This article discusses how predominant stress is within the officer’s line of work which can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sometimes suicide. It states that stress is a problem that police organizations cannot ignore. It explores ways in which healthy police organizations can help officers keep their stress disorders at bay.