NCJ Number
226699
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2009 Pages: 64,66,68,69
Date Published
March 2009
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discussed officer burnout.
Abstract
Job burnout is a physical and mental state caused by severe strain placed on the body until all resources are consumed. The road to officer burnout is a long and lonely stretch. It does not happen overnight. It is not a condition caused by one or two incidents, nor is it unique to certain personality types. It is a road traveled at one time or another by most law enforcement professionals, often midway through their career. The good news is that it’s possible to avoid burnout with proper maintenance, and if it does cause delays, repairs are cheap. The hectic life of the law enforcement professional causes job burnout; the constant demands and the immense stress associated with cop work all contribute. The symptoms of burnout develop gradually and differ from person to person; but all sufferers have one symptom in common: fatigue. The best prevention for burnout is a knowledgeable manager who pays attention and takes the time to educate his entire team about burnout and how it can be prevented; details on prevention and treatment strategies are discussed in detail.