SOME STRESS FACTORS IN AN AIRBORNE LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT

• NCJ Number: 66600
• Journal: Journal of Police Sciences and Administration Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1980) Pages: 61-65
• Author(s): S SULTAN; S SAXE; M REISER
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED AMONG MEMBERS OF THE AIR SUPPORT DIVISION OF THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY SOURCES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS ENCOUNTERED BY AIRBORNE POLICE PERSONNEL.

Abstract

SEVENTY SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES CONTAINING OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO AIRBORNE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. RESPONSES WERE OBTAINED FROM 51 SWORN PERSONNEL AND 4 NONSWORN CIVILIAN SUPPORT PERSONNEL. FINDINGS INDICATE THAT 39 OUT OF 51 SWORN PERSONNEL AT ALL LEVELS AGREED THAT THE MAJOR SOURCE OF STRESS IN THEIR LIVES WAS JOB-RELATED. THIS WAS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO RESPONSES BY CIVILIANS, THREE OUT OF FOUR OF WHOM EXPERIENCED THE MAJOR SOURCE OF STRESS FROM OTHER THAN JOB-RELATED FACTORS (E.G., FAMILY OR FINANCES). FORTY-THREE OUT OF 51 SWORN PERSONNEL BELIEVED THAT THE STRESSES OF THE AIR SUPPORT DIVISION WERE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE ENCOUNTERED IN OTHER DIVISIONS. HOWEVER, TWO OUT OF FOUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES BELIEVED THAT THERE WERE NO DIFFERENCES IN LEVEL OF STRESS. SWORN PERSONNEL AT ALL RANKS IDENTIFIED TWO PRIMARY SOURCES OF STRESS EMANATING FROM WITHIN THE AIRBORNE DIVISION: 1) THE METHOD OF FUNCTIONING AND ATTITUDES OF MANAGEMENT AFFECTING MANAGER-SUPERVISOR-EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, AND 2) DIFFERENCES IN THE JOB FUNCTION OF POLICE OFFICERS IN THE AIR SUPPORT DIVISION AS OPPOSED TO THE JOB FUNCTIONS OF OTHER DIVISIONS. ALL PERSONNEL AGREED THAT FLYING ACTIVITY WAS A SIGNIFICANT STRESSOR, WITH PILOTS INDICATING THAT EMPHASIS ON EQUIPMENT OPERATION INCREASED LIFE AND DEATH RESPONSIBILITIES. ALSO OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE IS THE RELATIVE INACESSIBILITY OF SUPERVISION WHILE IN THE AIR. STRESSES IN SUPERVISOR-EMPLOYEE RELATIONS ARE THE RESULT OF INCONSISTENCIES IN POLICY OR OPERATING PROCEDURES THAT HAVE TO BE LEARNED BY INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY CHANGE SHIFTS. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND CONTINUED CLOSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE ARE RECOMMENDED IN COPING WITH THE ELEMENTS OF STRESS IN POLICE AIRBORNE OPERATIONS. TABLES AND FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (DEG)