ST LOUIS (MISSOURI) COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF POLICE - POLICE FAMILY PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 54823
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 55 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 34,36,95
• Author(s): NANCY HIGHTSHOE; ROBERT HIGHTSHOE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ST. LOUIS (MO.) COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF POLICE PROGRAM FOR DEALING WIH THE JOB-RELATED MARITAL PROBLEMS OF OFFICERS IS DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THIS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THREE TRAINING SESSIONS WHICH MEET AT THE POLICE ACADEMY ONE EVENING A WEEK. THE SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO BENEFIT THE TRAINING RECRUITS, ALTHOUGH EXPERIENCED OFFICERS AND THEIR SPOUSES ARE ALSO WELCOME. THE TWO PRINCIPAL INSTRUCTORS IN THE PROGRAM ARE MARRIED TO EACH OTHER, A FEATURE CONSIDERED IMPORTANT TO THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM STRONGLY ENCOURAGES BOTH SPOUSES TO ATTEND THE TRAINING SESSIONS. THE FIRST OF THE THREE SESSIONS IS DESIGNED TO GIVE THE FAMILIES A LOOK AT THE HISTORY AND OPERATION OF THE TRAINING ACADEMY AND THE POLICE ROLE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE POLICE FAMILY PROGRAM ARE EXPLAINED. OFFICERS AND THEIR SPOUSES ARE ASKED TO WRITE DOWN TOPICS OF CONCERN (E.G., FEAR OF SPOUSE BEING KILLED), AND THE MAJOR PORTION OF THIS SESSION IS DEVOTED TO AN OPEN DISCUSSION OF THESE PROBLEMS AND SOME OF THE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. THE SECOND SESSION BEGINS WITH THE CLASS DIVIDING INTO DISCUSSION GROUPS. THE GROUPS REVIEW ASSIGNED READING MATERIAL AND DISCUSS THE SUCCESSES OR FAILURES THEY EXPERIENCED WHEN PRACTICING COMMUNICATION SKILLS WITH THEIR PARTNERS. AFTER THE DISCUSSIONS, TECHNIQUES FOR DEVELOPING STRONG INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE CONSIDERED. ADDITIONAL READING MATERIAL IS ASSIGNED. THE THIRD SESSION BEGINS WITH AN EXPLANATION OF THE SERVICES OFFERED TO SPOUSES OF OFFICERS KILLED ON DUTY. THE AUTHORITARIAN ROLE THAT AN OFFICER PLAYS BOTH ON DUTY AND IN THE HOME IS EXPLORED. HOME FIREARM SAFETY IS ALSO ADDRESSED. THE SESSION CONCLUDES WITH A DISCUSSION OF RAPE. MANY OF THE WIVES SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME HOME ALONE, AT NIGHT, AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. PAST PARTICIPANTS ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED TO RETURN AND SHARE IN FUTURE PROGRAMS. (MLC)