Police Morale in Chicago - Essay Example

THE EFFECTS OF MORALE IN CHICAGO In the present era, Police is one of the most important department in Government and administrative machinery and hence a prime executive branch of the Government. Human beings are versatile by nature. In a society there are different individuals with varied characteristics, good or bad. But there will be certain individuals or groups, whom society cannot control. A special force is necessary to control such groups and this force that renders such specific duties is called the police. Therefore, the essential function of the police is to exercise control over that group and bring them within the framework of legal constraints and control systems in a bid to establish legal order and peace within society. Hence, police could be defined as an organized civil force for maintaining law and order, ensuring peaceful co-existence between society members, ensures the protection of the lives and properties of law abiding citizens, preventing and detecting crime and aiding the government in its bid to enforce force laws. Therefore, Police force is an indispensable part of modern society. The term police originated from the city states of Greek and Romans. Initially in 1825, Charles II introduced the watch and ward system in England. The modern police system was introduced by Sir Robert Peel in England. He preferred to call it as a kind of preventive police. The Chicago police department is the largest police agency in the region and the nation's second largest department, which traces its origin back to1828 when Chicago elected its first Constable and first Sheriff in 1831. These groups discharged their duties on part time basis and were not involved in formal patrolling. The citizens who were aggrieved by Criminal acts used to obtain warrants through judicial process and Constables and Sheriffs would execute Warrants, after obtaining the prescribed fee. A system of watching at night was introduced during 1839 to apprehend alleged criminals and bring them within the purview of law. In 1853, the Government introduced a Nine day police system for monitoring traffic affairs at depots and bridges. A City marshall was appointed on salary, instead of fees was empowered to supervise and coordinate the activities and duties of these police officers. The unlawful pandemonium and chaos created by criminal groups and malcontents, who were not happy to see the progress of society, and intend to wreck good people, tried to create social disorders, and this became a hazardous task for the Government to monitor and control. Nevertheless, in the early part of 20th Century itself, the police administrative set up was not well organized, and consequently a chaotic situation arose within the uniform wearing guardians of the law themselves. At the particular juncture, Chicago city also witnessed many reforms which resulted in unexpected problems. The uniform wearing community and law enforcement officers was basically human being like other citizens, and had similar emotional and human feelings like other members of the society. The police people like other human beings, were made of flesh, blood and bones. They are also susceptible to the change factors in their routines and habits, either positively or negatively. When it appears in the form of negative form, it culminates in self inflicted death, or so called suicide. The terms suicide is a union of two Latin words sui and cide in which sui means self and cide means kill. This is one and only one kind of offense, the attempt to commit of which is a cognizable offense and punishable by law, while the actual successful commission is not. When problems and challenges posed to human beings rise to such an extend that he/she is not able to contain them, or not able to overcome them, they take a heavy toll on the minds and physique of human beings, and the state of no return is reached. At this stage the victim feels that his living is worthless, and a burden to himself/herself, or society and he/she then seriously contemplates suicide or ending one's own life, to relieve him of the pressures and indignity heaped upon him. Astonishingly, suicide among police officers attracted the attention and vigil of the experts in police over the last two decades. One of the studies conducted by RMCP between 1960 & 1983 revealed that the annual rate of suicide among the police officers attained 14.1 per100000.The most common form of self inflicted death (by using service revolver ) was at the rate of 77% of the total cases. The study performed by the National Association of Police Chief shows that annually about 300 policemen commit suicide in the line of duty. "Police officers have one of the highest suicide rates in the nation." ((n.d.), Police stress Learning through research and observation: The Nocebo effect and stress, p.14). It can be seen that the root cause of police suicide is stress; depression and anger. The stress include occupational stress and stress, or personal dilemmas. (Occupational stress and life stress.) The clinical psychologists working in EAP (Employees Assistance Programme in the Department) Mr. Michael Broader says that '"the dynamics of the job" sometimes lead the officers to take their on lives. The fact that the officer has a weapon strapped in their waist at all times also plays a role.' (Lewis, 2005). Another factor which leads to police suicide is alcohol. It can be seen that on certain occasions, prolonged stress leads an officer to find solace in alcohol. Financial burdens, official and personal relationships and such matters play a vital role in determining the level of mental health the person enjoys. The most pathetic fact in that such suicidal tendencies are not treated on time, mainly due to lack of support and the victim's own inhibitions to seek treatment for his mental conditions. This aggravates the situation, which ultimately culminates in police suicide, due to non - intervention, or non-seeking of needed assistance on time. On certain occasions suicide attempts can be thwarted by timely health care interventions and psychiatric treatment. Some policemen would be reluctant to seek such kind of intervention for the apprehension that they will be branded as weak or cowardly, and not fit to do such kind of jobs. Certain groups of policemen are committed not to discuss official matters with others, or they do not get proper responses or effective line of treatments from the police health centers. Instead they will discuss with in themselves but results in no solution. This situation prompted Mr. Mort Feldman, the Vice President of Police Chiefs Group to state that "Police are often reluctant to tell the people in the chain of command, they are having problems, because they fear that their career will be destroyed. So they make the mistake of trying to solve their problems quietly and that often leads to Alcohol or suicide." (Lewis, 2005). In professional psychology, suicidal depression is coined as a vicious circle of despair, and when an individual tries to solve a difficult or nerve wrecking problem through him, it does not gather any solution. Rather the problem gets aggravated, and he finds himself moving around in circles, trying to extricate himself out to the mess he has landed himself in. In professional psychology, suicidal depression is coined as vicious circle of despair. When an individual tries to solve a problem of despair by himself, it does not result in any kind of solution. Some other Psychologists are of the opinion that method of recruitment of police personnel also has its own role and responsibility, in the frequency and intensity of later mental states. Admittedly the physical standards are maintained during the selection procedure, but the psychological or mental state may not be accurately tested, or checked. Putting differently, only the person of due diligence can be admitted into police service, not expected men of feeble mentality or low caliber. If so even some wrong signs may cause and distress and result in death. Besides this following factors are also plays substantial roles in cases of police suicide: 1). Suicidal tendencies among senior or senile police officers are due to alcoholism, physical and mental ailments and worries about impending retirement. 2) Easy and regular availably of lethal weapons, sometimes own Service revolvers. 3) Continuous and heavy duty without proper rest or sleep 4) Conflict with criminal judicial system or even within own departments. 5) Administrative pressures could negatively influence even strong willed policemen. The prime issue involved is whether the suicide among the Police Officers affects the morale of the force. Strictly and definitely the answer is in affirmative. It is reiterated by the version of the President of the Chicago Police Lieutenants Union.Lt. Robert Heisskept "people are doing just what they need to get through and not any extra." (Newman, 2008). The resentment and the negative impact created by the police suicide affected the rank and file of the uniform wearing community. As its effect on the morale of the police people is negative, the aftermath is a lower productivity by the force than what is expected. During August 2007, the Chicago Police affected117971 arrests, but during the same corresponding period in 2008 they could affect only 103589 arrests. This shows that the rate of performance of his police force in just one month has fallen by around 12%. It can be seen that the major pressure exerted on the cops in Chicago by the administrative set up and senior commandants. The effects of insensitive police administration can be inferred from the fact that crime rates and arrest are inversely proportionate and some officers are afraid of going out of their way to apprehend criminals for fear of departmental action against them. Hence some officers are reluctant to perform their duties fearlessly, only to avoid unnecessary law suits and related pressure. Hence they are afraid of being sued by criminals and entering into unwanted legal proceedings which could damage their career prospects in the long run. It is therefore necessary that certain steps need to be taken to remedy the situation and take constructive steps in order to ensure that policemen, at all levels, enjoy their work and do not resort to stringent measures in order to escape from their duties, commitments and obligations. The menace of the effects of Police suicide can be minimized or resolved to certain extent through following measures: 1) Recommendations should be made for suicidal preventive measures and the police suicide data should be maintained properly in good faith. 2) Police stress should not be ignored, misrepresented or maladjusted and it should be properly dealt with. 3) Police authorities should take steps to locate vulnerable officers and service of professional psychologist or psychotherapists should be rendered 4) The suicide caused by depression can be prevented by the adequate intervention in any manner at conducive time. 5) EAP (Employees Assistances Program with in the Department). Should be constituted to this effect 6) Continuous duty and exposure to death and injury should be minimized Conclusions: From the above deliberations, it could be seen that police suicide is a major issue of law enforcement, especially in a high crime location like Chicago, with preponderant criminal activities and severe law and order situations. Given the kind of onerous duties and responsibility that a Chicago police officer has to undertake, it is very likely that he may develop psychological problems, very much like soldiers who serve in the Gulf region, in terms of public and departmental accountability, lack of proper sleep or rest, having to deal regularly with high degree and intensity of crimes, violence and law enforcement issues, especially against syndicated and highly organized vice groups. In order to maintain mental equilibrium, it is necessary that police officers need to be regularly trained, exercised and both physiques and mind need to be kept in highest performing orders. Policemen need to stay away from alcohol and caffeine as much as possible and should ensure proper sleep and rest, in order to perform optimally for long periods. Finally, it is also necessary that problems that emanate in police force needs to be discussed and sorted out by police psychiatrists and health caregivers, as early as possible, thus preventing the occurrences of untreated mental conditions among personnel that could impede their performance and later, even assume aggravated stages that may lead to extreme situations like suicide. A well designed and proper preventive and curative program for treating mental stress among policemen could significantly reduce, and alleviate the incidence low morale and suicides among police force in Chicago. In a fast changing world, crime and criminal activities assume different hues, colors and attacking strategies. It is necessary that police morale be consistently high and optimum levels of performance be maintained at all times, even when they are off duty. For this a positive lifestyle, commitment and dedication to duty are foremost. Again, regular training and fitness strategies could also keep them in peak condition that could contribute to strong and reinforced levels of morale. References Police stress Learning through research and observation: The Nocebo effect and stress. (n.d.).14. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from http://209.85.175.132/searchq=cache:HF8ZRf00mmcJ:www.focusanthro.org/archive/2003-2004/Cook.pdf+can+be+seen+that+the+root+cause+of+police+suicide+is+stress%3B+depression+and+anger+.The+stress+include+occupational+stress+and+stress,+or+personal+dilemmas&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1 Lewis, Claude. (2005). Police suicide is an alarming problem rarely discussed publicly. Tears of a Cop Under Pressure. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from http://www.tearsofacop.com/police/articles/lewis.html Newman, Brant. (2008). A touch on the blue flu. View on the News. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from http://viewonthenews.blogspot.com/2008/09/touch-of-blue-flu.html Read More