Stress in Law Enforcement Results in a High Degree of Divorce - Research Paper Example

Stress in Law Enforcement Results in a High Degree of Divorce and Suicide. How does this Problem Develop and How is it Mitigated? Donna Purcell Order 571917 University Abstract This essay attempts to give supporting information regarding stress within Law Enforcement, which results in a high degree of divorce and suicide. Examples are given of extreme stress situations as well as little known warning signs. The research data covers extreme sources of law enforcement stress relating to everyday duties as well as not so obvious stresses. The information also covers symptoms of stress relating to law enforcement. Indications suggest what can be done to alleviate the problems both individually as officers, within their families, and within the organization as a whole. Finally, the information covers law enforcement officers’ duties regarding service to the community and how the community can avoid a disservice to the officers. Key words: double bind, stresses, high risk lifestyle Stress in Law Enforcement Results in a High Degree of Divorce and Suicide. How does this Problem Develop and How is it Mitigated? Introduction “If you ever find me like that (shot), you better start looking for the one who did it, because I would never do that to myself (Boyce, 2006).” This was a statement previously quoted by a State Trooper who did not come home as usual after his shift. The officer was found with a gunshot wound to the head and sitting in his own car after a long and diligent search. The State Crime Lab determined that he had taken his own life. What would cause an officer to do such a thing to himself? Sergeant Boyce can remember seeing warning signs, after the fact, that the officer was under much physical and emotional stress (Boyce, 2006). The dead officer had become withdrawn and did not work with the rest of the officers as he had in the past. Sergeant James Boyce recalls himself when dozing in a chair at his home on the couch, and his wife or one of the kids touched him, he would sit straight up and make a fist as if ready to fight. Is an incident such as this caused by the everyday stress of law enforcement? (Boyce, 2006). According to Hans Selye, a respected researcher in stress, “police work is the most stressful occupation in America (Boyce, 2006).” Law enforcement stress leads to one of the highest, suicide rates in the nation in comparison to other occupations. The divorce rate for other occupations is 50 percent while law enforcement divorce rates are as high as 75 percent. This makes the divorce rate among police officers second in the nation. These facts alone are a warning sign targeted at law enforcement management. Extreme Negative Effects Dan Goldfarb covers the impact of stress on police officers at a union delegates meeting. He defines stress in a very unconventional way, but it relates very well to the job of police work. Stress is “that feeling and desire along with the ensuing bodily effects, experienced by a person who has a strong and true longing to choke the living shit out of someone who desperately deserves it, but you can’t (Goldfarb, 2011).” It is Goldfarbs’ contention that although this might be a very funny way to convey the information, however, there is a real truth to it. Law enforcement work calls for an incredible amount of discipline and restraint. This restraint is a continuing thing and it causes insurmountable stress. Goldfarb points out that between 1934 and 1960 police suicide rates were half that of the general population and between 1980 and the present have almost doubled (Goldfarb, 2011). So the difference in the present vs. the past is, “You can’t choke em anymore,” as he puts it. He contends that street justice no longer exists, the media is continually showing the negative side of police work, and politicians cater to the public and new laws, therefore, your hands are tied. So, law enforcement officers start to feel like they are being choked. According to research the biggest stresses for police work are, 1. Taking a life in the line of duty, 2. Watching a partner (if there is one) get killed while on duty, 3. No support from the Department, 4. Rotating shifts or shift work, 5. Being deprived of family time, 6. Constantly dealing with the general public (stupidity or the “asshole factor”). Its very interesting to learn that physical danger is not ranked highest on the list of stresses by police officers. This factor seems to vary from city to city. The media has given New York City much attention with regard to suicide within its department. A study of 2376 officers in Buffalo, New York found that when compared to the white male population, police officers had higher rates of mortality in cancer, suicide and heart disease. The information concluded that the underlying cause is higher stress levels. Eventually the higher levels of stress show up in the form of , 1. Divorce, 2. Overindulgence in alcohol (sometimes used to get the nerve to do it), 3. Depression, 4. Never asking for help (most suicides never ask for help). (Goldfarb, 2011). Goldfarb indicates that in the last 14 suicides among the police in New York City, 12 of those were due to divorce or a relationship breakup (Goldfarb, 2011). Officers must keep a good relationship with their department. Officers who get into serious trouble on the job, are suspended or facing possible suspension are 7 times more likely to commit suicide. Other studies have also shown that retired law enforcement personnel were 10 times more likely to commit suicide than peers of the same age. The numbers are even higher for disabled law enforcement retirees (Honig & White, 2009). Studies have called it a “high risk lifestyle (Goldfarb, 2011).” Stress Unseen Some police stress is not always obvious. Of the many stresses that a police officer has to endure, at least one is seen in all other occupations. However, police work carries with it stresses of all types. Continual chronic stress has two major effects on people. First it will cause the person to regress. Psychological growth reverses and they become child-like and primitive. The perfect example is a person who is sick for several days; they become self-centered, whiny and irritable. They crave constant attention and care and act like a young selfish child. Regression during chronic discomfort is an effect of constant stress (Constant, 2011). Secondly, chronic stress changes a persons’ sensitivity. Being exposed to constant misery causes a person to build a wall around themselves in order to survive. The mind stops the body from feeling as a defense mechanism. When they become insensitive to their own feelings they also become insensitive to others feelings as well. This is intensified when they are treated with disrespect, and therefore, treat others in the same manner. In extreme cases the pain of others stops bothering them, and they are no longer bothered when they hurt others. Police officers encounter stress after stress in call after call, which drains them of their strength. This type of stress is sometimes hard to detect. However, it shows up in other areas of their lives. It’s a slow process that family and friends sometimes do not see until the damage has been done (Constant, 2011). Obvious Daily Stress Traffic stops present a constant stress for police officers. An officer is expected to be friendly most of the time yet neutral. They constantly have to listen to excuses or attempts to demean them for what they are doing. There are a certain percentage of people in these stops that try to kill or injure the officers. Therefore, the officer has to constantly be on his guard. The problem develops when the officer is expected to be friendly, but in the same respect maintain a sense of authority. Normally people are on guard against their enemies, and the police officer doesn’t know who his enemy may be in a traffic stop. Approaching a car with a guarded and rough attitude can be seen as a person who has no business serving the community or with a friendly attitude he can become open to letting his guard down for the wrong person. It’s a “double bind” stress (or a no win situation), which is documented in psychological research (Constant, 2011). A police department is both a military organization as well as a professional one. Unfortunately, the two organizations counter act each other. In a professional atmosphere you have people who are required to hold a basic education (ex. Doctor, Lawyer), a degree, and specialized schooling. He is then licensed and endorsed and considered to be an expert in that field. He is then expected to serve his clients for the good of the community at his own discretion. However the military does not operate in that manner. The military are well trained but the chain of command requires that they follow orders always. The police department is required to follow rules, regulations and orders with very little discretion for doing their jobs (Constant, 2011). Police officers are required to have a minimum amount of education and go through an academy and field training. They are a sworn authority for the good of the community but not considered classic professionals. When a call comes in to the police, the officer is expected to make a decision and handle the situation, however, he runs into orders, rules and regulations (Constant, 2011). If a situation is not handled according to procedures, orders, and rules, the officer can be subject to disciplinary action, thus another “double bind” stress (Constant, 2011). Isolation is another stress that causes people to become disoriented and confused - their behavior changes dramatically. Social isolation can cause an attitude of “its us against them.” This is seen most in the first six years of police officers’ career. They tend to socialize with other police officers, and if married socialize with other police couples. There is a real feeling of not fitting in. Police officers develop a keen sense of street savvy and as they gain confidence they tend to look down on ordinary people as not understanding the side of life that they see. Therefore, they develop a feeling of superiority. They fail to see that the world is not comprised only of criminals and fools (Constant, 2011). Police work also lacks balance. A doctor loses a patient but can also save a patient. There are good and bad things that counter balance his life. A police officer doesn’t see that; they only see call after call of criminals and people making fools of themselves. It’s no wonder they feel that 98 percent of the people in the world are no good and the other two percent are the police. These are just a few of the stresses that are not readily recognized but have to be addressed by the department. Other stress related issues can include one officer patrol cars, internal investigations, excessive paperwork, poor pay, limited promotional opportunities, no reward for good performance, court appearances, and disapproval of family members for entering law enforcement. The list goes on and on (Boyce, 2006). What Can Be Done Education of officers and supervisors about the symptoms and warning signs and their effects on the officer and the officer’s family is very important (Boyce, 2006). Police management should stop distinguishing between personal problems and job-related problems. It’s a fact that the two are intertwined and one affects the other. The stress cannot be reduced for the job of a police officer, however, it can be recognized and help can be offered. First, they can provide help to individual officers through a department psychologist and chaplain. They can ensure that insurance plans cover counseling on all levels. It is important that confidentiality be maintained when an officer uses a counselor or insurance for counseling (Constant, 2011). Support for the family is also important. Setting up a Traumatic Incident Corp can be very beneficial to officers who have undergone extreme stress such as seeing another officer killed, shooting someone or any other extreme situation. Other officers who have gone through traumatic experiences usually make up this Corp by volunteering in addition to their normal duties. Encouraging officers to participate in the good activities in the community is another way of relieving the stress. Management should encourage them to take part in youth activities as coaches and mentors and bring balance into their lives. Encouraging them to socialize with other groups of people or individuals can also be beneficial. Encourage them to leave their jobs at work. It’s very important that management have a well-developed department that supports effective communication with its officers. A well-written newsletter with viable information can give positive feedback to its officers and bridge the gap between the officers and management in an effective way (Constant, 2011). Every officer who suffers from stress results in less service given to the community. Conclusion Growing evidence indicates that unnecessary job stress can be reduced in police work as well as other occupations, which would result in fewer heart attacks and strokes. In addition, some data suggests that many mental health problems begin at work and are linked directly to drug and alcohol use and conditions of employment. This further confirms the stress-related consequences of police work (O’Toole & Lawler, 2006). To the community, the job of a Police Office is seen as a respected authoritative position in which he patrols the “assigned area to enforce the laws and ordinances, regulate traffic, control crowds, prevent crime and arrest violators (Farr & Shatkin, 2006).” The Police Officer job is still considered to be one of the “Best Jobs Without a Four-Year Degree.” (Far & Shatkin, 2006). However, it does require long-term on-the-job training and related education in order to be successful. The job is one of service to the community, and sometimes that may become lost in stress. It’s especially important to recognize that service to a community can readily become a disservice to police officers without the community’s full support in all areas. References Boyce, Sergeant James (23 May 2006). Police Officers Under Stress. Criminal Justice Institute, 1-16. Web. 3 October 2011. http://cji,edu/papers/. Constant, Terry (2011). Not so Obvious Police Stress. Tears Of A Cop, 1 – 7. Web. 03 October 2011. http://tearsofacop.com/police/articles/constant/. Farr, Michael; Shatkin, Laurence (2006). Police Patrol Officers. 300 Best Jobs Without A Four-Year Degree, (2) P. 358. Goldfarb, Dan (2011). The Effects of Stress on Police Officers, 1-3. Web. 3 October 2011. http://heavybadge.com/efstress/. Honig, Audrey L., White, Elizabeth K. (April 2009). By Their Own Hard: Suicide Among Law Enforcement Personnel. Community Policing Dispatch, 2(4), 1-5. Web. 3 October 2011. http://cops,usdoj.gov/html/dispatch/April2009/suicide/. O’Toole, James; Lawler, Edward E. (07 2006). The Bad News Stress Stress and More Stress. The New American Workplace. P. 102 – 103. Read More