February 1981 - San Francisco Police Officers Association

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SAN FRANCISCO POLICEMAN - Page 10 Febn-STRESS IN LAW ENFORCEMENTby Edward C. DonovanReprinted from Law Enforcement QuarterlyThe tragic consequences of stress in police work, andthe legal suits being filed against administrators forliability in stress-related cases, have caused this subjectto become one of the hottest areas in law enforcementtoday. Greater demands are placed on police officerstoday than in the past. Protests, riots, demonstrations,whether they be for gay liberation, women'sliberation, coal miners striking, long gas lines at thefiling, stations, school busing situations, or even policestrikes are some of the many new demands placed uponour officers. We never know what tomorrow holds. Partof the problem is that the officer can only handle somany cries for help at one time. To have society expectinstant resolution of these issues would require a herculeaneffort on the part of any organization.The police system has become the dumping groundsof society. The officer in uniform becomes the focus ofmisplaced hatred, the punching bag of society - thevery society which the officer is sworn to serve and protect.Every man or woman bcoming an officer feels theywill help to serve and make our society a better place inwhich to live; howver, this altruism, this concern forsociety, just backfire in the officer's face. We in thepolice profession do not feel that we have caused thecitizen's problems, but we certainly are constantly payingheavily for the ills of society. The officer is placed onthe firing line every day and asked to maintain law andOrder at any price, even at the expense of his own life ormental well-being.In order for an officer to meet any demand, he is expectedto be in the best physical and mental conditionat all times. He must be able to react to any given situationfrom a state of prolonged inactivity to sudden burstsof danger and tension. The physical demands placedupon him would tax the cardio-vascular system of anyperson. A ioutine day or night patrol might be one ofsheer boredom and isolation, or a series of monotonousradio calls, such as family disturbances to deliveringwarrants.In the daily course of a tour of duty an officer encountersstress in lifting an injured person, wrestling adrunk in a tavern, listening to boring complaints fromsome irate citizen, or complaints from our own supervisorsabout some radio call which took you too long torespond. To go from a call to another, constantly tryingto readjust your inner feelings, creates hidden wear andtear on both the psychological and the physiologicalsystems of the officer; yet the officer has to be alert atall times and ready for the unknown.Too often in police work you reamin in a state of exhuastionfor long periods of time, unaware that you areeven affected by it. Both physical and mental exhuastioncause lapses in coordination, errors in judgment,and reflexes and muscles do not respond and lose tone.Thus, with time, the officer becomes less effective tohimself, his department and to the society he serves.Expectations of SocietyThe public's expectation of a cop requires that he beall things to all people - a police officer, doctor,lawyer, judge, juror, psychiatrist, social worker, ambulancedriver, plumber, veterinarian, locksmith, andevery other occupation in the public domain. It is animpossible demand. The amount of training given todayat the local, state and federal police-trainingacademies cannot adequately equip the officer to handletoday's diverse public needs, let alone with theroutine calls of police work. As public servants, we areacutely aware that we cannot meet these demands butsomehow feel we should he ible to.ABOUT THE AUTHOREdward C. Donovan, a counselor, lecturer, consultantand instructor specializing in the field of stress inlaw enforcement, is a 23-year veteran officer with theBoston Police Department. In this interview, Mr.Donovan discusses the varied and complex circumstancesthat can precipitate suicide among policeofficers. He also talks about the methods and programswhich have been instituted to help prevent suchtragedies from occurring. Donovan stresses the importanceof the "family" both at home and on the joband the need to educate family members, peers, andsuperior officers about the warning signs that oftenprecede a suicide.Mr. Donovan is also director of the Boston PoliceStreet Program, founder and president of the InternationalLaw Enforcement Stress Association, and the'founder and editor of 'Police Stressi' magazine.The contemporary police officer is not the "supercop"that television and Hollywood has portrayed himto be. This image of the "superman", however, isreflected in what society today demands of the cop. Inhis day to day patrol the officer encounters persons whounload their burdens on him. He becomes the problemsolver for everyone and consequently, he may start tobelieve that. he has no problems himself. This fact aloneis a destructive stressor in policing. To admit he has aproblem is demeaning to him, against the grain of themacho-man image. In fact he will try to hide his feelingsout of fear of showing to his fellow officers oranyone else that he has weaknesses. As a role model,the problem solver, he must not have problems, Who,then, can be turn to for help without ridicule or far ofbeing exposed and losing his job?A police officer by the very nature of his work, histraining and later his experience becomes a verysuspicious person. If he was not suspicious he wouldnot make a "good cop". How would he suspectcriminals? Cynicism is part of the job which can get astrangle-hold on your psyche almost to a point of noreturn. The reality of this situation is that it can be carriedto extremes in our everyday life. We start to besuspect of every person we come in contact with, evenour own families. Needless to say, stress in law enforcementfamilies is a story in itself.The officer also becomes cynical after long periods ofdealing with the seamy elements of society. Listening toeveryone's problems, seeing the prostitutes, therunaways, and the sexual offenders from all stations oflife, corruption both from within and outside the PoliceDepartment, drug addicts, skid row bums, death inall shapes and forms, husbands and wives cheating oneach other, can make anyone start to believe the wholeworld might be this way. This tends to lead to isolation,so that one seeks other officers to socialize with offduty.Distancing ourselves from society increases thesense of distrust and fear. Objects begin to take on newmeanings. Chairs, telephones, baseball bats, nail clippersall lose their commonplace identity and aretransformed into deadly weapons possibly to be usedagainst us. A quite hair-raising experience. Whateverthe environment, however, we are duty-bound to protectit, even if this means trusting no one.Death and its repercussionsWe deal with death in a different way than do mostPHONE 824.6672AFTER 6P.M. & SUN. 824-6671ELIiIIDBN Tnwinq & Stflraqe1851 NEWCOMB'AVENUEJAY ARMSTRONG OFF 4700 BLOCK ON THIRD ST.HARLEY ROWE SAN FRANCISCO. CALIF. 94124Seasons Greetings to theS.F. Police & Their FamiliesCOMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL HARDWARE SUPPLIESCRAB, SALMON, TUNA SUPPLIES & ACCESSORIESPLYMOUTH. COLUM8IAN a TUBBS ROPENETTING. CLOTHING & BOOTSFrank's Fisherman's Supply.366 JEFFERSON STREETSAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133JOHN S. BROWN 775-1165PRESIDENT 775-2369GLASS FOR ALL PURPOSES - CUT & INSTALLEDAUTOMOBILES STORE FRONTSSTATE LICENSEDA. 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3IK33COflTIflUêother people. We are usually the first ones on the scene ending investigation from the time of the shooting untilimmediately after a death or we are involved in a situa- the inquiry is complete. Throughout the investigationtion where the person dies in our ,presence. You might stress is compounded by the often sensational publicitycome upon a car accident and a person is looking up to which affects not only the officer but extends as well toyou to save their life. You tell them they will be OK, his family.when deep down inside you know they will never make -it. Or you may be rushing a person to the hospital withthe siren blasting and the blue light flashing. Yourheart is racing with time, trying like hell to get thisperson there and they die on the way.An officer is often confronted with different situationsthat most persons in the world can walk awayfrom or are able to avoid during a lifetime. We cannot,however, leave the scene where some kid has beencrushed by the tire of a truck or mangled by a freightelevator; or, where an entire family has been murderedby a deranged father. We still must try to control ourown emotions. An officer on the scene of a suddendeath many appear too callous and unconcernedbecause he has an investigation to do, a call to place foran ambulance, or reports that he must prepare whichare necessary in police work, but in reality he has emotionsthat he is. trying to deal with at that I particulartime He may go home and take off his gun but it isdifficult to escape his feelings. No one can remain unaffectedby the sight of a young boy who has hung himselfin his own home or the experience of soothing his lovedones who cry to you. As an officer you have to try to protector insulate yourself from becoming emotionally involved,a difficult task for any human being. We arenot made out of stone.Law enforcement is unquestionably an occupationwhere one of the hazards is that you might get shot,stabbed, or killed. Police officers are sitting ducks inuniform, whether in a police car or on the street. It isalso a job where one has the awesome power tolegitimately take a human life usually to protectanother person or one's self .You may never have to fireyour weapon during your police career, but theknowledge that you could and the fact that you have thepower to do so is ever-present. When you do fire yourrevolver there is the added stress of a seemingly neverTHE WINE SHOP• - 2175 CHESTNUT.STREETSAN FRANCISCO 94123(415) 5674725Seasons Greetings to theS. F.- Police & Their Families- - - . SANFRANCISCOPOLICEMAN - Pagell February 1981When the television news has a report concerningthe police, we usually relive a past experience of ourown, and realize that what is being repotted in no wayresembles the actual truth of what the police possiblydid at the scene; it is but an encapsulated representationof what was a crisis situation. A cop out on thestreet knows this and it is always at the back of his mindin every decision he makes. He knows that he will bejudged by the public and his own department oneverything he does. I wonder how many officers arekilled or injured in the line of duty each year who mayhave been burdened by this added stress at decisionmakingmoments. Could it be possible that they mighthave had their weapons at the ready to protectthemselves if this stress was not there?In addition to being the buffer of society we have ourown stress from within the organization itself. We areexpected to follow orders in a military manner, stand atattention at roll call, ordered to enforce laws (for example,school busing regulations) that are in direct conflictwith our Own values. We are given new sets of rulesand regulations as to how to accomplish the job, but weare not given any voice in policy-making. Constantlydecisions are being made for us, and then, placed outon the streets of the real world, we are made to assumethe responsibility of a one-man police department, usingour own discretion in decision-making, and Godhelp us if we make the wrong ones. Each officer mayfeel he is working in a punishing system; do somethingright and it's O.K. but foul up and you are in trouble.Of course reports and investigations must be seen tocompletion. These functions are constant reminders ofthe beefed-up internal affairs units (comprising hearingsor inter-department trial boards, and federal investigations)which dictate our routine.Working under such conditions it is no wonder thatas an occupation police work ranks high in alcoholism,SANSOME STREETBRASSERIEFrench California CuisineCocktails and Fine WinesPersonalized Private Parties411 Sansome Street San Francisco 94111Between Sacramento and Cla y 981-0940divorce, suicide, heart attacks, absenteeism, etc.A recent study done by the National Institute of OccupationalSafety and Health (NIOSH) ranking professionalsfor stress interviewed more than 2,300 police officersfrom 29 departments around the country. Thestudy discloses that 37% of the officers have seriousmarital problems, 36% serious health problems, 23%serious alcohol problems, 20% serious problems withtheir children, and 10% problems with drugs. In fact,stress is without question an occupational hazard ofpolice work, contributing to a greater amount ofsuicides each year. Various other studies have shownthat the suicide rates among law enforcement officersare estimated between two and six times the nationalaverage. Divorce rates are nearly twice as high as forother occupations. Police work also has one of thehighest rates of heart attacks, stomach disorders,premature death and diabetes.The constant censorship of the court and the public,coupled with the frustration and lack of support fromwithin the organization, the officer is expected to handleassignments that they know they are unable to handle,which may be a leading factor for the turnoverand burnout rate in policing. Society has a way to ventilate.What provisions are made available for a law officer to air his disatisf action and despair?The future of law enforcementWe need more stress-training in all areas of law enforcement,starting with the new recruits and theirspouses, followed by in-service training, supervisortraining, physical fitness programs, relaxation programs,and confidential counseling programs for theofficers and their families.Officers must be taught to recognize the onset of -stress and how to cope with it in a constructive ratherthan a destructive manner. They must be made torealize that they will experience fear on the job and thatthis is normal. Officers must be educated that it is notunmanly to cry and that it is 'o.k.' to seek outside helpfor a problem he feels he can't handle. Police officersneed a place to turn to in their time of need.1 =MONDAINESLIQUORS - -DELICATESSENLiquor * Beer * WineI Phone:346-3226 1758 fillmore St. IIYour headquarters for all your liquor needs. 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February 1981 - San Francisco Police Officers Association

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