The Stress of Law Enforcement

As a law enforcement officer myself, I have become all too aware of the realities of chronic stress and PTSD that come from the profession. Unfortunately, it’s not just myself, but rather every person in law enforcement that has to deal with extreme stress and likewise, the repercussions it may have on our ability to perform our duties. In many cases these repercussions might extend far beyond having  a mental freeze at a crime scene. Officers who suffer PTSD and/or chronic stress may be deemed unfit for duty resulting in a reassignment of post (likely to a desk job), inability to carry a firearm, or even result in a termination of their job. Many report, the biggest fear they have with seeking professional advice is that there job will be informed of their meeting. It still remains that many agencies require you to disclose any counseling you have had and if you fail to omit that information, if at any point during a background investigation it becomes known you could be eligible for termination. 

As a result of the severe repercussions that come along with displaying signs of stress or PTSD, a stigma had been created where law enforcement officers are reluctant to speak up about their stress, much less seek professional advise. The profession has for decades been known as a “tough” machismo like field where having mental stress only makes you weaker. As a result it, if you were an officer suffering and came forward you would be quickly ousted by your peers and superiors, in due time would result in less job duties.

Another underlying issue that comes along with not being able to, or fearful of, discussing the stress one endeavors, is that it only gets worse and continues to build up. This build up of stress overtime will likely turn into PTSD and will continue to impact your life outside of work and your overall health as well. As we learned in the module 3 reading, the physiological effects stress has on our brain can be severe and ever lasting. According to The Badge of Life (2018), the average life expectancy of a cop is a 66 years, or 10 years post retirement. According to Corrections Today (1982), the average life expectancy of a correction officer is 59 years old, or 3 years post retirement. These statistics are clear indicators that the role of stress, and furthermore the lack of combating stress, has on the life of law enforcement officers. 

According to Basińska & Wiciak (2012), there is a slew of other health risk that come from chronic mental fatigue including:

• Difficulty managing personal relationships
• Excessive use of sick time
• Extreme weight gain/loss
• Increased mood swings
• Substance/Alcohol Abuse
• Increased gastrointestinal problems
• Increased risk for cardiovascular disease

While the daily stress itself may inherently result in a shorter life span, if we are able to seek and receive help we can surely make these statistics change for the better. That said, the first thing that has to be done to combat the problem is to allow officers to seek help. This includes promoting and providing opportunities, within agencies, departments, and as fellow officers, for others to engage with psychologists, counselors, and each other. The structure needs to be changed from the top down starting with addressing the stigma. Instead of being seen as a flaw, seeking help must become a word of encouragement. It is also crucial that nobody feels that there job is being threatened because of the hardship that job itself has put on them.

Moving to a more personalized approach, there are things we can address or do daily to help minimize the effects that the jobs has on us. Basińska & Wiciak  (2012) stress the importance of leaving work at work and focusing on personal relationships and civilian life. By avoiding to “talk shop” while outside of work you refute the notion that work is all that you have. Overtime, keeping work out of your personal life will allow you to distinguish each from the other, and thus lead a happier personal life. Other ways one can assure to live happy and healthy person life include:

• Planning vacation and downtime
• Seeing a therapist, counselor, or psychologists
• Seeing your doctor regularly
• Living within your means (not relying on overtime)
• Creating a buddy system to check in on each other
• Planning meals
• Exercising

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