NCJ Number
144680
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 62 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1993) Pages: 5-8
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Many law enforcement administrators fail to recognize the importance of employee assistance programs until a critical incident, such as a shooting or an officer suicide, forces them to consider specific programs for reducing employee stress.
Abstract
Police administrators need to take a proactive approach when dealing with stress in their departments. They can begin by instituting inservice training classes that better enable police officers to deal with posttraumatic stress. The initial class should emphasize the benefits of psychological services. Police officers should understand that counseling can help them deal effectively with certain life events. Inservice training can also prepare police officers to support their colleagues who suffer from critical incident stress. Police officers should learn how to interact on a personal level with fellow officers involved in critical incidents. While inservice training can help police officers cope with stress, police departments should also offer some type of extended support system. Because many police agencies cannot afford to retain a mental health professional, peer counseling can be a cost- effective way of helping police officers deal with critical incidents that do not require the services of a psychologist. Peer counseling team members should be carefully selected and trained in stress management. In addition, as professionally trained counselors, local ministers and priests can assist police department officials by lecturing at inservice classes. 7 endnotes