DEALING WITH POLICE STRESS (FROM JOB STRESS AND THE POLICE OFFICER - IDENTIFYING STRESS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES - PROCEEDINGS OF SYMPOSIUM, 1975 BY W H KROES, AND J J HURRELL, JR - SEE NCJ-43642)

• NCJ Number: 43659
• Author(s): M H FURSTENBERG
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THE SYMPOSIUM WAS HELD IN CINCINNATI, OHIO ON MAY 8 & 9, 1975, AND CHAIRED BY WILLIAM H KROES

Annotation

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PEER COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR STRESSED OFFICERS IN THE BOSTON, MASS., POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TRACED.

Abstract

AT THE TIME THE COUNSELING PROGRAM WAS BEING CONTEMPLATED, THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS CHARACTERIZED BY MISTRUST AND ILL WILL BETWEEN HEADQUARTERS AND PATROL STAFF AND BY LABOR-MANAGEMENT DISPUTES. THREE OFFICERS, ONE A REFORMED ALCOHOLIC, DEVELOPED THE PEER-COUNSELING APPROACH AS THE ONLY FEASIBLE WAY OF HELPING TROUBLED OFFICERS, GIVEN ORGANIZATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. BOSTON'S STRESS OFFICE, SO NAMED BECAUSE THE PROGRAM COORDINATORS FELT THAT OFFICERS WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO ADMIT EXPERIENCING STRESS THAN EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, IS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT PHYSICALLY AND ORGANIZATIONALLY. STRESS OFFICE COUNSELORS ARE PROTECTED AGAINST DEPARTMENTAL INQUIRY OR INTERFERENCE. OBJECTIONS TO THE PROGRAM FROM THE COMMAND STAFF AND FROM THE PATROLMAN'S ASSOCIATION ARE NOTED, AND EFFORTS BY PROGRAM COORDINATORS TO OVERCOME THE OBJECTIONS ARE DESCRIBED. THE STRESS OFFICE'S THREE COUNSELORS THUS FAR HAVE FOCUSED ON ALCOHOLISM. THE COUNSELORS WORK WITH PATROL OFFICERS REFERRED TO THEM BY OTHER OFFICERS ON AN INFORMAL BASIS. IN THEIR SESSIONS WITH OFFICERS, COUNSELORS EMPHASIZE THAT IT IS REASONABLE AND NOT UNMANLY TO ACKNOWLEDGE EMOTIONS. THE PROGRAM HAS ALSO CONDUCTED VOLUNTARY PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS, A WEIGHT-REDUCTION PROGRAM, AND A COUNSELOR TRAINING CLASS FOR PATROL OFFICERS. IN ITS FIRST YEAR THE BOSTON PROGRAM HAS MADE PROGRESS BUT HAS YET TO SOLVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS AND TO DEAL SIGNIFICANTLY WITH PROBLEM AREAS OTHER THAN ALCOHOLISM. LESSONS FROM THE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE ARE NOTED.