Deployment Challenge: Preparing for the Military Deployment and Return of Law Enforcement Officers

• NCJ Number: 229247
• Journal: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 78 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2009 Pages: 18-24
• Author(s): Eric S. Noble; William C. O'Toole M.S.
• Date Published: December 2009
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article examines best practices to assist law enforcement military veterans prior to, during, and upon return from military deployments.

Abstract

Law enforcement agencies often deal with the deployment of their members to military active duty combat tours. These deployments, which began in the months following the September 11 attacks, involve law enforcement officers who also serve with military reserve or U.S. National Guard units in support of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Agencies face the challenges of appropriate support to employees and their family members prior to and during the period of deployment while ensuring an effective reintegration to civilian law enforcement duties once the military deployment ends. To assist law enforcement officers with military deployments, agencies can implement many of the suggestions presented in this article by formalizing policies and procedures and adopting the strategies offered by veteran and agency heads.