NCJ Number
229251
Date Published
September 2009
Length
52 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings that underscore the transition issues faced by veteran officers and agencies as they deploy and return from military service.
Abstract
This project presents a first, exploratory look at veteran officer transition issues. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and law enforcement leaders across the country recognize that many issues face combat veterans returning from deployment to either new positions or positions they previously held as Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. The focus of this project explored recent experiences of combat veterans as they transitioned into law enforcement careers. Strategies and policies were examined which optimize support law enforcement officers returning from a military deployment to a war zone. The results of this research will be developed into two guidebooks, one for veteran officers and one for law enforcement leaders. The guides will be available in printed or electronic format to all 18,000 Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in the United States. Findings, recommendations, and future steps are detailed. Data were collected from 340 veteran officers and 112 law enforcement leaders. Figures and appendix