PERSONAL PROBLEMS OF THE POLICE OFFICER - A PLEA FOR ACTION (FROM JOB STRESS AND THE POLICE OFFICER IDENTIFYING STRESS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES - PROCEEDINGS, 1975 BY W H KROES, J J HURRELL, JR -SEE NCJ-43642)

• NCJ Number: 43652
• Author(s): J A SCHWARTZ; C B SCHWARTZ
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 12 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 DR WILLIAM H KROES

Annotation

POLICE PRACTICES WITH REGARD TO ALCOHOLISM, DIVORCE, SUICIDE, AND OTHER PERSONAL PROBLEMS OF POLICE OFFICERS ARE EXAMINED, AND STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE PRACTICES ARE SUGGESTED.

Abstract

PERSONAL PROBLEM AREAS WITH WHICH POLICE DEPARTMENTS MUST DEAL INCLUDE THE TENDENCY OF SOME OFFICERS TO DEVOTE TOO MUCH TIME TO THEIR WORK (I.E., THE WORKAHOLIC); THE OFFICER WHO HAS 6 OR 8 YEARS OF SENIORITY BUT HAS NOT BEEN PROMOTED (THE BURNOUT); DIVORCE AND OTHER FAMILY PROBLEMS; ALCOHOLISM; HEART DISEASE, BACK TROUBLE, AND OTHER PHYSICAL PROBLEMS; PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS; THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF FEMALE AND MINORITY OFFICERS; ADJUSTMENT TO RETIREMENT; SUICIDE, PARTICULARLY AMONG OLDER OFFICERS; AND CAREER UNCERTAINTY. BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT LACKS CONTROL OVER SOME OF THE CENTRAL DETERMINANTS OF STRESS AND BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTIES INVOLVED IN RELATING STRESS TO SPECIFIC PERSONAL PROBLEMS, IT APPEARS THAT INITIAL EFFORTS SHOULD FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS THEMSELVES. METHODS FOR REDUCING AND PREVENTING PERSONAL PROBLEMS OF POLICE OFFICERS INCLUDE ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING, COMPREHENSIVE LONG-TERM PERSONNEL PLANS, MIDMANAGEMENT TRAINING, INVOLVEMENT OF POLICE OFFICERS' ORGANIZATIONS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES, PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES, ORIENTATION PROGRAMS FOR POLICE OFFICERS' SPOUSES, CAREER COUNSELING, AND PHASED RETIREMENT PROGRAMS. A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF EXISTING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE THE PERSONAL PROBLEMS OF POLICE OFFICERS IS NEEDED.