NCJ Number
94990
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: (1984) Pages: 15-26
Date Published
1984
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Police departments can implement stress management and reduction programs to alleviate psychological stressors inherent in police work, such as public opinion, the criminal justice system, police bureaucracy, and the nature of police work.
Abstract
The role of police officers often sets individuals apart from the community and subjects them to unique pressures, including negative public attitudes and unreasonable demands. On-the-job stress includes court appearances, administrative red tape, paperwork overloads, physical danger, and inadequate pay and promotion opportunities. Factors such as motorized or foot patrol, assigned areas, and shift assignments can also affect the degree of physical and psychological stress. Inactivity, fear of injury or death, and pity and sympathy for victims are additional stressors. Comprehensive training programs, effective supervision, and adequate salaries and promotions can eliminate a number of stressors. While police department-supported stress reduction courses have tended to be reactive, such as abuse counseling and early intervention programs, a number of proactive programs such as exercise, meditation, and peer counseling are also necessary. Police departments should take a more proactive approach by reviewing the work environment, assessing stressfulness of events, and making appropriate changes when possible. Crisis intervention teams for traumatic events such as shooting incidents involving police officers would be helpful. New recruits should be taught to recognize the source and symptoms of maladaptive stress in themselves and be given suggestions on how to deal with such stress. Tabular data and 24 references are provided.