POLICE STRESS, PART 2 - TECHNIQUES OF MANAGEMENT

• NCJ Number: 67905
• Journal: Police Product News Volume: 3 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 64-67
• Author(s): B L DANTO
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STRESS CAN BE MANAGED, BOTH BY THE SUPERVISING OFFICER AND BY THE POLICE OFFICERS THEMSELVES, THROUGH SCREENING, SENSITIVITY, PERSONAL ENRICHMENT, SPORTS, AND TREATMENT.

Abstract

SCREENING PERSONS OUT WHO ARE ILLSUITED FOR POLICE WORK IS COMMENDABLE, AND POTENTIAL APPLICANTS SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE PROFESSION THOROUGHLY BEFORE APPLYING. YET ONCE EMPLOYED, OFFICERS DESERVE GUIDELINES FOR COPING WITH STRESS. FIRST, STRESS CAN BE HANDLED AND POSSIBLY MINIMIZED IF SUPERVISING OFFICERS LEARN TO VIEW THEIR PATROL OR DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WITH GREATER SENSITIVITY. THEY SHOULD KNOW THE OFFICERS WELL ENOUGH SO THAT WHEN THE SIGNS OF STRESS APPEAR, THE SUPERVISOR CAN ACT. CONFRONTING THE OFFICERS ABOUT THEIR STRESS-APPARENT BEHAVIOR IS THE BEST OPTION. THE SUPERVISOR WILL THEN HAVE TO INSIST THAT CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT IS DEPENDENT UPON MEASURES TAKEN TO REDUCE THE STRESS. THE WORST METHODS ARE TO IGNORE THE OFFICER UNDER STRESS OR TO HIDE OR TRANSFER THE OFFICER INVOLVED. REASSIGNING OFFICERS TO JOBS THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE OR WHICH ARE LESS STRESSFUL CAN BE THE SOLUTION. BUT TRANSFERRING MERELY TO BE RID OF THE PROBLEM IS A BAD ADMINISTRATIVE MOVE. SUPERVISORS ARE ALSO UNPROFESSIONAL IN ALLOWING A STRESSFUL SITUATION TO GROW SO THAT THEY CANFIRE THE STRESSED OFFICER. WHILE OFFICERS CAN SIMPLY RESIGN AND TAKE DISABILITY PAYMENTS, WHAT WOULD BENEFIT ALL FAR MORE IS A PROGRAM OF REHABILITATION THAT ALLOWS EXPERIENCED OFFICERS TO CONTRIBUTE IN SOME WAY TO THE COMMUNITY OR DEPARTMENT.ALL OFFICERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO WIDEN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES AND TO CULTIVATE HOBBIES, COLLEGE COURSES THAT ARE NOT IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND FRIENDS WHO ARE NOT POLICE OFFICERS. THE OFFICER MUST WORK ON BEING A WHOLE PERSON, ONE WHO IS CREATIVE, AND WHO IS MORE THAN A WORK MACHINE. SPORTS, TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION, AND RELIGION ARE ALL HELPFUL, BUT MOST IMPORTANT IS RECOGNIZING STRESS FROM THE BEGINNINGAND ATTEMPTING TO RELIEVE IT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.