NCJ Number
43184
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 44 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 1977) Pages: 66-68,104
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
PSYCHOLOGY MUST BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF EVERY POLICE TRAINING COURSE, NOT ONLY FOR DEALING WITH OTHERS IN CRISIS SITUATIONS, BUT ALSO FOR HELPING OFFICERS DEAL WITH THEIR OWN PERSONAL PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE STRESSES OF POLICE WORK SHOW UP IN MOUNTING DIVORCE, SUICIDE, AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY FIGURES. TO HELP OFFICERS SURVIVE, BOTH PHYSICALLY ON THE JOB, AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY WITHIN THEIR OWN LIVES, POLICE EDUCATION MUST DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF STRESS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY. THE DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA, PROGRAM STARTS WITH A PERSONAL PROFILE OF THE OFFICER TO IDENTIFY THE FACTORS WHICH MAY AFFECT JOB PERFORMANCE. IT THEN CONSIDERS INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATIONS. BECAUSE THE STRESS OF POLICE WORK TAKES ITS TOLL ON THE FAMILY, SEMINARS FOR SPOUSES ARE SET UP; OTHER PROGRAMS SET UP WAYS FOR THE OFFICER TO TALK OUT HIS STRESS AND GET HELP BEFORE HE FALLS VICTIM TO A STRESS-RELATED ILLNESS. DEALING WITH MENTALLY ILL PERSONS ON THE JOB AND DEALING WITH HIS OWN MENTAL HEALTH ARE COVERED. TO HANDLE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY, MATERIALS FROM THE JOHNSON INSTITUTE OF MINNEAPOLIS ARE USED, SUPPLEMENTED WITH GROUP DISCUSSION. TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FOR OFFICERS WITH ALCOHOL PROBLEMS. CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS INTERVENTION ARE TAUGHT THROUGH VIDEOTAPED ROLE-PLAYING ACTIVITIES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IF POLICE OFFICERS ARE TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE, THEY NEED TO HAVE REFERRAL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM DURING THE 10 P.M. TO 2 A.M. PERIOD WHEN MOST SERVICE CALLS COME IN. SINCE SUCH SERVICES OPERATE ON 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. SCHEDULE, THIS WILL TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT, BUT POLICE SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO PERFORM SOCIAL SERVICE FUNCTIONS AVAILABLE FROM OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES.