Police Psychology

“Law enforcement officers are not immune from the stress that COVID-19 placed on the general population. In fact, they are likely more heavily impacted as they are one of the “essential workers” that must continue to work and respond to calls for service while others shelter at home.”

Police Stress, Mental Health, and Resiliency during the COVID-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic created social upheaval and altered norms for all members of society, but its effects on first responders have been particularly profound. Law enforcement officers have been expected to coordinate local shutdowns, encourage social distancing, and enforce stay-at-home mandates a...

“Officers who begin their careers with an attitude of “saving the world” can become jaded toward that goal after years of witnessing the worst in people.”

Improving Motivation and Productivity of Police Officers | FBI: Law Enforcement Bulletin Many factors can negatively affect productivity and cause police personnel to become complacent, doing the bare minimum necessary.

“If we have an open mind, we can have an open dialogue.”

Police psychology and crisis: Dr. Troy Rodgers at TEDxABQSalon In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TED...

https://youtu.be/3sK3wJAxGfs

If You Want to Change the World, Start Off by Making Your Bed - William McRaven, US Navy Admiral Make Your Bed speech - US Navy Admiral, William H. McRaven, delivers a speech about the importance of doing the little things like making your bed, embracing...

“By the very nature of what we do as police officers, we are unavoidably exposed to a host of toxic elements that can be likened to grains of emotional sand that ever so gradually are placed on our psychological backs. As time goes on, the sand increases in volume. Without the proper tools to remove it, the weight can become unbearable. In fact, in some cases, the sand becomes so heavy that it can collapse officers. The result of the sand’s weight takes a heavy toll on us; substance abuse, anxiety, depression, failed marriages, and other emotional and physical ailments that rise well above societal averages plague our profession.”

Daniel Mattos, a law enforcement veteran for more than 30 years in the October 2010 Issue of the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin

”On your journey through life, make sure your biography
has at least one extraordinary chapter.”

”When one thinks of police work, the immediate danger of this occupation comes to mind —
the everyday threat of violence, death, and witnessing traumatic events in their work.
Less noted however is the physical and psychological danger associated with police work,including harmful environmental exposure, stress and trauma.
Based on research, the adverse health and psychological
consequences of this occupation far outweigh the dangers of the street.”
Violanti, J. M. (2014). Dying for the job: Police work exposure and health

”Stress is common in all of our lives, but as long as we look for ways to effectively manage it and seek help when we feel we are not able to, we can make it through. Many times, we find ourselves coming out of a stressful situation stronger than before. The most important thing is to recognize when you feel stressed and work to identify what is causing it. Once stress is acknowledged, officers can work to effectively manage it and not let it consume their lives.”

How police can reduce and manage stress Many times officers deny the stress they are experiencing for fear of being viewed as weak or not being able to handle their job

Police departments who promote counseling benefit from officer stress reduction. It seems that police officers are influenced significantly by organizational demographics (including counseling opportunities). A majority of officers remain reluctant to share fears and anxieties with fellow colleagues, suggesting that officers fear the stigma associated with the need for stress counseling. Officers working in supportive counseling climates have significantly less stress, a reduced need for counseling, and a greater willingness to use counseling. Officers who engage in counseling (at least occasionally) also report more stress, indicating an awareness of their need for counseling. One recommendation is to consider requiring mandatory and periodic counseling for all officers, a procedural tactic that camouflages counseling need while concurrently treating the source of officer stress.

An Examination of Officer Stress: Should Police Departments Implement Mandatory Counseling? - Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology (2008)

“Police officers are viewed differently than other professionals because of their power, authority role and discretion in using force. Unrealistic or negative portrayals of police in film and TV can skew public perceptions of police work. Officers must constantly evaluate how their demeanor and decision-making processes come across in the communities they serve.”
https://work.chron.com/effects-being-police-officer-8866.html