Police Stress

Police Stress

Law enforcement has always been a stressful occupation. However, there appears to be rapidly growing new sources of stress for police officers. Some of their stresses are related to increased criticism from news media outlets; as well as the public. Even though stresses in law enforcement can commonly be looked at as a negative impact, so can positive changes. “While community policing can increase officer job satisfaction and overall departmental efficiency and morale, the transition to this approach can cause apprehension” (Finn, 2000). In recent years there has been increased in recognizing the amount of stress including the sources of stress. These stresses sometimes relate to the police organizations themselves, inadvertently creating stress due to the “police officers because of their rigid hierarchical structures, a culture of machoism, minimal opportunities for advancement, and paperwork requirements” (Finn, 2000).

In the year 1994 through 1995, New York City faced a terrible tragedy resulting in 26 police officers committing suicide within a 2-year time period (Finn, 2000). This “unusually high number was the result of such factors as perceived pressure from the media and allegations of corruption” (Finn, 2000). This tragedy spread to the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, which was supported by the city council, to establish a peer support program by police officers for police officers (Finn, 2000). This group was later develop and was recognized as “The Members Assistance Program” (MAP) (Finn, 2000). This program consisted of 150 trained officers who volunteered their own time to aid fellow officers and an additional 26 members to aid their families (Finn, 2000). This peer support service made up of police officer staff developed a 24-hour hotline, which served as a point for contacting and screening for officers who report stress-related difficulties, and encourage individuals who need more intensive help to seek it (Finn, 2000)....