Category: Submissions

Suicide ideation due to job stress differs by gender

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Author: Stephen A. Bishopp
Author’s Email Address: Author’s Agency or Organization: Dallas Police Department/Caruth Police Institute
Author or Author Agency’s Web site: http://www.untdallas.edu/cpi

A wide body of research has demonstrated that police officers are profoundly affected by the jobs they do. Faced with stress, officers learn to adapt by incorporating coping techniques.  The current study utilizes general strain theory to explain occurrences of the most dangerous maladaptive coping technique: suicide ideation. Police officers from three large cities in Texas were surveyed. We found that stress is significantly related to officers’ suicide ideation; however, there are important risk factors to consider. Additionally, important differences in suicide ideation outcomes between men and women police officers were found. Continue reading

Shoring up your foundation to hold a heavy load

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Author: Carolyn Whiting
Author’s Email Address: Author’s Agency or Organization: Retired  Town of Greenburgh NY Police Department
Author or Author Agency’s Web site: facebook:  The Crazy Lives of Police Wives

As a former police officer and a police wife I have seen my marriage from both sides.   Working with “the guys” has given me a perspective from a police officer’s point of view.  Knowing many police wives and being one has given me a perspective from the wife’s point of view.  Can the two meet somewhere in the middle?  Yes!   Continue reading

Know when to make a change

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Author: Miguel Reyna
Author’s Email Address: Author’s Agency or Organization: Travis County Sheriff’s Office
Author or Author Agency’s Web site: www.tcsheriff.org

As a single father of three kids, I was forced to face some facts as I was on patrol working midnights…  Is it time to make a change? Am I still able to do this job and keep myself and my partners safe out here?

As a law enforcement officer, one of the most challenging things to do is face the fact that you have limitations.  In the course of six years I had undergone a myriad of changes in both my personal and professional life. Continue reading

De-Stress With Self Hypnosis

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Author: Carlos H. Martinez
Author’s Email Address: Author’s Agency or Organization: Los Angeles Police Department
Author or Author Agency’s Web site: CarlosHmartinez.com

Hypnosis may sound like some mind-controlling trick you see in a movie or at a stage show. It’s far from that yet, exactly like that in some aspects. Hypnosis has its place in our career as law enforcement officers, our personal lives, and the success in both aspects.  First, a brief explanation of hypnosis and how it can help with our mental/emotional fitness.   Continue reading

15 Day Challenge for Healing and Renewing One’s Spirit

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Author: Captain Dan Willis
Author’s Email Address: Author’s Agency or Organization: La Mesa Police
Author or Author Agency’s Web site: N/A

1. Self Awareness: Write why you became a police officer, the purpose in your work, and how the job has adversely affected you, your outlook on life, your primary relationships: What value should you get from work?
Challenge: Re-dedicate yourself to the purpose of protecting and giving life to others. Write what your family, spouse, friends, work colleagues, and the community need from you and focus on that rather than what you want from them. Continue reading

The Power of Supportive Supervision

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Author: Sonny J Provetto, MSW. LCSW
Author’s Email Address: CLICK HERE to email Sonny Provetto
Author’s Agency or Organization: Law Enforcement Consultant/Psychothrapy
Author’s Web Site: N/A

Police supervision is a challenging and nearly impossible task given the environment that patrol officers work in and the nature of the work itself.  Nonetheless, supervision is a critical element for agencies trying to shape and guide their employees in the delivery of modern police services (Engel, 2001). A resilient organization begins to take shape when administrators and supervisors start caring about their people.   Continue reading

OFFICER WELLNESS: MAKING IT PART OF YOUR FAMILY LIFE

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Author: Sergeant Mark St.Hilaire
Author’s Email Address: Click Here to Email Mark
Author’s Agency or Organization: Natick Police Department, Natick,MA
and the Natick Police Superior Officers Association, Local 82
Author’s Web Site: N/A

May 1, 2011 was a very special day in my life.
First, I must congratulate and state how proud I am for the members of our United States Armed Forces and everyone who was involved with the special operations in Pakistan. Once again, these brave men and woman proved to the world that they are extremely disciplined and know how to take care of business. I am grateful for these men and women and to my fellow public safety professionals who keep our families, friends and our communities safe and maintain our free and open society here in the United States.
 Continue reading

OFFICER WELLNESS: HOW ARE YOU TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN WELLBEING?

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Author: Sergeant Mark St.Hilaire
Author’s Email Address: Click Here to Email Mark
Author’s Agency or Organization: Natick Police Department, Natick,MA
and the Natick Police Superior Officers Association, Local 82
Author’s Web Site: N/A

As we approach the fine weather after a tough winter here in New England, many of us know this time of the year as our busy season: Extra Details, Overtime Shifts and more importantly the increased demand for correctional and police services to control increasing criminal and public disorder activity. Continue reading

On Mental Illness and Stress: Tips on How to Stay Sane; and ALIVE!

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Author: Margaret Higgins

I am a 100% service-connected (US Army) disabled veteran.  I am mentally ill; and I have a concomitant stress disorder.

First of all: I now have God, and Jesus Christ, in my life.  They are my greatest helps.  (Scriptures such as: “Have no anxiety about anything.”  and “I cast my cares on Jesus Christ, for he cares for me.  He will sustain me.”  “I came so that they might have joy.  And that their joy may be complete.”  “For freedom, Christ has set us free.”- help me no end.  However, they must be practiced, to be affective.) Continue reading

First Responders Plan for Optimal Long Term Health

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Author: Dave McDowell, Retired Police Sergeant
Author’s Email Address: CLICK HERE to email Dave
Author’s Agency or Organization: Westminster PD, Orange County CA and the First Responders Fitness Challenge
Author’s Web Site: www.facebook.com/FirstRespondersFitnessChallenge / www.PoliceOutreach.com

Working Patrol, Detectives, Dispatch, Records or Administration all have one thing in common ~ the challenge of maintaining long term optimal health. If you are a first responder or someone who supports those who protect us 24/7 across the United States – we welcome you to this fitness challenge by visiting www.facebook.com/FirstRespondersFitnessChallenge. A note to our fellow first responders and their families: After 25 years in the business you know I know how you think so here is the bottom line .  Continue reading