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LINKS'N THINGS
The Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study is currently conducting some of the most exciting research to date on the demographic, lifestyle, and psychological factors involved in police stress. Involving the detailed tracking and examinations of 400 officers, they have also partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice and extended the BCOPS Study to measuring police officer fatigue and the impact of fatigue on officer health and performance. Your comments and suggestions are requested at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/
Look for more information to come on our book in progress, "POLICE TRAUMA, A Mental Health Handbook for Law Enforcement.."
We promise a book that will speak to the new officer, the veteran officer, and to departments on how to initiate our "Bottoms
Up" program (beginning at the academies) to work together for the long term, develop a data base, and reduce sucides dramatically
in the next ten years.
All profits will go to law enforcement charities.
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The Police Officer Support Team, Inc., is a peer
support organization based in Milwaukee, WI. It began in 1985 when several police officers and mental health professionals
met and concluded that the psychological needs of officers were not being met adequately. In 1986, the team developed
an official relationship with the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) and trained its first group of peer supporters. In 1995,
the team incorporated and obtained 501c(3) tax-exempt status. It now has 50 peer supporters within the MPD and is forming
relationships with other local police jurisdictions. Currently, P.O. David Arndt coordinates team activities, arranges trainings
and maintains records. Dave can be reached at darndt@milwaukee.gov or at 414-352-5125.
S.O.L.E.S. (Survivors of Law Enforcement Suicide) This site focuses on survivor issues -- those left behind grieving the loss of a loved one. Unfortunately, as many of you
know... when an officer dies from suicide, sometimes the *department* withdraws from you. This may or may not be intentional,
however, the end-result is the same: You feel alone and abandoned. We hope to change that.
The California Peer Support Association, a professional and educational organization, is dedicated to the advancement, promotion, and enhancement of peer support
and peer support programs for law enforcement, fire, and allied emergency service personnel.
The Law Enforcement Wellness Association believes that through proper training, guidance, education, and support many of our nation's law enforcement officers can
be restored to lifelong health, fitness, and overall wellness.
The Police Association of Ontario (PAO) is the official voice and representative body for Ontario's front-line police personnel, and provides
representation, resource and support for 65 police associations. Our membership is comprised of over 30,000 police and civilian
members of police services.
PEER RESOURCES: National, state and provincial peer associations, organizations and networks.
John Violanti and Stephanie Samuels bring it all together in "Under the Blue Shadow," a book that explores the psychological dangers of a police career with compelling case studies. Violanti continues
his reputation as America's foremost authority on police psychology, and Stephanie Samuels shows herself to be a voice of
great value as well.
An excellent book is Randy Sutton's True Blue," a marvelous study in the contrasts of a cop's life, from the mundane to the tough to the stunning and the tender and
loving. An excellent books for officers to re-grasp reality and for family members to understand the humanity of their
man or woman behind the badge.
CHP Sergeant Scott Klocker's "John Wayne Never Cried" is the moving story of a trauma surviver and how he found help and recovery. Klocker is highly active giving presentations
describing his own trauma, recovery and message of hope.
This book does a fine job
of going beyond the trauma associated with "a single event." With chilling case examples, he points out that officers
cannot handle PTSD alone, needing professional help and even medications. There is a gauntlet of departmental CIS interventions
offered before therapy which is a bit bothersome--from peer officer one-on-ones ("briefly," to get them "back on the job"),
into "Defusings" and then "Debriefings."
"I Love a Cop" is an excellent book for families of police officers (and officers) on the lifestyle in
a law enforcement career. Does an excellent job of explaining the emotional strains of shifts and job stresses, how
officers change, and the strain put on a family. This is a book full of support and resources, including
recommendations for therapy when needed--valuable reading for families and officers.
Although this dates to 2006, we found Gary Delagnes's statement as president of the San Francisco Police Union to the media regarding the murder of an officer to be an outspoken example
of the frustration and anger so many officers must, behind their veneer, keep hidden.
POLICE SUICIDE, Epidemic in Blue by far out-ranks any book we've read thus far on the police lifestyle, stress, trauma and suicide. John M.
Violanti succinctly points out how difficult it is to identify the problems when police agencies continue to hide and misclassify
suicides under the ignorant premise that they are "shameful." The result, he demonstrates, is that the picture of the
problem remains confusing and that it is only through indirect means that we can even project there's a true problem.
I held off reading "Cops Don't Cry," fearing a gushy book of emotions by a policeman's wife. I was delighted to find a most sobering look at the challenges
faced by a spouse in such a relationship. On the one hand, the author spares no punches in sharing the difficulties
and challenges, which will surprise those who are new and comfort those who've been in relationships for a time. On
the other hand, she offers sound advice on making it all work, taking care of yourself and, above all, keeping a sense of
humor. It's tough, she notes, especially when such things as trauma and PTSD enter the picture--but again, she walks
the reader through the steps of making it all worthwhile. Great, informative reading.
A host of resources about suicide, what to do when faced with a suicide, and suicide
warning signs. Submitted by the family in memory of DEA agent Jeffrey T. Bockelkamp.
No Time to Say Goodbye is the finest book possible for the grieving survivors of police suicides, too often forgotten in short time.
Not only is it valuable reading for them, but it is ESSENTIAL reading for police administrators and those involved
in running suicide programs. Once read, you will realize the true, long range impact on the human beings for
whom you design your programs and you will be haunted by the realization that, following a quiet funeral, the true struggles
have only begun. A moving, heart-wrenching book.
“Who Gets PTSD?” contains research by Violanti, Paton and others on why many police officers suffer full-blown PTSD and others do
not. The book looks at trauma types, frequency of exposure, personal, event and
organizational influences for keys. “From the moment the police officer
enters police work, the socialization process molds him/her into depersonalized relationships and a myth of indestructibility. The effect of trauma, with its ensuing surge of emotions, devastates this myth."
Excellent advanced reading for instructors, peer officers and others
involved in police mental health programs.
"I Can't Get Over It" is an excellent, comprehensive book for trauma sufferers/survivors. While it is not addressed to police officers alone,
it's an excellent, clearly written breakdown of PTSD, what it is, its symptoms and biochemistry, and the healing process.
It contains a series of exercises which I, personally, feel are good but should be completed under the supervision of a therapist.
The pioneer book on how to stop trying to run everyone else's lives and focus on taking care
of yourself.
Contains excellent information on anxiety disorders in general and on PTSD, with focus
on both catastrophic and cumulative PTSD, multiple trauma experiences, treatments and a table of "client metaphors" (D.
Meichenbaum) for symptoms.
bbb
Although not that well balanced (using such terms as "crusaders" for Peer Support
Officers), Treating Police Stress is a good exploration of both the history and challenges of Peer Support Programs, Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)
and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) programs.
An excellent overview of the issues facing police officers approaching and entering
retirement. "Police Retirement" examines the feelings of loss confronted after leaving the job, the high sucide rate for retirees, and the even higher rate
for disabled officers.
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