Stress is part of daily life and results from individuals' efforts to cope with demands they face. Burnout, however, represents the sum total of unsuccessful efforts to cope with daily life situations and results in a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. Police officer job pressures that may contribute to stress and burnout include the responsibility of protecting the public, rapid fluctuation between inactivity and crisis, internal department conflicts, bipolar (good-bad) thinking, emotional distancing from others, poor diet, lack of regular exercise, and the generally negative public image of police officers. Family relationships often prove to be a pivotal point in diagnosing burnout. The answer to the management of stress and burnout involves awareness, acceptance, and action on the part of both employees and police administrators. Stress is inevitable and treatable, while burnout is a waste of police resources.