AT THE TIME THE COUNSELING PROGRAM WAS BEING CONTEMPLATED, THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS CHARACTERIZED BY MISTRUST AND ILL WILL BETWEEN HEADQUARTERS AND PATROL STAFF AND BY LABOR-MANAGEMENT DISPUTES. THREE OFFICERS, ONE A REFORMED ALCOHOLIC, DEVELOPED THE PEER-COUNSELING APPROACH AS THE ONLY FEASIBLE WAY OF HELPING TROUBLED OFFICERS, GIVEN ORGANIZATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. BOSTON'S STRESS OFFICE, SO NAMED BECAUSE THE PROGRAM COORDINATORS FELT THAT OFFICERS WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO ADMIT EXPERIENCING STRESS THAN EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, IS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT PHYSICALLY AND ORGANIZATIONALLY. STRESS OFFICE COUNSELORS ARE PROTECTED AGAINST DEPARTMENTAL INQUIRY OR INTERFERENCE. OBJECTIONS TO THE PROGRAM FROM THE COMMAND STAFF AND FROM THE PATROLMAN'S ASSOCIATION ARE NOTED, AND EFFORTS BY PROGRAM COORDINATORS TO OVERCOME THE OBJECTIONS ARE DESCRIBED. THE STRESS OFFICE'S THREE COUNSELORS THUS FAR HAVE FOCUSED ON ALCOHOLISM. THE COUNSELORS WORK WITH PATROL OFFICERS REFERRED TO THEM BY OTHER OFFICERS ON AN INFORMAL BASIS. IN THEIR SESSIONS WITH OFFICERS, COUNSELORS EMPHASIZE THAT IT IS REASONABLE AND NOT UNMANLY TO ACKNOWLEDGE EMOTIONS. THE PROGRAM HAS ALSO CONDUCTED VOLUNTARY PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS, A WEIGHT-REDUCTION PROGRAM, AND A COUNSELOR TRAINING CLASS FOR PATROL OFFICERS. IN ITS FIRST YEAR THE BOSTON PROGRAM HAS MADE PROGRESS BUT HAS YET TO SOLVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS AND TO DEAL SIGNIFICANTLY WITH PROBLEM AREAS OTHER THAN ALCOHOLISM. LESSONS FROM THE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE ARE NOTED.