THE STUDY SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 90 MALE OFFICERS IN A LARGE MIDWESTERN CITY. THEY WERE DIVIDED INTO A LOW STRESS GROUP (THOSE WITH A HISTORY OF FEW VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS), A MODERATE STRESS GROUP (RELATIVELY NUMEROUS STRESSFUL ENCOUNTERS WITH AT LEAST ONE JOB-RELATED INJURY IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS), AND A HIGH STRESS GROUP (OFFICERS WHO HAD BEEN INJURED BY FIREARMS, ATTACKED WITH A LETHAL WEAPON, WHO HAD SO INJURED A CITIZEN, OR WHOSE PARTNER HAD BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED). THE STUDY SHOWED THAT OFFICERS IN THE HIGH-STRESS GROUP WERE FAR MORE LIKELY TO HAVE HAD MANY VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS WITH CITIZENS, AND ALSO HAD GREATER NEGATIVE FEELINGS. SUCH MEN SEEMED TO HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF INTERPERSONAL DIFFICULTIES AT HOME AND SHOWED MORE ANGER, SUSPICIOUSNESS, CRITICISM, AND SOCIAL DISCOMFORT BOTH ON THE JOB AND AT HOME. THE PHYSICAL HEALTH QUESTIONS SHOWED NO RELATIONSHIP TO STRESS, BUT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE OFFICERS WISHING TO GIVE 'SOCIALLY CORRECT' ANSWERS. INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT IS RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH STRESS OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT A LONGITUDINAL STUDY BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE ATTITUDES OF SUSPICION, HOSTILITY, AND PARANOIA FOUND TO BE RELATED TO CITIZEN-POLICE ENCOUNTERS ARE THE CAUSE FOR OR THE EFFECT OF SUCH ENCOUNTERS. TABLES AND COMMENTARY DETAIL THE STUDY RESULTS. FOOTNOTES CONTAIN REFERENCES. (GLR)