THE TREMENDOUS TENSION CHARACTERISTIC OF A PATROL OFFICER'S ROUTINE TOUR OF DUTY ARE SUMMARIZED. THIS TENSION COMBINES WITH PERSONAL AND DEPARTMENTAL STRESS AND CREATE PSYCHOLOGICAL TENSION, WHICH OFTEN REACHES CRISIS PROPORTIONS. A SUPERVISOR MUST REALIZE THAT OFFICERS SHOULD ROTATE DUTY. OFTEN, THE TENDENCY IS TO ASSIGN ONLY THE GOOD OFFICERS TO HIGH-CRIME AREAS. THIS DEPRIVES THE LESS EXPERIENCED OFFICER OF A CHANCE TO LEARN AND, AT THE SAME TIME, EXHAUSTS AND DECREASES THE CAPABILITIES OF THE GOOD OFFICERS. ALL HUMAN BEINGS NEED RELIEF FROM CONTINUED TENSION; POLICE PATROL OFFICERS NEED IT MORE THAN MOST. THE STRESSES OF CONTINUALLY CHANGING TOURS OF DUTY, DEPARTMENTAL INEFFICIENCY, AND COMMUNITY TENSIONS ARE EXAMINED, AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE TOTAL PERFORMANCE OF AN OFFICER ARE DISCUSSED. THE PROBLEM IS COMPOUNDED IF THE OFFICER IS ALSO UNDER TENSION AT HOME. STRESS USUALLY MANIFESTS ITSELF FIRST IN THE OFFICER'S USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST SUSPECTS OR IN HIS INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO A COMMUNITY SITUATION. FOR THIS REASON, RELIEVING PATROL OFFICER STRESS IS ESSENTIAL TO IMPROVED POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS. A SERIES OF SOLUTIONS ARE PROPOSED. THESE INCLUDE TRAINING PROGRAMS TO HELP OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS BECOME AWARE OF CAUSES OF STRESS AND TO SUGGEST WAYS OF COPING WITH STRESS, SEMINARS FOR FAMILIES TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE OFFICER'S STRESS, ELIMINATION OF DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES WHICH INCREASE STRESS, AND IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY'S APPRECIATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THROUGH SOUND COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VIGOROUS PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM IS ALSO URGED, BECAUSE SUCH DIVERSONS SEEM TO REDUCE STRESS. (GLR)