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HUMAN DIMENSION IN URBAN POLICING - DEALING WITH STRESS IN THE 1980'S

NCJ Number
62813
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 26-27
Author(s)
R J MACGUIRE
Date Published
1979
Length
2 pages
Annotation
THE KINDS OF STRESS ENCOUNTERED IN POLICE WORK AND WAYS TO DEAL WITH STRESS ARE DISCUSSED. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE NEEDED TO PREVENT PERSONAL DAMAGE DUE TO STRESS.
Abstract
POLICE WORK IS A STRESS-PRODUCING OCCUPATION, WITH EXTERNAL, OPERATIONAL, ORGANIZATIONAL, AND PERSONAL PRESSURES WEIGHING UPON THE OFFICERS. EXTERNAL STRESS, FOR EXAMPLE, COMES FROM REAL THREATS AND DANGERS SUCH AS HAVING TO ENTER DARK ALLEYS AND UNFAMILIAR BUILDINGS, FROM TAKING VERBAL ABUSE FROM THE PUBLIC, AND FROM THE INABILITY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH CRIME. OPERATIONAL STRESS COMES FROM ENCOUNTERS WITH THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF HUMAN NATURE; POLICE DEAL DAILY WITH DOMESTIC TROUBLES, DRUG USE, AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. ORGANIZATIONAL STRESS COMES FROM BEING PART OF A LARGE BUREAUCRACY WITH LOW PAY AND FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT. PERSONAL STRESS ARISES FROM AN OFFICER'S STATUS AS A MEMBER OF A MINORITY GROUP AND FROM CONFLICT OF PERSONAL VALUES WITH THOSE OF THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. RECENT STUDIES SHOW POLICE OFFICERS HAVE AMONG THE HIGHEST RATES OF DIVORCE AND HEART DISEASE. THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS INSTITUTED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO DEAL WITH STRESS, BUT TOO OFTEN PROGRAMS BEGIN ONLY AFTER DAMAGE IS DONE TO AN OFFICER'S LIFE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MUST ALSO CALCULATE THE COSTS OF STRESS-RELATED INJURIES TO THEIR EFFICIENCY AND OVERALL OPERATION, AND INSURE THAT PROGRAMS IDENTIFY STRESS FACTORS TO AVOID PROBLEMS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THE DEPARTMENT'S MIDDLE MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE EDUCATED ABOUT STRESS OCCURRING ON A GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL BASIS; RANK AND FILE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT STRESS OCCURS AND CAN BE DEALT WITH ONLY WHEN ACKNOWLEDGED. (RFC)