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CAUSES OF STRESS TO POLICE OFFICERS DETAILED

NCJ Number
53007
Journal
National Sheriff Volume: 30 Issue: 5 Dated: (OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 12,16,29
Author(s)
T H WALROD
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATORS SHOULD IDENTIFY JOB-RELATED STRESSORS AND REDUCE THE UNNECESSARY STRESSORS ON THOSE UNDER THEIR COMMAND TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE CRIME.
Abstract
MORBITY AND MORTALITY FIGURES FOR POLICE OFFICERS INDICATE THAT THEY SUFFER MORE STRESS-RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS THAN MOST OTHER WORKERS. STRESS IS DEFINED AS A PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, OR EMOTIONAL FACTOR THAT CAUSES BODILY OR MENTAL TENSION THAT MAY RESULT IN DISEASE, AND A STRESSOR IS DEFINED AS A STIMULUS THAT CAUSES STRESS. POLICE OFFICERS FACE PHYSICAL HAZARDS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY, YET THE MOST DANGEROUS TYPES OF STRESS ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL. ONE WAY TO REDUCE PHYCHOLOGICAL STRESS FOR POLICE OFFICERS IS TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN POLICE OFFICERS AND POLICE ADMINISTRATORS. ORDERS ARE NECESSARY, BUT THEY SHOULD BE ISSUED COURTEOUSLY AND WITH TACT SO THAT THEY DO NOT CAUSE RESENTMENT ON THE PART OF POLICE OFFICERS. 'MOONLIGHTING' IN POORLY PAID DEPARTMENTS ALSO CAN RESULT IN STRESS, AND SHIFT WORK INTERFERES WITH NORMAL SOCIAL LIFE; UNFORTUNATELY, LITTLE CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS STRESSOR SINCE POLICE WORK MUST CONTINUE AROUND THE CLOCK. JOB BOREDOM, POOR EQUIPMENT, AND EXPOSURE TO BRUTALITY AND CARNAGE MUST BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF JOB-RELATED STRESSORS ASSOCIATED WITH POLICE PATROL WORK. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT PROLONGED STRESS CAN RESULT IN ACTUAL TISSUE DAMAGE, AND THAT FRUSTRATION CAN INCREASE BOTH HEART RATE AND SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE. ONE WAY TO IDENTIFY STRESSORS IS TO ASK POLICE OFFICERS TO LIST THOSE THINGS WHICH ANNOY THEM MOST OR TO FILL OUT ANONYMOUS QUESTIONNAIRES. THESE INSTRUMENTS SHOULD BE ANALYZED TO DETERMINE THOSE STRESSORS THAT CAN BE REDUCED. SOLUTIONS FOR REDUCING STRESS SHOULD BE AGREED UPON AND IMPLEMENTED. AWARENESS OF STRESSORS ON THE PART OF POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD ITSELF MAKE THEM BETTER ABLE TO COPE WITH THEIR JOBS. KNOWING THAT ADMINISTRATORS UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE PATROL OFFICERS' POSITION WILL CREATE MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDES IN THE DEPARTMENT. (KJM)