Discussion Post
Keep in mind those split-second decisions that can kill or save an officer's life. I had a co-worker and dear friend of mine whose split-second decision saves 2 other officers, however, cost him his life. He was dealing with a mentally ill suspect whose mother was concerned about his well-being however no information was available or disclosed from his mother in regards to his mental history prior to the call. It is easy to say what he or they should have done differently after the fact, however, I think everyone would have answered the call in the same manner, with back up and being prepared for the worse. However, the worse took his life.
When it comes to what stresses police officers out, it's not the car chases or the threat of getting shot at or even killed. The worst part of an officer's job is secondhand trauma: exposure to murders, car accidents, seeing hurt kids, all the horrible things police have to deal with on a daily basis. But there's a close No. 2. Some argue it may even be No. 1. And it happens after the car chases are over.....its politics in policing.
When you get into the law enforcement profession you expect the trauma, car chases, chasing people, and the possibility of getting shot. What many don't know expect or even know exists as it does is politics. The evidence is pretty clear that the sources of stress tend to come mostly from administrative issues internal to the organization. For lots of cops, it's the administrative nitpicking, being micromanaged, being charged with trivial offenses, and being poorly managed that really bothers them.
All of the stress cops face on the job can drive some of them to drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, and even excessive use of force. If the idea that workplace stress can cause such an extreme response seems shocking or surprising, it's not as counter-intuitive as you may think.
To those who question the connection between workplace stress and cops lashing out, people who haven't done the job simply have any idea what they're it is all about. Police officers have less and less discretion about how they do their jobs, which exacerbates existing stress even further.
Do you feel that police officers have less discretion and why?
Herships, S., (2015) The Cost of Stress in the Police Force.
The response should include a reference list. One-inch margins, Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space and APA style of writing and citations.