Sample Essay on Stress in Policing

Stress in Policing

Introduction

There is no doubt that policing is one of the occupations that places the stakeholders involved at continuous risks. Globally, police officers play a similar role in maintaining law and order in the society, and this implies that they have to deal with citizens on the wrong side of the law. With the occupation, officers are often forced to dodge bullets, spend most of their time handling or dealing with felons resisting arrest, who in most cases have to be wrestled to the ground. Moreover, there is a conception that police officers have to run a steady gauntlet of expletives considered taunting, from citizens who on several occasions do not appreciate the services offered by police officers. It is imperative to note that policing or rather police work is a more hazardous occupation as compared to air traffic control that is also accompanied by extraordinary stresses and strains (Drzewiecki, 2002). In fact, research indicates that policing is one of the most dangerous jobs worldwide, and this is because of the constant emotional disruptions or interferences accompanying it.  Irrefutably, the stress and pressure that police officers go through cannot be equaled to those experienced by individuals in other professions. The fact that policing is outstandingly stressful can be attributed to myriads of stressors. To some extent, policing exposes officers to dangerous situations and violence, which have been in the spotlight as the primary causes of stress for police officers.

Moreover, it is argued that stimulus under-load, stimulus overload, and most likely a combination of the two have also played a role in stress witnessed in policing. Arguments also arise linking the stress in policing to the frequent disruptions when it comes to work shifts. Other officers attribute the stress they undergo to their work contexts, particularly the pressure from those in superior positions or authorities. In fact, observations made by police officers in recent years postulate that summoning of personnel by those in superior positions is the most stressful aspect of police work (Collins & Gibbs, 2003). A detailed examination of the causes of stress in policing is seen in the later sections of this paper. Ironically, myriads of civilians or observers have the perception that police officers are all-powerful and above the law. Although to some extent they are, they have continuously faced the dilemma of being powerless and powerful simultaneously. The powerful aspect accompanying policing is highlighted by the fact that police officers have the necessary machinery and resources to maintain law and order in society. In most countries, police officers are allowed to be in possession of firearms, which is an indication of how mighty or powerful they are. Conversely, the aspect of powerlessness of police officers is highlighted by the fact that they are constantly supervised, scrutinized, and reined not only by their departments but also the entire community in irritating ways. On few occasions, the scrutiny and supervision are humiliating and irrelevant to what the officers are expected to do in the line of duty. It cannot be doubted that the humiliation that the officers go through is also a significant stressor in policing.

Theory that talks about stress in policing

Hans Selye, believed to be the inventor of stress, contends that policing is one of the most stressful and dangerous occupations to an extent that it exceeds the strains and stresses accompanying occupations such as air traffic control. Selye’s stress theory talks about the stages of how stress is experienced in policing. According to the theory, a stressor or an event that threatens the well-being of an organism results in a three-stage bodily response, and these are alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. While in the line of duty, police officers must be prepared to cope with stressful factors and conditions, and this, according to the theory, is a role played by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) system. Selye’s stress theory postulates that the first response to a stressor is alarm, and this, results in the ‘fight-or-flight’ response and activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Moreover, at the alarm stage, there is release of hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol into the blood stream with the aim of meeting the threat of danger. As mentioned earlier, police officers have to deal with dangerous situations and individuals, who resist arrest by fighting or using explosions. When the officers face abrupt fights or explosions, their sympathetic nervous systems are activated, and they are obliged to react to the situations with “fight-or-flight” and thus, the fact that policing is one of the most dangerous or hazardous occupations is underlined. The second stage of response to stressful situations or conditions according to the theory is resistance, and this is where the parasympathetic nervous system helps the body resume normal functioning while focusing its resources against the stressor. At this stage, the levels of blood glucose remain high, and there is continuous circulation of adrenalin and cortisol at elevated levels. Besides, the stage involves an increase in blood pressure and breathing while the body remains on red alert. Hans Selye believes that police officers exhibit these conditions while handling or dealing with stressful conditions such as arresting armed criminals.

The third stage of response to stressors as per the theory is exhaustion, where an individual exhausts resources and becomes vulnerable to disease and death. This underlines the fact that stress in policing results in diseases and eventual death of police officers. When police officers are unable to overcome stressful conditions, they are at risk of suffering from health complications that in the long run force early retirement or even death. Other consequences of stress among police officers include cynicism and suspiciousness, emotional detachment from various aspects of daily life, absenteeism, reduced efficiency, alcoholism and substance abuse problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, heart attacks, weight loss, ulcers, and other health problems (Violanti, 2007). It is imperative for police officers to come up with strategies for coping with stress, which according to Selye’s stress theory, can be achieved through compensatory processes with both psychological and physiologic components.

Causes of stress in policing

It is argued that the causes of stress in policing are pressures and demands, which originate in the context of police work or in the personal lives of police officers. This fact is irrefutable although there are several other factors that cause stress in policing. It should be noted that while in a line of duty, police officers come across deaths of children, and this is arguably one of the key stressors in policing. Police officers often give accounts of their painful experiences of scenarios or incidences in which the deceased were children. Such experiences have lasting adverse impacts on police officers and cause stress among them, which in the long-term could compromise their efficiency or result in other health problems. The nature of police task requires imperturbability, and this compounds the traumatic experiences in the occupation, especially when children are involved in fatal situations. Most police officers are unable to keep their emotions in check when they witness the death of children, and thus, they undergo psychological strain that affects their service delivery (Toch, 2002).

Stress in policing can also be attributed to the problems that police officers have with work partners. To a large extent, the fact that police officers are frequently assigned to work with uncongenial or difficult partners has contributed to their incessant depressions or stress. Interdependence and close relationships among police officers are fundamental to the delivery of service to citizens (Toch, 2002). However, these can be hampered by non-intersecting habits that become problematic to police officers working together. There are police officers who exhibit over-aggressive behaviors or are conflict-prone when in the line of duty. Such officers spell or cause trouble for those working with them, and thus attempts are often made by their partners to avoid them. The exhibition of over-aggressive behaviors or causing endless conflicts causes stress for police officers, and this affects their service delivery. For instance, qualities of the provision of services notwithstanding, officers who exhibit such behaviors are often avoided, and this is an implication that they are a threat to the occupation.

Another stressor in policing is the fact that police officers often have problems or are in conflict with their superiors or supervisors. Supervisors are like partners because they can impinge on police personnel directly (Toch, 2002). In policing, respect to superiors is paramount, and this is despite the superior’s annoying behavior or character. Matters are worsened by the fact that police officers have to face their irritant superiors regularly, and this, results in increased stress levels among the junior police officers. In policing, the relationships between police officers at junior levels with their supervisors can degenerate, and those involved can become stressful to one another. In policing, there are conflicts between supervisors and general officers regarding power, and this is one of the major stressors in policing. There are instances where supervisors harass their subordinates, and the latter is left feeling less significant and stressed. In the end, their work or service delivery are compromised, and they may end up committing suicide, experiencing health problems, or retiring at early ages (Violanti, 2007). Higher-level administrators in policing are often disengaged, and this means that they are not concerned or have no understanding of the problems faced by their subordinates. There are accusations that officers who have risen through ranks often forget what police work is all about, and thus, are insensitive and make minimal attempts to meet the needs of their subordinates. On the other hand, immediate supervisors are considered intrusive, and this alienates or distinguishes them from their subordinates. The failure to address the existing conflicts, disengagement, or intrusiveness exhibited by supervisors heightens the stress experienced by police officers.

Another cause of stress in policing is the reward system, which tends to favor those in superior positions with minimal duties at the expense of the officer on the ground, who are exposed to dangerous situations. It should be noted that promotions and allocations of rewards in law enforcement agencies are often biased, and this results in intense feelings of frustration among police officers. The role played by politics in the inequities seen in police systems cannot be ignored. In fact, the involvement of political figures has compromised the expected fairness and equity in police systems, and this has made police officers bitter, disaffected, less committed, and stressed. Previously, people were interested in police work although this is not the situation in the world today. Qualified individuals are not applying for police jobs anymore, and this is because of the stressful conditions and circumstances attributed to the influence of politics (Kenwright, 2008). The amount of work or service delivered by police officers is not proportional to the salary, wages, or rewards that are given, and this has heightened the stress experienced by police officers prompting their resignation or early retirement from the occupation.

Additionally, time pressures and constraints faced by police officers also contribute to the stressful situations or conditions faced. Being stressed could mean that a police officer is either over-stimulated or under-stimulated. Typically, police officers find themselves performing several duties in short durations, and this increases their stress levels. For instance, a police officer may be patrolling various streets, and instead, may be interrupted by incidents of individuals robbing a bank and terrorists planting explosives in an area. Police officers often feel constrained in their work, knowing that as they deal with one incident, their services may be needed for the next incident. In the same vein, the number of calls received by police officers on a daily basis may raise their stimulation levels as well as physiological demands, and this could result in increased stress levels.

Strategies for dealing with stress in policing

Arguably, almost 90 percent of what police officer do every day involves handling individuals, ranging from hazardous confrontations to casual conversations, which result in stress for the officers. Stress has myriads of negative consequences on police officers, and these must be prevented, and the best way is to come up with strategies for dealing with the stressful conditions or situations. One of the strategies for dealing with stress in policing is training police officers to have the capability of recognizing its signs and sources (Tucker, 2015). Through training, officers, and other individuals can be encouraged to utilize techniques of stress reduction. Besides, they can be helped to dispel the fear or stigma that for a long time has been attached to seeking assistance when an individual is experiencing stress. Training centers should be established in police residential and workplaces, and program administrators and independent mental health practitioners should be recruited to help handle police officers who are undergoing stress. Other than training police officers to recognize the signs and sources of stress, they can be trained in behavioral self-control, verbal de-escalation strategies, and communication skills, which can assist them to handle or diffuse hazardous situations that might erupt into deadly encounters. Moreover with such training, police officers can develop a sense of mastery when dealing or handling a broad range of interpersonal scenarios, and the confidence exhibited when handling such situations is an effective way of dealing with stress in policing.

Police officers often experience chronic stress, and this builds over time, and often results from work-related and personal issues. To deal with chronic stress experienced in policing, the establishment of supportive family systems is imperative (Miller, 2007). The latter could play an integral role in buffering the impact of stress experienced in work contexts while addressing the difficult home life experienced by police officers. It is argued that police officers often avoid seeking help when they experience stress, and this is because of the fear that they may appear incompetent or weak. In such situations, their emotions may be suppressed, and they may punch through the officers in the form of domestic violence, suicides, deterioration in the quality of work and service delivery, alcohol and drug abuse, and over-aggressiveness in policing (Violanti, 2007). The establishment of supportive family systems could provide powerful healing environments for stressed or depressed police officers. In fact, such systems could destigmatize, encourage, and champion for the distressed officers’ access to mental health services.

Another strategy for dealing with stress in policing is setting up confidential and separate referrals for post-incident mental health check-ups for police officers (Miller, 2007). Once set up, there must be follow-up services including individual counseling and critical incident stress debriefing, and these could play an integral role in assisting distressed police officers.

As mentioned earlier, police officers are stressed by the continuous supervision and scrutiny from their supervisors, and they often perceive this as confusion and unsupportive from individuals they expect to guide them. Bearing this in mind, one of the strategies that could help deal or handle such stress is ensuring that police leaders and supervisors learn and practice effective communication skills and organizational management. It is argued that constructive discipline within law enforcement agencies depends on the respectful treatment of police personnel. It is the duty of top staff and supervisors to enhance or promote constructive discipline by exhibiting effective communication skills and organizational management. Through this, police officers will be encouraged and motivated to deliver quality service, and thus, stressful situations or conditions will have been handled.

The objective of dealing with or handling stress in policing also depends on the enhancement of awareness and self-esteem among police personnel. To enhance awareness and self-esteem, police personnel are introduced to cognitive proceedings, which help them learn and achieve or have an understanding of the variables or factors that reduce or promote the occurrence of stress. In such as case, the focus should be on the specific situations that could be encountered by police personnel when in the line of duty. For instance, police personnel could encounter armed criminals, and thus, the cognitive proceedings should achieve the objective of making them aware of how to handle the criminals and also the need for high self-esteem in such a situation. Most importantly, cognitive proceedings should equip police personnel with skills of coping with anxiety and anger in such circumstances.

The resultant stress in policing could also be handled or dealt with through police personnel’s regular participation in exercise and relaxation (Olson & Surrette, 2004). Exercise and relaxation are identified as proactive strategies that could be used by police officers or personnel to deal with stressful experiences. It is argued that with regular exercise, the human immune system is supported, and thus, stress is released. Moreover, the involvement in regular exercise prevents chronic diseases that are linked to the stress experienced by police personnel in the line of duty, and these include depression and high blood pressure. Police personnel who frequently undergo stress should focus on strength training, which entails core and weight training and these should be coupled with stretching exercises. Taking part in aerobic exercise is also crucial for police personnel with the aim of handling the stressful experiences they come across when in the line of duty.

It is also imperative that police officers seek guidance and counseling if they are to handle or deal with stress experienced in policing. Several police departments have counseling programs, which have been phenomenal in curbing stress among police personnel (Olson & Surrette, 2004). As seen earlier, one of the barriers to police personnel seeking counseling is the fear that they may be accused of being weak or incompetent. Thus, the enhancement or maintenance or privacy when it comes to guidance and counseling of distressed police personnel is essential. It cannot be doubted that counseling remains the most efficient way of dealing with stress, and thus, should be embraced by more police personnel. On the same note, police departments have come up with peer counseling programs, which have also helped make significant strides towards the reduction of stress among police personnel. In this case, officers are counseled by fellow officers, and this is effective because of the fact that officers understand one another.

Concisely, policing is one of the most hazardous occupations, and this is because the personnel involved are often at risk of attack or even death. Police officers are often forced to dodge bullets, spend most of their time handling or dealing with felons resisting arrest, who in most cases have to be wrestled to the ground, and these other than those experienced by partners and supervisors, are some of the causes of stress among police personnel. Stress in policing can be handled through strategies such as training police officers to have the capability of recognizing stress signs and sources, the establishment of supportive family systems, setting up confidential and separate referrals for post-incident mental health check-ups for police officers, enhancing awareness and self-esteem among police personnel, and others.

References

Collins, P. A., & Gibbs, A. C. C. (2003). Stress in police officers: a study of the origins, prevalence and severity of stress‐related symptoms within a county police force. Occupational Medicine, 53(4), 256-264.

Drzewiecki, S. (2002). Survival Stress in Law Enforcement. An applied research project submitted to the Department of Interdisciplinary Technology as part of the School of Police Staff and Command Program, Retrieved June, 28(2008), 339-345.

Kenwright, D. (2008). Police Stress: An Examination of the Effects of Stress and Coping Strategies. Retrieved online from http://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3358&context=etd

Miller, L. (2007). Police families: Stresses, syndromes, and solutions. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 35(1), 21-40.

Olson, A. C., & Surrette, M. A. (2004). The interrelationship among stress, anxiety, and depression in law enforcement personnel. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 19(1), 36-44.

Toch, H. (2002). Stress in policing. American Psychological Association.

Tucker, J. M. (2015). Police Officer Willingness to Use Stress Intervention Services: The Role of Perceived Organizational Support (POS), Confidentiality and Stigma. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, 2015.

Violanti, J. M. (2007). Homicide-suicide in police families: Aggression full circle. International journal of emergency mental health, 9(2), 97.

 

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