Psychological Aspects of Policing: Psychological Resilience and Trauma Exposure

Introduction▪ Suicide rates have been rising among

populations worldwide, including law enforcement (Violanti, 2010). ▪ Research shows that police suicide rates

exceed that of the general population, and more officers die by suicides than homicides (Violanti, 2010).

▪ Violanti (2010) also demonstrated that officer suicides exceed other first responders’ intentional deaths.▪ Trauma exposure (e.g., being subject to

injured or dead children and adults, violence, heinous or graphic crime scenes; danger to officers’ lives and others; and the pressure of not becoming the next televised statistic) may play a role in officer suicide (Gershon, Barocas,

Canton, Li, & Vlahov, 2009; Violanti, 2010). ▪ Other risk factors include workplace

stressors, personal relationship problems, maladaptive coping (e.g., substance use), and availability of firearms. These can also contribute to or precipitate mental health issues (Violanti, 2010).

Officer Demographics

Thank You

Future Considerations

Critical Incident Response Teams (CIRTs) andCritical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

American College of Forensic Psychology Symposium 2019

Officer Perspectives on Psychological Resilience and Trauma

Exposure

• Of the 10 officers interviewed, officers’ tenure ranged from 1 year to 29 years.

• Officer rank ranged from 7 suburban Patrolmen (including 1 Crisis Intervention Team member, 1 K-9 officer, and 1 K-9 Special Investigative Unit), 1 city Homicide Lieutenant, 1 city Homicide Detective, and 1 Supervisor Deputy of the U.S. Marshals. A U.S. Marshal Critical Incident Response Team member was also interviewed about their response role.

• Of the 10 officers, one had previous fire and EMS experience, and 5 had prior military experience, with 3 of the 5 experiencing combat deployments.

• Responses were unanimous regarding a lack of mental preparation and resilience training for trauma at the police academy.

• Some officers felt such training would be beneficial, especially for rookies or for those who do not have a military, fire, or EMS background.

• Also unanimous was that debriefing or counseling only seemed to occur for critical incidents (CIs).

• Although the officers were aware that resources were available, they did not know who or how to contact these resources other than through their superiors.

• Stigma: Although most of the younger officers voiced that seeking psychological treatment is more acceptable today than in the past, they felt there was still reluctance due to stigma.

• Many expressed a shift, that their department was more embracing and urged them to seek help if needed. All expressed if they felt the need to seek help, they would.

• However, most officers, except for one, felt the best way to cope with job stressors is to talk to those who can relate (i.e., peers).

• A few of the officers felt mental health services becoming a stable figure at stations could be beneficial, explaining that officers may more readily reach out due to a constant and familiar presence.

• Only the homicide Lt. and the Marshal were able to provide direct contact information for their psychologists or critical incident response teams, as well as impart how they monitor their officers in case they need to intervene and get them help.

• The homicide Lt. tries to engage his detectives in mental health days and mindfulness tasks that he has also adopted.

• Psychological autopsies may prove helpful in law enforcement suicide prevention and intervention.

• Each officer varies in their coping abilities and levels of resilience. If officers must rely on someone else to decide intervention is needed, some officers’ needs may be missed.

• Of the officers asked, none experienced any kind of training with regard to psychological resilience. Therefore, further research into the varying levels of coping and resilience for law enforcement, the possible impact or benefit of pre-incident trainings with regard to psychological resilience, and the impact of a stable psychological presence in police stations can provide further insight.

• Research on the impact of pre-incident training on officer resilience compared to those who do not take part in training.

• Research different CIRT methods.

• U.S.M.S. CIRT: 4 teams of 25 Marshals (Alpha, Charlie, Bravo, Delta), each comprised of a chief and team leaders, and from various geographical regions. Team members required to have gone through at least one CI; harder to get on team than promoted; 6 interviews, including of colleagues and bosses. Cannot take part in response if they know someone on the scene. One team is on call for 1 month with a back-up team, then off for 3.

• Critical Incidents (CIs): Range from shooting a dog at an arrest, car accidents, shooting incidents, terrorist incidents, natural deaths, mass shootings. All teams are briefed on all incidents. Phone calls for minor incidents; arrival within a day of major incidents, spending a day or two.

• Based on a military model - recognize signs and symptoms, treat the trauma, recover as quickly as possible to get back on the field. The more you talk about it, the more you become desensitized.

• One-on-one or group debriefing. Group: everyone has a turn to talk, to hear what was going on from others’ perspectives. They cover location, facts, feelings, then more relaxed dialogue until processed.

ConclusionA body in top physical condition may be good, but without a healthy and resilient mind, the body will not function as it should. All law enforcement training, academy or other, does physical testing and conditioning, why not psychological training and conditioning as well? Do we not owe it to those who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve, to help them maintain their psychological well-being?

Thank you to the officers and their superiors from the North Royalton Police Department, Parma Heights Police Department, Parma Police Department K-9 Unit, Lakewood Police Department Crisis Intervention Team, Cleveland Police Homicide Division, the U.S. Marshals Cleveland Division, and the U.S. Marshals Critical Incident Response Team.

• Consider measuring psychological resilience and coping annually throughout police employment. One officer claimed that the job does not define who he is or how he is when off duty, and that to maintain psychological well-being, the thoughts about the job need to stop when the boots and uniform comes off.

• Psychological autopsies could be helpful in exploring psychological state leading up to officer suicide, which could shed light on how much of these deaths are attributed to work-related trauma exposure, personal problems, psychological issues, or other causes.

Future Considerations

Christa L. Drakulic, M. A. and Kristine M. Jacquin, Ph.D.