Research for CJ Class

[mholtfamily]

Hello All,

I am a student at American Military University. I am doing a research paper on the psychological affects of police work. I just wanted to post some questions and ask for some reponses from the police officers and even their spouses. No names will be used. If I quote your response in my paper I will use fake names. These questions are very personal but are needed for this paper. Thank you in advancce for any and all responces.

1. How much stress is involved in your job?

2. Would you say that police work is stressful?

3. Would you say that police work leads to high divorce rates among law enfocrment?

4. Would you say police work leads to high sucide rates among law enforcement?

5. Have you or anyone you've known in law enfocement been divorce because of the job?

6. Have you or anyone you've known thought of committing suicide or committed suicide?

7. Have you been in involved in a shooting?
Suicide by Cop, or Justifiable?

8. Have you sought counceling for this shooting?

9. Do crimes against children affect you more than other crimes?

10. Do calls where a death has occured affect you?

11. Do you have any unique experences that caused negative pschological affects to you.

Thank you again for responding.

Michael Holt

[ateamer]

1. A lot. Putting up with administration, uncaring public, ineffective courts and just the dangers of the job cause stress.

2. See above.

3&5.Way too many cops get divorced. The stress of the job, working at nights and on weekends and holidays, missing family events, not dealing with stress and taking it out on the wife and acting like a cop at home (giving orders) is a surefire recipe for divorce.

4&6.That's what they always say, but I have never personally known any officer who considered it.

7&8.I was at the scene of one 11 years ago, but didn't fire. I felt no need for counseling.

9. No, but I don't have children.

10. I can't stand dead bodies! It doesn't mess me up, just gives me the creeps. Death investigations also make me appreciate life so much more.

11. I actually think all the stuff I have seen and been involved in has led to positive change. I am more open-minded, upbeat, think and act more quickly and appropriately and am more determined to succeed in whatever I attempt.

[Don]

1. There is always a lot of stress in law enforcement. You make decisions every day that may get you sued. You are involved in violent or potentially violent situations almost every day, and for cops "in the hood" several times a day. You may have to make the split second decision to take another human being's life. . .

2. Redundant questions. See #1.

3. There ARE high divorce rates amoung officers. There are many reasons for this. Among them, just to name a few, are the stress placed on spouses when the LEO has to work shift work, has to miss a lot of the kids growing up because of court or extra duty assignments, oh hell, I could write a book on why divorce rates are high.

4. Not really.

5. Of course.

6. I've known two fellow LEOs that committed suicide.

7. Shooting yes, death involved, no.

8. No.

9. Absolutely.

10. Not unless the decedant has been a friend. Yes, I've had that happen.

11. I think just the overall stress of a long career in law enforcement, coupled with being a firefighter and medic at the same time. The whole thing added up to an "It's time to retire early" mentality that caused me to pull the plug at age 50.

[comcen]

1. Q. How much stress is involved in your job?

A. Depends on the event. Stress may also not be an accurate description. Sometimes an anxiety or anxiousness exists when responding to or dealing with violent or psychotic behavior. Some people are stressed when they deal with their boss. Some are stressed going home. I don't think stress is something that can be accurately quantified. It does exist... Probably the best way to measure or guage it would be by trying to catalog the many things we do, and imagine the numerous ways each of these things may transpire. It give one pause to think and realize you never really know how something will come to pass until it's history.

2. Q. Would you say that police work is stressful?

A. I think #1 applies here too.

3. Q. Would you say that police work leads to high divorce rates among law enforcement?

A. My observation is yes. More than 50% of the sworn members of my department have been divorced at least once. In my tenure I've seen it as high as 75% within the ranks of my department. Now with retirements and new people we're at about 58%.

4. Q. Would you say police work leads to high sucide rates among law enforcement?

A. Don't know.

5. Q. Have you or anyone you've known in law enforcement been divorced because of the job?

A. Because of the job? Many things can cause a divorce. I'm sure the job could cause it or be blamed for it. Probably the job presents opportunity that may lead to the causes of divorce. You could probably write a Master's Thesis on this topic.

6. Q. Have you or anyone you've known thought of committing suicide or committed suicide?

A. Me, no. I love life too much no matter how lousy it may seem to some. Unfortunately I've known two people who have. Not only did they take their own lives, one took the life of his girlfriend in a crowded bar/club. The other took his children's, his wife's, and then his own. Both worked for NYPD.

7. Q. Have you been in involved in a shooting? Suicide by Cop, or Justifiable?

A. No, thank God.

8. Q. Have you sought counseling for this shooting?

A. n/a

9. Q. Do crimes against children affect you more than other crimes?

A. Yes.

10. Q. Do calls where a death has occured affect you?

A. If it's natural no. Hanging's, no.
Some shootings and other unnatural appearing, yeah... probably.

11. Q. Do you have any unique experiences that caused negative psychological affects to you.

A. When citizens have attacked me and tried to hurt me beacuse they were drunk or high or because I was wearing a uniform, I took it personally. I experienced an adrenaline rush and anger that required time and exercise to defeat the anger? Many of us bust our butts to help others, and when someone tries to hurt you, it makes you think.

Suggestion: Make your research available to those that participated.