Police Officer Stress: Sources and Solutions

Based on surveys with over 500 officers, this book examines police officer stress from all angles. It takes an objective view and looks at occupational stress, on the job stress, critical incident stress, and stress produced from the police organizational structure. Two assumptions drive this work: current events in American history are changing police work forever and officer stress is actually a symptom of an antiquated police organization. Throughout the book, it looks at the officer’s and the organization’s contribution toward stress and makes recommendations that can be implemented at both the individual and organizational level. Explores all aspects of police stress including occupational stress, on the job stress, critical incident stress, and stress produced from the police organizational structure. Examines the role the police organization plays in contributing to stress. Discusses stress prevention and stress reduction strategies that are geared to both the individual officer and the police organization. Explores issues of burnout and stress from the candid perspectives of police officers throughout the U.S. Includes findings from interviews with 24 Gulf Coast police officers after Hurricane Katrina and an additional 558 officers from states like New England, North Carolina, and Florida. Police departments and Law Enforcement agencies.