© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Part III People in the Police Organization Chapter 9 Managing Stress and Fatigue

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Learning Objectives 1.State the nature and symptoms of stress. 2.Understand the sources of stress for police administrators. 3.Understand the sources of stress for officers not in administrative ranks. 4.Understand the effects of stress on health and family. 5.State the differential responses to stress. 6.Develop strategies for responding to stress. 7.Explain the consequence of stress for police organizations. 8.Identify the problems caused by stress. 9.Discuss the means by which management can respond to fatigue in the ranks.

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Types of Stress Eustress –Positive –A stressful event that doesn’t harm the individual –Pleasurable, challenging, or exciting stress Distress –Negative –Harmful stimulus that threatens the functioning of the individual –Likely to overload an individual’s capacity to cope with environmental stimuli

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Symptoms of Stress Physical Intellectual Emotional Social Spiritual

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Symptoms of Burnout Job dissatisfaction Inefficiency at work Fatigue Sleep disturbance Escape activities

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Sources of Stress for Police Administrators Position Educational attainment Control over the hiring process Decision-making autonomy Legitimacy issues Organizational complexity Belief in public service Ethnicity

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Career Stages and Stress among Administrators Crisis (0-2 years) Interregnum (3-4 years) Institutionalization (5-9 years) Concretion (10-14 years) Demise (15 years and beyond)

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Sources of Stress for Police Officers Organizational and administrative practices The criminal justice system The public Stressors intrinsic to police work

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Critical Incidents Any high-risk encounter with officer-civilian contacts when officers reasonably believe they might be legally justified in using deadly force, regardless of whether they use such force or avert its use Five stages of coping: –Denial –Anger and resentment –Bargaining –Depression –Acceptance

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Persistent and recurring memories of the event Loss of interest and feelings Problems sleeping and concentrating Hyper-vigilance

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Police Career Stages and Stress Alarm stage (0-5 years) Disenchantment stage (6-13 years) Personalization stage (14-20 years) Introspection stage (20 years and over)

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning The Effects of Stress in Policing Health-related problems Family problems –Changing work schedules –Emotional exhaustion –Negative public image –Overprotection of the spouse and family –Hardening of emotions –Sexual problems –Identity problems –Problems with children Police suicide

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Police Officer Coping Mechanisms to Stress Changing job assignments Escaping by ignoring the situation or avoiding people Expressing feelings of anger or hurt Taking action such as seeking professional help Forming racial bonds Blowing off steam with co-workers Seeking support from co-workers, family members, and others

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Dealing with Stress among Law Enforcement Executives Assessment Planning Action Follow-through

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Strategies for Dealing with Stress Proactive strategies –Designed to prevent the development of stress Reactive strategies –Deal with eliminating sources of stress or alleviating their consequences

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Causes of Fatigue Lack of a standardized schedule Shift length Shift assignment policies Personal issues Commuting Moonlighting