The document discusses how high crime rates in the 1990s led to increased stress and trauma for police officers from experiencing violent incidents and witnessing death on the job. Returning Gulf War veterans joining police forces also contributed to higher rates of PTSD. Left unaddressed, long-term effects of job stress and PTSD in police officers can include increased sickness, work accidents, alcoholism and domestic violence, with suicide being a leading cause of death for officers. The document advocates for police departments to formally identify stress problems, implement intervention programs, and properly evaluate their effectiveness in supporting officer wellness and preventing negative outcomes.

1. Stress and Crime
Its effect on the Police Officer

2. Law Enforcement in the 90’s
 Peak of “Crack wars”
 Highest Murder rate in History
of U.S.
 NYC had record 2,245 Murders
 LOD deaths dropped
to an average of 160 a year
down from 229 in 1970

3. How did crime affect the police?
 Returning vets from the Gulf war
 High rate of traumatic incidents
 PTSD
 Crime added high rates of stress

4. What is Police related stress?
 Child ejected from vehicle
 Witnessing a firefighter fall from a
building
 Shootout where a cop is shot or killed?
 Marriage problems
 Alcohol problems
 A combination of the above

6. Job Stress
 A harmful and physical emotional response
that occur when the requirements of the
job do not match the capabilities, needs or
resources of the worker
 PTSD experiencing a trauma or life
threatening event and having symptoms
such as hyperawareness or nightmares
 Normal reactions to abnormal situations

8. Police Officers and Agencies
 Sick days
 Cardiovascular disease
 Musculoskeletal disorders
 Psychological disorders
 Workplace injury
 Impaired immune
deficiency, cancer, ulcers
 Suicide

9. How can stress be
prevented and treated?
 St Paul Fire and Marine
Insurance Co.
 Stress Management
 Positive Organizational change
1. I.D. the problem
2. Design and implement
interventions
3. Evaluate the Intervention

10. What are long term affects
of stress and PTSD?
 High rate of work
related accidents
 Work errors that are
attributed to stress and
PTSD
 Alcoholism, DV, mental
illness and suicide

11. Police Suicide Statistics
 Dept. Dates years size suicides
 Chicago 90 – 98 9 13,500 22
NYPD 85 – 98 14 40000 87
 Third leading cause of death 15 – 24 year olds
 Firearms leads cause of death with 55%
 Veterans account for 20% of suicides according to the
VA
 Police Officers are two to three times more likely to
commit suicide than be killed in the line of duty

12. Key Questions
 Do you know a police officer who
has experienced a traumatic
incident?
 How did your department handle it?
 How could your department better
take care of its members?
 What are the repercussions?