about aa

1. Shift Hours
Long Hours
Publ i c S c r ut i ny Organizational S tre
ss

2. The Police Officer’s Paradox
To function effectively in our job, you must
annihilate, smother, and suppress normal
emotions like fear, anger,
revulsion, and
even compassion. To
do other wise is to
invite overwhelming
doubt or hesitancy when
decisive action is required.
The penalty for your achieved
competence is a mind set that
might as well be a foreign
language to your social
contemporaries.
We are…..victims of our own success. When
these same normal and appropriate
emotions…..surface in personal
relationships, we automatically shut down
and wonder why, over time, that the people
we care about the most complain that we are
aloof, cold, and uncommunicative.
Lt. Al Benner, Ph.D.
San Francisco Police

3.
A traumatic event is an
occurrence of such intensity
that it over whelms a person’s
normal ability to cope. It is
often sudden, shocking and
involves death, serious injury,
and emotions of intense fear,
helplessness, or horror. It may
destroy or impair one’s sense
that life is predictable.

4. Four Basic Principles of
Critical Incident Stress
(CIS)
• Trauma is in the eyes of the beholder
• CIS is a normal response to an abnormal event
• CIS is a psychobiological event
•What you resist, persists
From E. Kirschman, I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know, 1977

5. Alcoholism: Myths and Realities
Myth: Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
Reality: Alcoholism is a disease for which recovery is guaranteed if the alcoholic begins and sticks
with a recovery program. If not, what’s guaranteed is premature death.
Myth: Alcoholism is caused by a lack of willpower, immorality, weak character, or police stress.
Reality: No one really knows what drives a person to drink. Studies alternately have implicated physical,
genetic, psychological, environmental, and social factors.
Myth: All alcoholics are skid-row drunks.
Reality: Many alcoholics hold high-level jobs and function well at work for years before their performance
is noticeably affected by drinking.
Myth: If an alcoholic can stop drinking, he or she doesn’t have a problem.
Reality: Abstinence is not a sign that someone is free of alcoholism. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
calls these abstainers “dry drunks” because they have no real understanding of their condition,
no new ways to cope, and are almost certain to “fall off the wagon.”
Myth: Alcoholics drink every day.
Reality: Alcohol abuse patterns vary. Some people get drunk daily, and others only on the weekends.
Some stay sober for months and then go on a long binge.
From E. Kirschman, I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know, 1977.

6.
• Depression
• Significant loss – actual or threatened
• Substance abuse
• Previous suicide attempts or threats
• Marked change in personality
• Giving things away
• Reckless behavior
• Anniversary reactions
• Reunion fantasies

7. Power and Control Wheel
POLICE RESPONSE Knowledge Of Law & Court
He is the police. RO’s System
automatically respond to He knows court procedures &
“officer in distress”. Often personnel. Presents self well in
no department policy so court – knows what to say and not
colleagues use own to say. No one expects him to
discretion. Her word perjure as he’s sworn to uphold
against his as a police law.
officer.
TRAINING ADVANTAGES
What makes him a good officer can make LACK OF SHELTER & RESOURCES
him a dangerous abuser. Intimidates by Abuser knows shelter locations.
presence alone; uniform, stance, voice. Friends & family afraid to help or she
Uses command/interrogation voice to POWER refuses to endanger them. Usual
intimidate, threaten. Trained to use body support untrained, unwilling or unable to
as weapon.
AND help.
CONTROL
OFFICER AS VICTIM WEAPONS AND FORCE
Greater potential for Constant presence of weapons in home.
lethality. No one believes Uses service weapon, baton,
officer can be victim. handcuffs, other “tools of trade” in
Ostracized by colleagues, abuse. Uses arm locks, choke holds to
no longer trusted, broke subdue with no marks or bruises.
Code of Silence. May
endanger other officers.
PERSONAL IMPACT PSYCHOLOGICAL
Friends, family, service THREATS
providers doubt her Threatens to hurt family,
credibility. Loss of status friends. Knows how to
as police wife. High commit perfect crime and
potential for lethality. Loss criminals can do his dirty
of privacy and protection: work. Threatens to kill her
phone taps, surveillance. and himself if she costs
him his job.
Copyright 1998 Diane Wetendorf
Life Span Inc. Des Plaines IL
(Adapted from Domestic Abuse
Intervention Project, Duluth, MN)

8.
D o m e s t ic A b u s e
 Domestic abuse exists along a continuum from verbal abuse to
physical violence.
 All controlling behaviors are reasons for concern and for the potential
victim to seek help.
 Domestic abuse is not about anger. All couples get angry and fight.
 Domestic abuse may be related to PTSD, substance abuse, poor coping
or personality.
 It is the abuser’s responsibility to control his/her behavior and get help
for stress or substance related problems. It is the victim’s
responsibility to look after his/her own safety and the safety of
his/her children.
 Toll free national hot line is 800-799-SAFE.

9. Conflict A family
resolution and structure with
problem clearly defined
Organizational Support For
solving skills. Family Friendly Policies. roles and
responsibilities
 Mental health benefits .
(EAP)
 Peer Support Program
 CIS intervention resources
 Police Chaplains
 Flexible assignments
 Rotation policies
 Child care Social Support system:
 Family
Awareness of job-  Friends
related stress inside/outside
factors and the police work.
ability to  Religious
recognize stress. communities
 Social groups
 Each other

10. S t r e n g t h e n i n g Your C o u p l e C o n n e c t io n
 Spend time alone, without children, regularly every week.
 Keep this time sacred and free from interruption.
 Decide how you want to spend this time. If you disagree, problem solve so that
you both win.
 Use this time to actively listen to each other.