NCJ Number
16737
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 41 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 1974) Pages: 51-52
Date Published
1974
Length
2 pages
Annotation
THE ORGANIZATIONAL ROLES AND STRESSES ENCOUNTERED IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SITUATIONS WITH WHICH AN OFFICER IS CONFRONTED HAVE PRODUCED A NEED FOR MORE POLICE TRAINING IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES.
Abstract
POLICE WORK IS A HIGH-STRESS OCCUPATION INVOLVING TWO TYPES OF ROLES - PUNITIVE AND HELPING. MANY OF THE PROBLEMS WITH WHICH AN OFFICER MUST DEAL ARE LISTED AND INCLUDE STREET LEVEL ABUSE PROBLEMS (HARD DRUGS, ALCOHOL, CHILD ABUSE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND PHYSICAL ASSAULT) AND HIERARCHY AND PEER GROUP STRESSES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. IN GENERAL, THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING OF OFFICERS IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, INCLUDING NORMAL AND ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY, CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY, FAMILY AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY, AND CRISIS INTERVENTION. SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN COPING WITH STRESS IS ALSO DESIRABLE. IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT DISCUSSION AND COUNSELING GROUPS BE HELD FOR POLICEMAN'S WIVES TO SUPPORT AND ASSIST THEM IN UNDERSTANDING AND COPING WITH THE GAMUT OF STRESSES STEMMING FROM THE POLICE ROLE.