NCJ Number
95976
Journal
Police Stress Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: (Winter 1984) Pages: complete issue
Editor(s)
E C Donovan
Date Published
1984
Length
25 pages
Annotation
Five articles present discussions about an officer's religious faith as a resource for dealing with occupational stress, police and social justice, proper nutrition to combat stress, the British policy for officer use of weapons, and techniques for coping with stress in policing.
Abstract
The first article discusses the director of public safety in Omaha, Nebr., who openly wears his crucifix while working. He views his membership in a diaconate as an extension of his commitment to community service. The article dealing with police and social justice cites police responses to various stressful situations and emphasizes the importance of the individual's attitude. It explains the problems caused by officers' adhering to unfounded stereotypes in responding to situations which require good judgment and rational thinking. The article on nutrition explains that disorders normally associated with stress -- anxiety, irritability, and headache -- are actually the side effects of nutrient deficiencies and identifies the foods required to supply these lost nutrients. The next article reproduces the British guidelines on when police officers are allowed to carry firearms. The opinion of the Queen's Counsel was requested following the outcome of a trial of two metropolitan (London) officers who were cleared of all charges arising from the shooting of Stephen Waldorf: The opinion examines arguments concerning self-defense, the Firearms Act of 1968, and several cases. The last article explains how police employees can avoid burnout by following stress reduction techniques in policing and lists steps that management should follow to encourage stress prevention. It summarizes a study that was intended to document the salience and sources of stress in police work.