We make many sacrifices ; giving up time with family , working long shifts , working holidays , comforting victims , comforting loved ones of those who have been killed or badly injured , comforting families of those who died by suicide . Every day we see the things that cannot be unseen . I had no idea that one day it would all catch up to me . I didn ’ t know then what I know now ; that eventually you pay the price .
All those stressful and traumatic experiences exist in a profession that doesn ’ t teach skills in resiliency , doesn ’ t encourage emotional expression , and doesn ’ t encourage seeking help . This results in a profession with some of the worst health profiles . We have established norms that link emotional and psychological expression to weakness and failure ( Bakker and Heuven 2006 ; Schaible and Six 2016 ). And according to www . BlueH . E . L . P .. org an organization that tracks police suicide , we have one of the highest , if not the highest , suicide rate of any profession .
The nature of policing places law enforcement personnel in situations where trauma is unavoidable , chronic stress and post-traumatic stress are guaranteed , and suicide , depression , risky behavior , obesity , anxiety and addiction are dangerous potential health outcomes . In addition to these incident-based stressors , it is no secret that organizational stressors also negatively impact personnel wellness and a sense of wellbeing . This constant exposure exacts a heavy toll on individuals and organizations in our profession ( De la Fuente Solana et al . 2013 ; Kop et al . 1999 ).
The consistent emotional demands of a police officer ’ s shift , coupled with our culture of denial of emotional regulation , has measurable negative ramifications . According to the research literature , “ police officer burnout has behavioral consequences … such as aggression ” ( Rajaratnam et al . 2011 ; Sack 2009 ), impaired ethical decision-making ( Kligyte et al . 2013 ), disrupted problem solving ( Arslan 2010 ), administrative and tactical errors , absenteeism , and falling asleep while driving ( Rajaratnam et al . 2011 )
Historically we have responded to this occupational stress and trauma though the construct of Critical Incident Stress De-briefing , Peer Support , and Employee Assistance Programs ( EAP ). In essence , we have been acknowledging that our personnel experience stress and trauma , but we wait to intervene until post incident . As a result , our profession is in crisis .
So far this year ( January to October 2019 ) we have lost 188 law enforcement personnel to suicide ; double the number who have died in the line of duty . We must recognize we are in a crisis of suffering and loss , and we must acknowledge the humanity of policing , and why the skill to be resilient is so crucial to surviving a career infused
with trauma and stress .
In 2012 when I was at my lowest point , I stumbled into the field of mindfulness . Mindfulness started as a secular practice in 1979 and over the years as it has grown and evolved . In policing , some are now seeing the benefits , leading to efforts like Lt . Richard Goerling ’ s Mindful Badge training ( www . mindfulbadge . com ). Mindfulness for first responders focuses on building resilience and optimal performance . In 2013 when I began practicing mindfulness in the evenings , I immediately experienced improved sleeping patterns . A study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that breathing-based meditation decreases posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in U . S . military veterans ( Seppala et al 2014 ). I also discovered Compassion Cultivation ( CCT ), a program offered by the Compassion Institute at Stanford University designed to improve resilience and feelings of connectedness to others – ultimately providing an overall sense of well-being . https :// www . compassioninstitute . com .
As I more regularly practiced mindfulness and compassion cultivation , the “ fog ” began to lift in small ways . I was more present with my family . My interest in hobbies returned over time . I learned about the neuroplasticity of the brain and that new neural networks are generated via mindfulness practice . I learned to lean into emotional experiences and to accept where I was in my journey . Most of all , I learned I was not alone .
In 2013 , working with Lt . Goerling , I began introducing this concept of mind , body , performance , and wellness into our police training curriculum . Since 2015 our focus at the Emeryville Police Department is on health , empathy , awareness , compassion , and understanding the relationship between stress and trauma . The core goals are building resilience and optimizing performance . There are several elements to our “ Mindful Policing Initiative ” including yoga , a department meditation room , biofeedback technology , health screenings , Mindfulness Based Resiliency Training ( MBRT ) and Compassion Cultivation Training ( CCT ). If we can teach our law enforcement officers to be in the moment and be more acutely aware , we can be more effective collectively . That moment in time between stimulus and response , is a moment when a mindful officer who is aware of his or her body ’ s reaction to stress and trauma , can take those crucial breaths to strengthen attention , gain emotional regulation , and respond versus react .
We need to continuously work towards removing the stigma associated with mental health and suicide . We can achieve this goal by employing the following practices :
• Actively manage and build resiliency in your organization
WINTER 2019 | California Police Chief 13