Argument Essay

Savannah Gomez

Savannah Gomez

Although Post Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is commonly diagnosed amongst

military personnel, local law enforcement can develop it as well. In the article Duty related
stressors and PTSD symptoms in Suburban Police Officers, by Robinson, Sigman and Wilson,
they gathered psychological reports of how an officers everyday work environment can be a
cause of PTSD. The article entitled, Police Trauma and Addiction Coping with the Dangers of
the Job, by Chad L. Cross and Larry Aschley, gives the readers insight into the profound
physical, emotional and psychological impacts officers encounter when exposed to highly
stressful situations on a daily basis. Programs however, have been implemented in order to help
officers after experiencing a traumatic event, the question poses if these programs are really
affective. The reports that each article provides support these programs and believe in its
effectiveness.
Exposure to traumatic events on a daily basis could be the leading cause of PTSD since
officers tend to develop problems due to improperly coping with the situations they face. In the
article Duty Related Stressors it gives examples of alcoholism, violence, isolation and
character change (Robinson, Sigman, & Wilson.1997). Even though these problems may not
occur immediately, they can develop overtime. The ability to cope with stressful incidents is a
personal journey (Chad L, Aschley L.2004) programs such as Critical Incident Stress
Debriefing (Robinson, Sigman, & Wilson.1997) are designed to help with this journey by
preventing officers from developing PTSD from a stressful incident. Somatization, obsessivecompulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility phobic anxiety, and
Psychoticism (Robinson, Sigman, & Wilson.1997) these are just a few examples of the
emotional strain that are officers face and why it is encourage to attend these Post-traumatic

Savannah Gomez

prevention programs. Dealing with these emotions, officers tend to resort to negative forms of
treatment.
Studies have indicated that nearly one quarter of law enforcement officers are alcohol
dependent as a result of on-the-job stress (Chad L, Aschley L. 2004). Alcohol abuse can be an
example of both physical and a psychological impact, 50 percent of male and 40 percent of
female officers consume excessive amounts of alcohol (Chad L, Aschley L. 2004). What may
start out as an occasional social action, may later develop into a dangerous addiction. This tends
to be used as a coping mechanism to camouflage the stress and trauma (Chad L, Aschley L.
2004). Post-traumatic prevention programs provides a supportive intradepartmental atmosphere
for officers in the need of this level of intervention (Chad L, Aschley L. 2004) making it a
necessary component in the healing process. Experiencing events such as death encounter, death
exposure, physical threat, emergency response, pursuit activity, deadly force and situational
threats (Robinson, Sigman, & Wilson. 1997) can take a toll on anyone and by having prevention
programs gives officers a chance to make sense of stressful events like these.
Furthermore, it has been shown that If appropriate intervention does not occur, tragedy
may result (Chad L, Aschley L. 2004). Officers that have yet to attend the post-traumatic
intervention programs, may have difficulty concentrating or intrusive thoughts; they may also
have changes in appetite, tend to act out and can suffer from depression (Chad L, Aschley
L.2004). The physical, emotional, behavioral and physiological toll on law enforcement agents
can affect others around them as well if not helped when symptoms like these are displayed. Not
only are these intervention programs offered to police officers but also with other high risk
occupational groups such as firefighters, emergency medical services, disaster response staff and
public safety personnel (Robinson, Sigman,& Wilson. 1997). The purpose of these post-

Savannah Gomez

traumatic prevention programs are to help law enforcement officers gain successful coping
mechanisms in order to properly function while doing their job.
On the other hand, researchers have questioned the ability of the techniques to reduce
the symptoms stemming from trauma (Chad L, Aschley L. 2004). In the article Police Trauma
& Addiction it states that the reason people question the programs effectiveness is that even
though the techniques may prove useful for some, but reactions to traumatic events and the
stresses inherent in police work make a more individual more appropriate in many
circumstances (Chad L, Aschley L. 2004). Law enforcement officers tend to feel uncomfortable
in these programs because they feel like the counselors do not grasp their pain and the
occupational demands (Chad L, Aschley L. 2004) that is required, such as depersonalization,
authoritarianism and danger preparation. Having to be emotional detached in an everyday line of
work can be exhausting due to the stressful situations that are encountered. Rules and regulations
that one must be governed by, can cause officers to feel a loss of control over their behavior. Few
view these programs negatively but in order to help effect this change and to save money, time
and most important lives, agencies can invest in an integrated model of awareness and treatment
( Chad L, Aschley L. 2004).
Some may believe that post-traumatic intervention programs do more harm than help,
however evidence has proven that in fact it is affective. Not only allow them to feel better about
their career choice but also allows them to do their job to the best of their ability. Improvements
to these programs will happen over time allowing officers to cope properly and not turn to
simulants like alcohol. Being in law enforcement will always have its pros and cons such as
emotional and psychological damage, but police officers are offered that support system to help
them get through it.

Savannah Gomez

Savannah Gomez
Robinson, H. M., Sigman, M. R., & Wilson, J. P. (1997). Duty-related stressors and PTSD symptoms in
suburban police officers. Psychological reports, 81(3), 835-845.
Cross, C. L., & Ashley, L. (2004). Police trauma and addiction: Coping with the dangers of the job. FBI
Law Enforcement Bulletin, 73(10), 24-32.