Be sure that your responses to your classmates are: 1) Based on research, and 2) Use professional, scholarly sources, and 3) Submitted in APA 6th ed. style, and 4) A minimum of 250 words, excluding the references list, and 5) Submitted in text. Note – you may also submit an attachment to preserve your original formatting. You must submit your answer to this forum assignment question by 11:55PM EST on Thursday of this week. You also need to submit responses to at least two (2) of your classmates by 11:55PM EST on Sunday of this week. All postings should contribute and advance the class knowledge of the course themes. Students are encouraged to “get out of their comfort zones” when making their arguments. The reason behind this activity allows students to Analyze work from many different perspectives allowing the critical thinking process to grow. This is one classmate that I am suppose to respond to what he has written this is his posting on these questions Identify the symptoms of stress experienced by law enforcement personnel. Explain how the symptoms of stress experienced by law enforcement personnel impact their work

In this week’s assignment it wants us to discuss and identify the symptoms of stress experienced by law enforcement personnel. Police officers experience a type of stress that most of the majority of the American public will never have to be subjected to. It is a type of stress that only a combat military veteran could understand. The stress they are accustomed to is a constantly wondering if they are going to possibly get shot while on duty, the fear of what they might encounter each and every shift etc. A police officer’s stress can vary depending on the person and how they are able to handle things. Each individual has their own way of processing things. A police officer’s stress might be higher if they work in a poor neighborhood with a higher crime rate. Another aspect from the psychological side would be constantly trying to protect people. It has been stated that “the responsibility of being our first line of defense is not one that can be taken lightly. The stress of this responsibility can sometimes amount to too much for some members of the police force. Wanting to protect people is a noble goal, but shouldering that responsibility can be a source of great strain to some.” (adrenalfatiguesolution.com) I couldn’t imagine having to constantly have that weight on your shoulders and continue to uphold the oath you swore to serve and protect and not give up. Some of the symptoms of stress that police officers experience would be fatigue, depression, alcohol abuse, irritable, and even insomnia if they conduct shift work. Additionally most officers will have post-traumatic stress disorder due to the nature of the job with being in life threatening events and or visually seeing horrific scenes of violence.

I believe that these key symptoms can be extremely vital and pose a negative threat to the impact of their job and can put their life and the fellow officers at risk. The impact would be a result from constant stress that has not been tended to. Stress towards an officer can have negative effects on the quality of work that he or she is doing. These effects are that “they can become irritable which could lead to officer complaints from citizens and lack of focus on the job. Or it could make them susceptible to being seriously injured or killed while on duty because of not recognizing danger signs.” (inpublicsafety.com 2014) In some theory it could also jeopardize their judgment and preparation while testifying in a court case. The stress and lack of focus can play a huge role in being able to assist the prosecuting attorneys in a court case that involves them. As once stated that stress is all round us whether it is good or bad it is a part of life. However it is up to the individual to be able to channel that stress and seek help if it becomes out of control which they will need to utilize stress management. There have been many officers before us that have not been so lucky to where a life was taken, they sought early retirement, and or lost their job to the lack of guidance and stubbornness of not seeing medical attention.

Sources:

Bond, M. (2014, February 24). The Impact of Stress and Fatigue on Law Enforcement Officers and Ways to Control It. Retrieved March 15, 2016, from http://inpublicsafety.com/2014/02/the-impact-of-stress-and-fatigue-on-law-enforcement-officers-and-steps-to-control-it/

Hessen, D. (2014). Police Stress: Identifying & Managing Symptoms of Stress | Adrenal Fatigue Solution. Retrieved March 21, 2016, from http://adrenalfatiguesolution.com/police-stress-fatigue/