Peer Support Essay Research Paper Law enforcement

Peer Support Essay, Research Paper

Law enforcement officers face many dangers throughout their lifetime. On average, a police officer is killed every 56 hours in this country. (Central Florida Police Stress Unit inc.) Yet, police officers often pay another price that still destroys lives: STRESS.

Stress is law enforcement’s hidden assailant. Job stress among police officers often means divers- an annual rate nearly three times that of general population. It often spells trouble with alcohol abuse. Stress causes disruption of normal sleeping and eating patterns, poor nutrition, paranoia, fear, or as a last resort, suicide. It does not matter how the officers express themselves or how officers react to it they need help. However, the way most men grew up with an attitude that men are tough and though men:

shall not cry,

shall not display weaknesses,

shall no need affection or gentles or warmth,

shall be needed but not need,

shall touch but not to be touched,

shall be steel no flesh,

shall be inviolate in their manhood,

shall stand-alone.(Horn J., Critical Incidents for Law Enforcement)

These are the reasons many why police officers do not feel comfortable to go to psychologists for help. They rather keep it to themselves, which brings to the very terrible outcomes. So police departments were looking for other ways to solve problem and one of them was peer support.

History of Peer Supporters

In the very beginning the experiment was called peer counseling which began in the 1950’s when the Boston Police Department modeled after the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program. Fellow officers who were themselves recovering alcoholics helped officers in police departments. New York City established an alcoholic program in 1966. The principle of these programs is to help officers to recover from alcoholism. They tried to change these people to highly motivated people, a more compassionate officer and a grateful parent or spouse. However, although the program helped individuals with various problems, its primary was still alcoholism. (SGT. Robin Klein, Ph.D. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin)

The Los Angeles Police department, under the direction of Dr. Martine Reiser, established an in-house behavioral science unit. This department was one of the firsts to develop and implement a fully department-supported peer-counseling program using officers and civilians as volunteer counselors.

In 1982, Dr James Linden and Robin Klein conducted the first peer counseling training program for the Long Beach Police Department. Later that year this program was certified by POST (the Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training’s).

Purpose of Peer Support Program

Today, the purpose of the peer supporters in law enforcement is to train police officers to help others deal with stressful situation in a more positive way. Peer supporters serve two major functions. First they provide a source of help for officers who are unwilling to bring their problems to mental health Professionals because they mistrust “shrinks” would feel stigmatized for not being able to handle their problems on their own, or afraid that entering therapy might hurt their carriers. While peer supporters cannot provide the level of service professionals can, they still can help considerably.

Second, peer supporters can refer receptive officers to professional counselors. Many officers are more likely to take advantage of professional counseling services when referral comes from a trusted peer than if they have to make an appointment on their own or follow suggestion of a family member. In this matter peer supporters act as a bridge to the professional help.

In addition, because of their daily contact with fellow officers, peer supporters are in better position to detect incipient problems before they are full blown. Therefore, peer support programs are proactive and preventative in nature. (Robin Klein, Ph.D., Critical Incidents in Policing, pp. 159-167.)

Peer supporters have three major responsibilities- listening, assessing, and referring.

+ Listening-peer supporters provide an opportunity for officers under stress to express their frustration, fears and other emotions to another person who understand from personal experience how they are feeling and why they are upset.

+ Assessing-by listening, peer supporters can assess whether the officer’s problem is a nature or severity that require professional and immediate help.

+ Referring -with proper training, peer supporters can note the signs that may indicate if an officer is suicidal, homicidal, severely depressed, abusing alcohol or other drugs, or has other serious problems. If the officer has a serious problem, the peer can refer the person for professional help.

Connecting Peers

Peer support can occur through a variety of settings. Peer supporters may respond to other officers’ request to meet and talk. Connecticut Police Department officers can page peer supporters of their choice 24 hours a day. Some peer supporters always wait for officers to come to them, but many will approach a fellow when they observe the person having difficulties. Usually their approach is subtle. Rather than announcing, ” I am a peer supporter, and I am here to help you,” they say

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