Helping Our Officers Instead of Throwing Them Under the Bus
I read a saying not long ago that said something like "Be kind to others for you don't know what battles they may be facing."
Right now, our law enforcement is feeling the weight of accusations, criticisms, and armchair quarterbacking from people who have never been in their position, nor have taken the time to know the person behind the badge.
As I was planning on addressing this scenario on today's blog, I received the following email from a friend and would like to share it, as I believe he hits the nail on the head.
Blessings. Be kind out there.
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MCKINNEY TEXAS POOL PARTY INCIDENT:
OFFICER OVER REACTION OR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS?
DEPARTMENTAL FAILURE TO DEBRIEF THE OFFICER AFTER
2 SUICIDES?
ABSOLUTELY! SHAME ON THE CHIEF.
Recently it became public that
the police officer in McKinney TX had been on two suicide calls just prior to
arriving on the scene of the now widely disputed pool party. Perhaps that means nothing to the agitators,
race baiters, and media, but hatred never has cared about truth. Up until this
new information was released, all that was known is that his own Chief said his
actions were “inexcusable.” Really? This new information sheds a different
light, and calls into question this Chief’s quickness to throw his officer
under the bus. The truth? This officer should have never been on the call
because his Chief should have called him to the station for debriefing after
two traumatic events.
As a former police officer who
has been on those calls, and today operating a non-profit for public safety
that has included suicide calls, I will say without question or hesitation this
officer was emotional charged as a result of experiencing two traumatic calls
immediately preceding his arrival at the pool party.
According to the DSM-5, post traumatic stress may occur when:
The person was exposed to: death, threatened death, actual or
threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, as
follows: (one required)
1. Direct exposure.
2. Witnessing, in person.
3. Indirectly, by learning that a close relative or
close friend was exposed to trauma. If the event involved actual or threatened
death, it must have been violent or accidental.
4. Repeated or extreme indirect exposure to aversive
details of the event(s), usually in the course of professional duties (e.g.,
first responders, collecting body parts; professionals repeatedly exposed to
details of child abuse). This does not include indirect non-professional
exposure through electronic media, television, movies, or pictures.
revised the PTSD
diagnostic criteria in the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (1) provides an answer. From the traumatic
experience, the DSM-5 cites specific symptoms, concurred by the ICD-10. Any
officer working two suicides in the same day back to back is clearly
traumatized – something any police administration should recognize and act
accordingly.
In one interview, it
was suggested that the officer should have removed himself from duty if he felt
emotionally overwrought.
Really?
Considering his
department’s failure to debrief him after two suicides, I doubt such a request
would have been accepted.
All departments must have a
debriefing policy and protocol for officers involved in traumatic incidents.
Failure to do so risks what happened in Texas. Overreaction due to traumatic
stress from 2 suicides just prior.
Most departments do have
policies and procedures for such incidents. I have done debriefings at their
request. Those departments are run by administrators who care about the welfare
of their officers – and the same goes for all professions of first responders.
What should have happened is
that the patrol command on duty call the officer to the station after the
suicides. Any reasonable supervisor would recognize the need. Moreover, the
Chief, rather than throwing the officer under the bus by saying his actions
were inexcusable, would have an appropriate policy in place, and would have
accepted responsibility for not having one in this instance. Shame on the Chief.
Sadly, there are departments
who dismiss post traumatic stress as weakness. Many officers are afraid to ask
for help and fear a PTSD diagnosis. Statistics indicate that 85% of first
responders experience symptoms of PTSD (Anxiety and Depression Magazine). In
fact, every 17 hours a law enforcement officer commits suicide (Forensic
Examiner Magazine; Dr. Jean Larned, retired FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit,
instructor at the FBI Academy).
Frankly, it is my position
that 100% of those in public safety experience some symptoms of PTSD, including
dispatchers who take the call of a victim being attacked to the first
responders on the scene taking care if the incident. From that first traumatic
call, from that very first dead body, the public safety professional cannot
un-ring the bell. They will forever more have seen a dead victim typically in a
traumatic incident.
I operate a non-profit, Serve & Protect, for public safety professionals including
criminal justice and emergency services. These heroes deserve proper assistance
with behavioral health. As a former law enforcement professional, I understand
the traumatic experiences, and have experienced them. Hearing an 18 year old
girl struck by a drunk driver breathe her last breath qualifies.
Serve & Protect and our
partner Safe Call Now provide a nationwide 24/7 unique resource providing our
signature confidential, comprehensive, collaborative, compassionate care for
public safety and their families. We find the right solution for real problems
our heroes face. We provide personalized solutions for each caller, dedicated
to finding them the right level of care with the care provider best suited for
their needs. We charge nothing for our services and take absolutely no referral
fee from our care partners. Our website www.serveprotect.org provides considerable information including
educational videos about suicide and PTSD.
Robert Michaels
CEO / Founder
Serve & Protect
615-224-2424
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