From Calibre Press
Barbara Schwartz’s recent article, Take Notice of an Officer’s Pain, resonated powerfully with Calibre Press newsletter readers. One in particular, Gerry Walker, a U.S. Army veteran, a former police officer and a current federal law enforcement officer, sent us the following response, one we felt was important to share.
Gerry wrote:
I read the article, Take Notice of an Officer’s Pain, and I agree that it’s relevant and worthwhile. I have served as an active-duty U.S. Armed Service member, a 911 dispatcher and a municipal police officer. My service in law enforcement began in 1988 and I am now, at age 54, a federal law enforcement officer. I was recently diagnosed with PTSD and a few other health issues.
The occupational hazards that ALL law enforcement professionals endure absolutely contributes to PTSD and other mental health issues. I and others are living witnesses to this fact. Emergency dispatchers, every person serving in law enforcement on any level (municipal/ county/ state/ federal), first responders, firefighters, EMS, etc. should always be mentioned in articles like this one…not just police officers.
Sadly, many will continue to suffer in silence because reaching out for mental health assistance could very well be a career-ending decision. And if that’s not bad enough, generally the type of person drawn into this kind of public service tend to be selfless types. They are service-oriented and accustomed to serving, NOT being served. So many of us are not even cognizant of OUR job- related cumulative stress. A variety of reasons explain how we are too often a part of the related stigmatization and ignorance.
Whatever the reasons, it is to our own detriment. In my case I didn’t know, and I was unaware that I didn’t know until it was adversely impacting my personal and professional life. I reached out for clinical assistance, but the decision resulted in my learning some clinical info that was contrary to “fitness for duty” criteria. Although I have a duty to inform my executive management of certain relevant health info, I knew doing so would likely be the end of my career. This is an example of a disconnect that is also a part of the problem. Giving great sounding LEO suicide prevention advice is not enough, and too often that’s where it stops until next September, or until we gather yet again to bury one of our fellows how followed through on one of those suicidal ideations.
LEOs and those involved in related public service will unfortunately suffer in silence, but at least we are talking about the subject. I don’t have the answer, nobody does, but at least we are talking about the matter.
I would like to remind whoever will read this message that “the body does keep the score”, and a lack of meaningful/ authentic/ appropriate self-care will show detrimental manifestations sooner or later. To all who serve as public safety professionals (admin/ entry level and executive level) please listen to us who have served before you. Continue learning/ embracing authentic self-care and do better!
Thoughts to share? E-mail us at: [email protected]
