When Police Officers Commit Suicide

What Can be Done?

      In the Spring of 1993 I was at attending classroom training for the police agency I was working for.  Sometime that morning  I was called into the office and informed that my former classmate/roommate from the police academy had shot herself while on duty at her perspective police agency.  Apparently she was in the gun cleaning room and the gun went off.   Liz (not her real name) was struck in the temple and died immediately.   At this time, there was no clarity about what happend.  The police funeral was beautiful, most of our graduating class attended, even the Master  Sergeant from the academy.  Everyone was dressed in their perspective agency’s police uniforms.  

     About six months later I found myself being interviewed by an investigator from the agency Liz had worked for.  Apparently her sister was suing the police agency for causing Liz’ death.  I later learned that Liz had been having a hard time in her probation period and was struggling at her police department.  The investigator stated that Liz had been withdrawn and discouraged up until the day of her death.  He said that on that day,  Liz had reported to duty at the police station in full gear and appeared to be rejuvenated.  She greeted her co-workers, looking each in the eye as she prepared for work.  Liz entered the gun cleaning room, placed her firearm to her temple, shot and killed herself.    She was not married and had no children, only a sister who was now fighting for her honor.

According to CDC/NOMS data, there are 140 to 150 police suicides per year.  (Violanti, J. 2009)

           

            Another tragedy occurred April 20, 2011 at the Euclid Police Department in the state of Ohio.  Police Sgt. Blakeley of 28yrs at Euclid Police Department was notified at 7 a.m. that he was facing disciplinary action as the result of an internal investigation…… the 52-year-old officer then pulled out his gun and shot and killed himself. (Shea, J.,  2011)

            A New Jersey State trooper shot and killed himself while on duty June 16, 2010.  This New Jersey State trooper had graduated from the academy in 2001 and had acquired the prestigious instructor position, he had been asked to teach at the police academy.  He was 35yrs old, had a wife and three children. (Caravajal, K., & Das, K., 2010)

Why are police officers committing suicide?

            Police officers see people at their worst.  Even though this is expected, the constant conflict is stressful.  Police officers become cynical and start believing people are savages. 

            It is reported that 7 to 25% of police officers have PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder- an anxiety disorder, occurs after you have seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death. (Violanti, J.2009).

            Stress can be a result of cumulative horror.   To quote one expert, “In some ways, a cop's work may be even more traumatic than that of a soldier sent into a war zone. The police officer's job, over many years, exposes and rexposes them to traumatic events that would make anybody recoil in horror.” (Violanti, J.2009).

What can be done?

            Many officers believe that seeking help from a mental health professional is a sign of a weak cop.  Most police office will not confide in their peers when they are experiencing emotional distress.  They often worry about the reactions from within the departments.

            Each time an officer encounters stress, the adrenaline pumping on each call, the stress gets higher and higher.  The officer can never let their guard down because the fear of line-of-duty death. During his shift an officer may handle domestic violence, rape, drunk driver, etc then go home and start again the next day.  Then at trial, have to relive horrible events again. 

            Some of the  resources available for police officers are Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), private practitioners, peer-to-peer counseling,Cop2Cop- a crisis intervention hotline service operating 24hours a day, 7 days a week and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), a comprehensive system specifically designed to prevent and mitigate adverse psychological reactions to a traumatic event, is also available for law enforcement.

1.      Shea, J.  (2011, April 20).  Fox 8 News.

2.      Caravajal, K., & Das, K., (2010,June 16), MyFox NY

3.      Tate, T. (1995). Police suicide, what can be done? Tears of a cop: Under pressure.

4.      Violanti, J.(2009), Police Suicide Myths. The Jimston Journal.

5.   Afohau. Police Suicide Peer Support, You Tube.

SWATTING

                                        Swatting

Making prank calls that sound violent that provokes a SWAT team response.

     August 5, 2011, A woman in the community of  Willow Springs  was reporting that four burglars had broken into her home. Two were carrying guns.  When police arrived they learned the call was a dangerous prank.  Police say the call are difficult to trace.   Dispatchers much treat each call as though it was a real call.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/swatting-hackers-prank-calls-authorities-provoke-swat-team/story?id=14312879 

Swatters had hacked into a 15yr old boy’s  X-Box account and used the console's Internet connection to send a message to authorities that he had been stabbed and his parents  was being held hostage.  The SWAT team had stormed his home and had guns drawn.

The FBI says that hackers are usually young people that work alone or in groups and are usually responsible for multiple swatting incidents.

Between 2002 and 2006 the FBI said it has arrested five SWATTERS who called 911 in over 60 cities around the nation that resulted in up to $250,000 in losses.

Swatting causes a disruption of services for telecommunications providers and emergency responders.

A Swatters will report that a bomb is about to go off or that hostages  are being executed. The responding officers, community and responders, are all placed in danger.

If you were the victim of a SWAT team storming into your home, how would you react?  Would your first instincts tell you to defend yourself or would you have the presence of mind to adhere to the SWAT responder’s commands, possibly saving you and your family’s life.

Don't ask, Don't Tell

I agree that service members should not be punished for being gay.  I think about when blacks service men were seperated from white service men.  How ignorant was that?  I remember when women were not allowed to fight side by side a man.  Look at the women now.  The same reason the rules were changed is the same reason the rules should be changed to accept gay service men and women in the military.

Americanization of the World

I dont mind the sameneess of the Amazaon indians wearing Nike training shoes or the South Sahara purchasing Yankees baseball caps.  I believe they are mimicking Americans in admiration.  This is a positive part of globalization.

McDonaldization is the wide-ranging sociocultural processes by which the principle of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate the sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world.

pessimistic hyperglobalizer- dumbing down advertisments, turning children into consumers, unethic pursuit of profit.

Optimistic hyperglobalizers- observes it as a good thing.

Multigenre/multimodal plans

I plan to use three genres:  A quilt type banner, an informational pamplet and a healthy snack.

The quilt/banner is meant to be bold symbolism, thought provoking.
The pamplet will provide information on bad eating habits, health effects of the bad eating habits and a sample of what we should be eating.

I will have cupcakes (12) and a healthy trail mix (12 pks) and document which gets eaten first.

Social Class and Wealth Disparities

Three racial differences in wealth?
-Racialization of state policy-how state policy has impaired the ability of AA to accumulate wealth.
-Economic detour- low level of entrepreneurship
-Sedimentation of racial inequality- all effects keeps blacks in the bottom of society economic hierarchy.
　
Interviewed Kevin, a seventy-five year old retired homeowner.

The theme is that family assets expand choices, horizons, and opportunit8ies for children while lack of assets limit opportunities.

We need policies that directly address the situations of African Amnericans and we need policies that directly promote asset opportunities for those on the accumulation process.

I related most to Kathleen Kelly.   My family was poor when I graduated from high school. My five brothers had all gone on to college through football scholarships, so I did have role models. Returning back to college as an adult, the obstacles I face is the "all night" study sessions. There is never enough time in the day…I could use an extra 4-6hrs. I combat this time issue by being as organized and I can, staying on top of assignments and managing my time the best way possible. Family always come first and that is why the "all night" sessions occur. My incentive to go back to college is simply my degree. I have an opportunity to go back to college because I became a displaced worker when I was laid off from Caterpillar. When I earn my bachelors degree, I will be the first female of my siblings (five boys and three girls) to accomplish this goal. Both my parents have passed on to be with the Lord and I know they are proud. My children and husband are also proud, we work together to make this (my college) work.

From Thursday: Data from Research material found

1.  Focus is on the benefits for Latino, African American and White children and parents taught together i the same community-based weight management intervention.

2.  participants are 40 Latino, African American and White parents  and 40 children who recived a 12-week nutrition, exercise, and coping skills training wieght management intervention.

3.Data was collected by two trained research assistants who wer blinded to the study.  Demographic data were collected from parents for both themselves and their children (height, weigh, BMI, and body fater percentage. Health behavior data were collected from the parents and pedometer data were collected fromoboth children and parents.

4.  The data was used to determine that after the 12 week nutrition, exercise, and coping skills training weight management itnervention the health of the participants improved and it did.