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Building Leadership With Integrity
5 stresses cops deal with that non-cops should know about
The incidents LEOs witness will change them on duty and off duty
Cops are unique. Yes, there are occupations that may face similar stresses (military, firefighting, EMS, first responders), but the job of a police officer stands unique in its own right.
The best men and women who take on the vocation of being a police officer understand that it truly is a “calling” and not just a job. A good cop must be committed to the profession in a way that transcends the notion of punching a clock and getting a paycheck.
The best men and women who take on the vocation of being a police officer understand that it truly is a “calling” and not just a job.
- These same men and women will find in a matter of years, however, that the job will change them. It will change their outlook on the world, their interactions with others and in some cases their very ability to deal with others who are noti in law enforcement. They will find that once close relationships with friends and family may fade. Sometimes, that’s a natural thing and other times there is simply a lack of understanding of what stresses a cop endures in their day-to-day routines.
Here are 5 stresses cops deal with that non-cops might not realize:
1. DAILY PREPARATION FOR BATTLE
People die every day. Accidents happen every day. In rare instances, tragedy unexpectedly takes the lives of thousands. However, most occupations generally assume they will go to work and come home at the end of the day.
Being a police officer requires preparation for death, daily. Officers put on body armor and carry guns for a reason: they are ready for the fight, and unfortunately, not every warrior comes home. Cops are at war out there.
2. THE COP ATTITUDE STAYS
Many police officers aren’t warned about the change that will take place in them from the job. The “cop attitude” cannot be left at the office, either. The incidents cops experience will change them on duty and off duty. They will not sit with their backs to doors or people; they will often not carry on a conversation by looking someone in the eye because they are looking at every person coming and going. They are running a hundred scenarios of what could go potentially wrong wherever they are.
3. LIFE IN A FISHBOWL
Cops are held to a higher standard. And the oath taken by officers isn’t limited to when they are wearing a uniform. Most departments have a standard of conduct that governs even off-duty behavior. Violations of that standard can result in disciplinary action.
There are constant eyes on LEOs and it is often difficult to find ways to de-stress and to blow off steam as a cop. Officers are constantly aware of scrutiny waiting around every corner, yet must boldly continue to go places no one else is willing to go and do things no one else is willing to do.
As the famous quote goes, “People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
4. FRONT ROW SEAT TO DESPAIR
It is very rare for people to call the police when everything is going well. Instead, the police arrive when dad hits mom, when mom burns her child with a cigarette, when a brother or friend has been found dead with heroin needles in their arms, when a rollover accident has taken the life of a young family, someone’s privacy has been violated in a burglary or robbery, or when someone has been the victim of a scam – and the list goes on.
Seeing these things day in and day out will take a toll on any officer. Often people wonder why an officer seemed angry when they saw them, or perhaps didn’t smile and wave. Well, perhaps that officer has just returned from doing CPR on a newborn and now is taking a report on damage to someone’s property.
It’s not that the officer is cold or don’t care; it’s just that people don’t often see what that officer sees or do what that officer does.
To be fair, police officers need to consider the same for all those we are dealing with. People call the police when they are in need and under stress. So, not everyone hates the police even though they may just seem that way, we too, haven’t been through what they’ve been through.
5. RIDING THE INCIDENT ROLLERCOASTER
At any point in the tour of duty, an officer can move from trying to eat lunch to driving at high speed, running after a suspect, pointing a firearm at someone and finding themselves having to make a life-or-death decision. Maybe an officer went from a parking complaint to a child hit by a car then back to someone getting a ticket for shoplifting. You get the idea.
These roller coaster scenarios can affect an officer both emotionally and physically. Cops should take note and find healthy ways to keep themselves balanced.
If you see a cop friend, or loved one, behaving a little distant, there is a reason why. If you are a cop struggling with these stresses, remember your friends who are not in this field may not understand.
Communicate openly with those who are trying to help, seek to understand each other. If you are truly struggling and having a hard time overcoming the stresses of the job, please speak up to a trusted brother or sister in blue, or find another qualified resource for help.
This article, originally published 9/1/16, has been updated.
About the author
Uniform Stories features a variety of contributors. These sources are experts and educators within their profession. Uniform Stories covers an array of subjects like field stories, entertaining anecdotes, and expert opinions.
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Hoof Patrol Program
San Patricio County S.O. is teaming up with Jim Wells, Bee & Refugio Counties on a Loose Livestock & Fence Damage program. These other counties have an active program in place that is aimed to help ranchers with animals that come loose. The program will be promoted through the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Association and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. They will start promoting the program soon with meetings at various locations. They plan to assign a deputy to manage the program & check on these ranches & extend the program to farmers as well. There is NO cost to Rancher or Farmer & San Patricio S.O. will provide the plate & registration.
scenes from the january 23, 2020 cbpoa meeting hosted by sheriff romeo r. ramirez in San diego
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12 facts that a supervisor is a bleeder, not a leader
Don't be the supervisor who bleeds the enthusiasm out of the officers you are supposed to lead
There are many truly inspiring police leaders, but there are a few who with their words become soul-crushing empty uniforms with rank.
Here are 12 examples of enthusiasm-bleeding statements made too often by “leaders.”
1. While pointing at their stripes on their sleeve, or bars on their collar they declare, “Because these say so.”
Have you ever suggested an alternative way to handle a call and had a commander point at their stripes or bars and say, “We’ll do it my way because these say so?”
End of discussion.
2. “We’ve always done it this way.”
There are times when officers come forward with a plan to solve a reoccurring problem in an innovative way and their suggestion is met with, “Why change the status quo? We have always done it this way.”
End of suggestions. The next three go together.
3. “Slow down. There is no extra pay for making the most arrests.”
4. “Big arrests, big problems, little arrests, little problems, no arrest, no problem.”
5. “If you keep that up (referring to a high volume of self-initiated activity), they are going to expect that of you every night.”
These three statements have been heard by most proactive police officers who love what they are doing and are extremely active on the street. Some supervisors look at very active officers as a problem rather than a solution and feel it’s their mission to slow them down. The sad thing is, these statements often come from peers as well.
6. “The job will never love you back.”
If any officer lets it slip that they love their job, there will be that wise old supervisor, who will point out, “The job will never love you back.”
Mic drop!
7. "Did you make that arrest 15 minutes before quitting time just for the overtime?"
Many officers never lose sight of their duty. For example, they realize that arresting an impaired driver saves lives.
No officer motivated to aggressively pursue an impaired driver will hesitate to arrest said driver 15 minutes before quitting time. These officers eventually run into a commander who will suggest their motivation for the arrest was to “pad their check with overtime.”
8. “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Even though every leadership course in the nation says, “Don’t say this; lead by example,” there seems to be no silencing this refrain.
9. “If I’d have been there, I would have….”
Nothing irks a street officer more than when this statement is made by a commander who has maneuvered into a position where they will never have to handle a life-threatening call again. The statement is made worse when this commander does not even supervise the officers who handled the high-profile, life-threatening situation that he or she is criticizing. These personally boastful statements serve only to give officers that hear them a sense no one has their back.
When the actions of the officers are found to be justified, this unnecessary Monday morning quarterbacking will get back to the officers involved in the critical incident and it becomes a source of pain.
10. “You’re not a social worker!”
There are times in every officer’s career when they are moved to go above and beyond for a little boy, a little girl or even an entire family in need. They are motivated by the caring spirit that brought them to this profession.
An officer may take a Christmas tree to a house. They may buy a pair of shoes for a homeless man or drop off a couple of chili dogs to a down-and-out traveler. Most will see the extra effort as laudatory, but there will be that one commander who will proclaim, “You’re not a social worker!”
The truth is police officers are the only social workers who make house calls 24-7. Most of you are pretty damn good at it also, so keep up the good work!
11. “You can’t make a difference. When a cop leaves this job it’s like pulling your hand out of a bucket of water. No one will even notice you were here.”
Really? A cop can’t make a difference?
What about the officers who have dragged people out of burning cars?
What about the officers who have saved lives with Narcan and tourniquets, or delivered babies?
What about the officers who keep many women from being beaten or killed at domestics every night of the week?
What about the Dayton officers who dropped an active shooter just as he was about to enter a crowded night club?
American police officers do make a difference!
12. “Have you scheduled the lobotomy yet?”
Street officers can demoralize a new supervisor as well by asking in response to the announcement of their promotion, “Have they scheduled the lobotomy yet?” This can be especially troubling when the comment comes from a good friend.
Instead, consider saying, “Congratulations my friend. You earned it.”
CONCLUSION
The people who say these things are not being leaders. They are choosing to be bleeders. They bleed the enthusiasm out of the officers they are supposed to lead.
To supervisors who say these things, learn to be better.
To officers who these things are said to remember to not let anyone keep you from doing what you love and loving what you do. When you hear statements like these just remind yourself not all supervisors are leaders and not all leaders are supervisors.
And then, regardless of your rank, be a leader.
About the author
Lt. Dan Marcou is an internationally-recognized police trainer who was a highly-decorated police officer with 33 years of full-time law enforcement experience. Marcou’s awards include Police Officer of the Year, SWAT Officer of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year and Domestic Violence Officer of the Year. Upon retiring, Lt. Marcou began writing. He is a co-author of “Street Survival II, Tactics for Deadly Encounters,” which is now available. His novels, “The Calling, the Making of a Veteran Cop,” “SWAT, Blue Knights in Black Armor,” “Nobody’s Heroes” and Destiny of Heroes,” as well as his latest non-fiction offering, “Law Dogs, Great Cops in American History,” are all available at Amazon. Dan is a member of the PoliceOne Editorial Advisory Board.
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Serving the Coastal Bend and it's Officers Since 1966
Serving the Coastal Bend and it's Officers Since 1966
Serving the Coastal Bend and it's Officers Since 1966
"The purpose of the CBPOA shall be to promote the cooperation and understanding of all persons involved in the enforcement of laws of the State of Texas and of the United States; the continued and convenient interchange of information and training between various Federal, State and local agencies, and to conduct ourselves in a manner that
"The purpose of the CBPOA shall be to promote the cooperation and understanding of all persons involved in the enforcement of laws of the State of Texas and of the United States; the continued and convenient interchange of information and training between various Federal, State and local agencies, and to conduct ourselves in a manner that will gain the respect of those we serve and to constantly strive to improve our position.'
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Serving the Coastal Bend and it's Officers Since 1966
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