What I have tried to do over the years is to bring the theories and practice of psychology to the unique sub-culture of police work. A close knit sub-culture that does not easily allow outsiders entrance. I have attempted to tailor what my profession has taught me to fit the unique stressors, lifestyle, and problems faced by Law enforcement personnel and their families. I have been allowed into the circle. For that I feel honored. I believe my presence there has helped to make a difference. For that I feel proud.
During Graduate school I had the opportunity to work with some police officers during internships and rotations. Shortly after I graduated, the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association decided it wanted some type of program to deal with issues of police stress. At this point in time police psychology, as it focused on the psychological issues of the police officer and the police family, was really at an infant stage. Police psychology as practiced at that time was more criminal psychology.. profiling, inmate classification, criminal patterns and motives.
The Suffolk PBA put out a bid for someone to take on the task of developing and implementing a counseling program. To the best of my knowledge this was a first. No police union at that time had ever set up such a program. I am not aware of many unions at the present time who have done this.
Being young, just out of graduate school, and not aware that this was something I could not handle, my partner and myself bid on the contract. Young, hungry and totally lacking in business sense, our bid won us the contract.
Now the fun started! Actually working with police officers and their families. Trying to understand the inherent problems of police work and the psychological impact it had on both officers and their families. And most perplexing of all for a young psychologist: what to do to help these people!
As you can imagine mistrust of our services was rampant. The only thing in our favor was the union endorsement, which placed us one small notch of trust above the department's psychological service. As time went on, however, we became more and more familiar with the stressors of police work. We started to develop the best ways of dealing with these problems . We made observations, developed useful techniques, and did research.
We quickly realized that the standard employee assistance approach of treating only substance abuse problems of the officers was woefully inadequate to deal with the big picture of police stress. We realized cops were different and they needed to be treated that way. We found very quickly that marital difficulties were often the major concern of a police officer. The stress of police work and the changes that stress produces in police officers over time can disrupt the normal flow of a marriage. This had to be dealt with as a priority item. Over the years, in fact, I've come to believe that police suicide is almost always related to relationship problems. Not alcohol, though it is often present to "get up the nerve". Not job stress, except as that stress deteriorates relationships. As of this writing, there has been much discussion of 14 police suicides that occurred in the New York City department. While I have no information other than newspaper articles, it seems that all but two were the result of a relationship breakup.
As time went on we started working with other local law enforcement unions, including corrections officers. Working with correction officers presented a somewhat different set of problems. As we came to understand, corrections work brings with it it's own unique stressors.
At the present time I am proud of the program I have helped establish and the work we have done with law enforcement officers and their families. My hope for this web page is that useful information will be available to law enforcement professionals throughout the country. I also hope that others in the field of psychology will read, comment on, and share their own experiences with me. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I hope that police officers and their families will offer their own perspectives, thoughts, experiences, problems, and solutions. I hope to make some new friends with this page. I hope to engage in dialog that will help me learn, improve, and develop knew ideas.
I often advise people that one way to keep yourself sharp, and maintain a certain happiness with life, is to develop knew and healthy projects. The projects that allow us to come in contact with people and interact with those around us are often the most rewarding. I hope that those of you reading this page will send me your comments, thoughts, ideas, and questions.
Biographically, I obtained my bachelors in psychology from Emory University in 1980. I then went to Hofstra University where I obtained my Ph.D. in Clinical and School psychology in 1985. I am currently a member of the International Association of Chief's of Police Psychology Division, A member of the American Psychological Association, Division 18, Psychologists in Public Service, Police and Public Safety Section, and a member of The Society for Police and Criminal Psychology. I hold a diplomate in police psychology from the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology.
My two areas of research interest include retirement issues faced by police officers , and the cognitive or thought processes that occur during critical incidents. Specifically what I have labeled "silly thoughts".
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this web page. It would give me true pleasure to know that you have learned something and found it beneficial.