SI82 – Surviving the Job/Stuff You Never Learned at the Academy-Program 2

Included: DVD+ 1 Digital Download
Run Time: 34 minutes

THE PROGRAM/KEY POINTS

Again, this program features Sgt. (Ret.) Byron Watson, a 35-year veteran with the St. Louis County (MO) Police Department, and Dr. Andrew Dennis, head trauma surgeon at Chicago’s largest trauma/e.r. hospital, Director of Medical Services for the Illinois State Police, and a part-time SWAT officer with a suburban Chicago p.d.

Sgt. Watson in retirement also works as a chaplain for the St. Louis County Police.

Here are the vital key points both Sgt. Watson and Dr. Dennis make in the course of the program, all of which are excellent for interactive discussion and analysis:

–Academies simply do not teach man’s inhumanity to man, to woman, to child—often their own. Be prepared to deal with different cultures and sides of life you may never have come close to experiencing in either your pre-academy or academy days. It can be very difficult, and you are urged to access counseling and therapy concurrent with your new exposure to ‘the Job’ and to ‘the street’. Counseling and therapy, perhaps, were at one time thought to be a sign of weakness but they have shed that ridiculous stereotype, and many officers now take full advantage of every opportunity for it. As they should!

“We’re all human…(sometimes), it takes everything in your body to remain professional.”

Stay professional…don’t take it personally.  Many situations will test your professionalism to the max. Maintain that professionalism, because your career, livelihood, and life may be the price you pay if you do not.

There’s no shame in tapping out. When a situation may start to become overwhelming and you feel you may be losing your patience or temperament to the ‘heat of the moment’, there is absolutely no shame in taking a sideline temporarily.

What officers may see on a daily basis is equatable to a tour in Iraq. In many areas of the nation, especially urban, officers may very well experience incident after incident that can trigger post-traumatic stress just like a tour in an international combat zone. Understand that, and realize you should deal with it accordingly, because….

Post-traumatic stress injuries often exceed physical injuries. Dr. Dennis points out that, very often, injuries to the mind and soul exceed physical injuries, and (think about it) he almost certainly makes a valid and excellent point.

Do you take the job home with you without skills to decompress? There are so very many opportunities officers have now to deal with trauma not available a few years ago, it’s truly amazing. An officer must realize those opportunities to ‘reach out’ are so very plentiful, why take the chance on becoming an “exploding cork from a champagne bottle” with family, friends, and co-workers.

Get the hubris, ego, and fear out of counseling and/or therapy. Again, the likelihood superb counseling is right next door or at your fingertips makes it so much easier to take that first critical step towards wellness. Do not gamble with the build-up of trauma, frustration, anger, even hatred when it’s very probable a trained counselor (often, a law enforcement veteran) or a psychologist is probably so very close.

Watch out for each other. No one should go it alone. Look out for signs a brother or sister may be having mental health and physical issues. Dilated eyes. Profuse sweating. Internalizing trauma. Preferring to be alone. Can’t/won’t discuss with fellow officers. Inability or refusal to look into your eyes.