Oregon Law & Mental Health Conference March 2, 2018, Portland, Oregon (Edited by Ron Louie for Conference Presentation) Session 11: Police Chiefs’ Perspectives on What Impacts Police Officer Behavior and Performance Chief Ron Louie, (Ret.) MA, MPA Portland State University Portland Community College Learning Objectives
✓ How to nurture a value-driven police organization ? [Chief Kerns: Through Compassion, Humility and Empathy.] ✓ Identify Police Officer Impairment Factors [ misuse of force, domestic violence in their personal lives, suicide, citizen complaints, career self-sabotage, absenteeism, substance abuse, failed relationships] ✓ What are some effective strategies to intervene and reduce police officer impairment? [Recognizing Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness-based training and experiences] ✓ Which training models shows the most promise in preparing police officers for the uncertainties of a crisis intervention call? [Tactical Communication skills designed to de-escalate Crisis Intervention incidents] ✓ Why is Post Traumatic Stress Injury, as a term, more acceptable to the police and military culture? [“Disorder” is more of a label and “Injury” clarifies that the person has experienced something horrifying or traumatic … and can recover from it.]
What are the Impairment Factor Symptoms? Research findings mark the dismal toll of police stress Force Science News #213 Sept. 19, 2012 A significant amount of police stress comes from within the organization … usually caused by poor leadership (and dumb rules and policies)
Identify Impairment Factors Suicide rates are 8.4 Officers are nearly times higher in working twice as likely as officers, compared to In "fast-paced situations with civilians to suffer retired officers or those uncertain outcomes and symptoms of who left law imperfect information," good depression enforcement. decision-making is "significantly hampered" by sleep deprivation , according to Increase the risk of a new study by researchers cardiovascular from Washington State disease and diabetes University and the University In-depth examinations of of Melbourne, Australia. obesity and of the metabolic Force Science Issue #284 June 17, 2015 New syndrome reveal an study: Sleep loss impairs critical police-type association between obesity decision-making Four times more likely to sleep and depression in male less than six hours out of every officers and a link between 24; • Sleep problems deepen as stress and metabolic stressful feelings intensify symptoms in female officers. Females seemed particularly susceptible to stress from "administrative and "The risk of brain cancer [among officers], organizational pressure and although only slightly elevated relative to the general lack of support. population, [is] significantly increased with 30 years or more of police service." 4
Identify Impairment Factors The leading cause of police death: Post-traumatic stress disorder Nearly a fifth of all active duty police officers suffer from PTSD but many aren’t getting the help they need (I prefer PTSInjury ) The consequences of not November 9, 2015 4:15PM ETby Betsy Kulman @BetsyKulman & Adam May @adammaytv The leading cause of police death: post-traumatic stress disorder America dealing with the disease can Tonight | October 20, 2015 be explosive, to the officer, the officer’s family and When you’re a police officer, a traffic stop can mean a potentially, people on the routine exchange — or it can mean an attack on your or street. There's a risk to your partner’s life. society. Because these police officers are, are highly Being first on the scene, whether for gruesome murders, stressed out … suicides, plane crashes or car accidents, is all in a day’s work for police officers. But for many, there’s a limit to how much tragedy they can take. But many police officers with PTSD aren’t even The tipping point for many cops — whether it comes as aware they have a problem; they witness their first or hundredth incident — can lead they remain on the street, to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). doing their job, often without help or support. It’s part of many departments’ cultures to “just deal” with what happens on the job . 5
Suicide by Inches Identify Impairment Factors Force Science News #101 Oct. 6, 2008 (Not in Text) Referring to “The Pain Behind the Badge” ✓ Identify Police Officer “In a typical year, an estimated 400 of the 870,000 LEOs Impairment in the U.S. take their own lives.” Factors [misuse of force, domestic • But many more are committing what the legendary violence in their psychiatrist Karl Menninger called ‘ suicide by inches ,’ personal lives, Bill Lewinski of FSN points out. This refers to more suicide, citizen gradual behaviors of self-destruction, like excessive complaints, spending in an effort to buy happiness, excessive career drinking or compulsive adultery as means of escape, self-sabotage, addictively overworking at the cost of relationships absenteeism, with spouse and kids.” substance abuse, failed relationships]
Saving Police Marriages Written by Sanborn, Beth Law & Order Sept. 2014 Beth Sanborn is a Identify Impairment 16-year veteran of the Lower Gwynedd, Penn. Police Department and an instructor at Delaware Valley College. She may be Factors reached at sans036@hotmail.com. (Not in Text) It’s no secret that more and more marriages are failing these days. Stress comes from innumerable sources: work, children, health, finances, neighbors, supervisors, Communication is the Key and spouses. The list continues to grow, often against the willingness of the Recognize the habits of your individual. At times, it’s a wonder that love conquers anything. So how does this partner and investigate the relate to police officers and those in the law enforcement arena? It takes an unusual changes. Know when your type of person to be a police officer. More important though, it requires a special kind partner needs you, and know of person to be a police spouse. Police marriages are in jeopardy. when your partner needs space. Finally, don’t be afraid The personality traits of police officers are different than those outside the to ask for help. Counseling is profession. Many come to mind, but it’s safe to say police officers are not a sign of weakness, rather accustomed to ‘calling the shots.’ They are accustomed to getting their way. one showing mental health. Police officers have the ability to deprive citizens of their freedom if the Learn to express your wants circumstances call for it simply based on their word. No other profession can and needs and be prepared to deprive someone of their basic rights. do the same for your partner. Type A and Compromise Police officers are often described as assertive and aggressive. These are not suggested to be negative personality characteristics, but how well do these traits apply to a 50/50 partnership of marriage? 7
✓ What are some effective strategies to intervene and reduce police officer impairment? [Recognizing Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness-based training and experiences] • “You acknowledge Emotional Intelligence to enhance awareness of self and to avoid posturing and language that riles and agitates those you are entrusted to help” (Lt. Mike Rouches, Tactical Communication Instructor) 8
Officers need to recognize their Effective Strategies to Intervene and Reduce Police Officer Impairment “emotional intelligence” (Saville 2006) (Louie 2011) • This is the “...ability to interpret, understand, and manage one's own and others' emotions.” Emotional intelligence is a measure of: self-control, conflict management and empathy. Officers become more aware of those emotional triggers that provoke a negative or aggressive response, such as when a disputant challenges the officers or insults them. • “ Becoming more aware of emotional triggers that can instigate an angry violent response , such as when officers are called 'pigs'” (Saville 2006:39). • This basically is the ability of an officer to understand and manage personal emotions while in the midst of trying to help solve someone else's problems. Self Compassion for Police; Instead of understanding the impacts of, anger, or fear, police officers try to tamp down those emotions or ignore them, which keeps them from understanding the effect of emotion on performance (Lt. Rich Goerling) 9
Emotional Intelligence: The Social Skills You Weren't Taught in School Eric RavenscraftLifehacker 4/14/15 8:00amFiled to: MIND HACKS Effective Strategies to Intervene and Reduce Police Officer Impairment You’re taught about history, science, and math when you’re growing up. Most of us, however, are not taught how to identify or deal with our own emotions, or the emotions of others. These skills can be valuable, but you’ll never get them in a classroom. Many Emotional intelligence is a shorthand that psychological researchers use to police This is why describe how well individuals can manage their own emotions and react to the officers are so many not emotions of others. police effectively officers training in mishandle how to People who exhibit emotional intelligence have the less obvious skills necessary to the crisis manage get ahead in life, such as managing conflict resolution, reading and responding to call. conflict the needs of others, and keeping their own emotions from overflowing and resolution . disrupting their lives. 10
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