Stress... Killer or Protector of Law Enforcement Personnel?
By
Joseph M. Stromsness
February 1998
Stress is a term used by many, is somewhat misunderstood, and often used to describe a negative
condition or emotional state. People experience various forms of stress at home, work, in social
settings, and when engaged in activities to simply have fun, such as playing sports. Police officer's
experience stresses the same as others, but also in ways much different than the average citizen. The
dangers, violence, and tragedy seen by officers result in added levels of stress not experienced by the
What is Stress? Stress is not a new phenomenon; it has been experienced throughout history. Stress is
a biological response to some stimulus. Fear, panic, anger, tragedy, and even something as simple as
being competitive can cause it. Stress can result in the competitiveness needed to succeed in business,
achieve an education, foster social relationships, and win at sports. Is stress bad or good? It is both.
The proper level of stress can benefit people in daily living. Well, what is bad stress and what is good
stress? Good stress is stress that you can manage. The stress of competing in athletic contests often
works in your favor by stimulating performance. In police officers, stress can make the difference
between injury or death, and going home at the end of the shift.
Police work, by its very nature, calls for an incredible amount of continual stress. The demands on
police officers to show greater restraint has been increasing over the years has increased the effects
of stress on police work. The police organization is very important in the lives of its officers and often
creates stress unwittingly. Orders and regulations tend to sound oppressive in their pronouncements
when they don't need to. Poor comm...