• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • The power of teamwork
      Stay awake and alert on the job
      The worst rank in law enforcement
      Firearms maintenance
      Why fries need salt
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • Georgia officer pushes stranded woman’s car to gas station
        Washington police K-9 retires after nearly a decade of service
        “An emotional encounter”: Connecticut police officer talks a man...
        California police officer uses K-9’s leash to rescue drowning man
        Small town North Carolina police officer rescues man from house fire
    • Labor
      • South Dakota Police Department offers $5,000 hiring bonuses to boost...
        Sioux Falls Police Department offers $5K hiring bonuses to boost...
        San Francisco mulls over increasing police recruitment bonuses to...
        Nevada may soon allow noncitizens to become police officers to...
        Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand...
    • Tech
      • NYPD iconic police cruisers get high-tech makeover
        NYPD warns of police attacks after Apple AirTag device was found on...
        Airbnb expands law enforcement portal to fight child trafficking
        West Virginia law enforcement agencies use drones to get a...
        FBI seizes website of notorious ransomware gang in cybercrime...
    • Training
      • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
        Running your patrol rifle like a champion
        Present ability, opportunity and apparent intent
        Defensive tactics
        Mechanics, consistency and aggression
    • Policy
      • Iowa House proposes legislation to criminalize ransomware
        Atlanta’s “Cop City” training center project approved despite...
        Arkansas sheriff’s offices refuse to enforce federal ATF gun policy
        President Biden signs bill expanding national missing persons database
        California Highway Patrol spotlights new traffic laws for 2023
    • Health/Wellness
      • Retired Wisconsin police officer offers mental health services for...
        Coping with internal investigation or legal action
        The value of data: Wellness through the eyes of officers
        What officers love, hope and worry about
        Don’t be “that guy” — get moving
    • Community
      • Washington’s King County sets record for fentanyl overdose deaths...
        Brotherly love: Police officer donates kidney to deputy sibling
        North Charleston police officer drafted by professional football team
        “I’m very, very blessed”: Cleveland police officer back on...
        Newark good Samaritan honored for assisting wounded officers
    • Offbeat
      • Pig crosses path with law enforcement in Virginia
        Texas police find cute dog behind the wheel in reckless driving...
        Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during...
        “Like a scene from ‘Home Alone’”: Georgia man slips on ice...
        “Some real sitcom stuff there”: Florida burglars call 9-1-1 for...
    • We Remember
      • “I had a calling”: Colorado cadet inspired by fallen hero Eric...
        Chicago police remember fallen and injured officers this holiday...
        Deputy killed by roommate after he “jokingly” pulled trigger of...
        Maryland’s oldest cold case solved
        At least 13 officers shot in five days as wave of violence sweeps...
  • On the Job
    • Georgia officer pushes stranded woman’s car to gas station
      Washington police K-9 retires after nearly a decade of service
      “An emotional encounter”: Connecticut police officer talks a man...
      California police officer uses K-9’s leash to rescue drowning man
      Small town North Carolina police officer rescues man from house fire
  • Labor
    • South Dakota Police Department offers $5,000 hiring bonuses to boost...
      Sioux Falls Police Department offers $5K hiring bonuses to boost...
      San Francisco mulls over increasing police recruitment bonuses to...
      Nevada may soon allow noncitizens to become police officers to...
      Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand...
  • Tech
    • NYPD iconic police cruisers get high-tech makeover
      NYPD warns of police attacks after Apple AirTag device was found on...
      Airbnb expands law enforcement portal to fight child trafficking
      West Virginia law enforcement agencies use drones to get a...
      FBI seizes website of notorious ransomware gang in cybercrime...
  • Training
    • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
      Running your patrol rifle like a champion
      Present ability, opportunity and apparent intent
      Defensive tactics
      Mechanics, consistency and aggression
  • Policy
    • Iowa House proposes legislation to criminalize ransomware
      Atlanta’s “Cop City” training center project approved despite...
      Arkansas sheriff’s offices refuse to enforce federal ATF gun policy
      President Biden signs bill expanding national missing persons database
      California Highway Patrol spotlights new traffic laws for 2023
  • Health/Wellness
    • Retired Wisconsin police officer offers mental health services for...
      Coping with internal investigation or legal action
      The value of data: Wellness through the eyes of officers
      What officers love, hope and worry about
      Don’t be “that guy” — get moving
  • Community
    • Washington’s King County sets record for fentanyl overdose deaths...
      Brotherly love: Police officer donates kidney to deputy sibling
      North Charleston police officer drafted by professional football team
      “I’m very, very blessed”: Cleveland police officer back on...
      Newark good Samaritan honored for assisting wounded officers
  • Offbeat
    • Pig crosses path with law enforcement in Virginia
      Texas police find cute dog behind the wheel in reckless driving...
      Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during...
      “Like a scene from ‘Home Alone’”: Georgia man slips on ice...
      “Some real sitcom stuff there”: Florida burglars call 9-1-1 for...
  • We Remember
    • “I had a calling”: Colorado cadet inspired by fallen hero Eric...
      Chicago police remember fallen and injured officers this holiday...
      Deputy killed by roommate after he “jokingly” pulled trigger of...
      Maryland’s oldest cold case solved
      At least 13 officers shot in five days as wave of violence sweeps...
  • Between the Lines
    • Persecution of the LEO is Classic Schadenfreude
      The Rule of Law is Worthless Without Order
      School policing: a paradox of the defund movement
      Defending the honor of the LE profession – finally!
      The dichotomy of the defund movement: reality setting in
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

Health/Wellness

Coping with internal investigation or legal action

Medina Baumgart , Psy.D. , ABPP Published January 19, 2023 @ 6:00 am PST

iStock.com/z_wei

Increased public scrutiny of police work has also increased concerns for officers who are worried about being under investigation or facing legal action. These situations can be extremely stressful and worrisome for all involved, including the officer’s family. So, how do you cope if faced with this during your career?

Let’s start by identifying some of the common experiences of officers who are under investigation or facing legal action:

  • Intrusive thoughts about career survival, financial constraints and the process itself
  • A range of emotions, including disbelief, confusion, anger, betrayal, fear, worry, anxiety, depression and a sense of powerlessness or helplessness
  • Behavioral changes, including sleep disturbance, isolation, pacing or difficulty keeping still, lack of routine and substance abuse

Now let’s look at how to begin sorting through these experiences.

Share how you are feeling, or ask for help establishing a new routine or managing uncomfortable thoughts and emotions.

The brain dump

This is exactly what it sounds like. On a piece of paper, write down all the questions, thoughts, emotions and anything else on your mind. On a separate sheet of paper, draw two columns and label them “Take Action” and “Other Stuff.” Now look at your brain dump and list things in the appropriate column: things you can do something about (take action) and things you cannot do anything about (other stuff). Common action-oriented things include contacting your union to discuss your rights and eligibility for legal representation, revisiting your budget to address any financial constraints and talking with a peer who has been through this process before for guidance on what to expect. For the other stuff, your task is to develop an action plan to help you manage these issues. 

Riding the wave

Think about how you cope with emotional discomfort. Many cops have become skilled at suppressing and compartmentalizing difficult emotions in service of being able to do their jobs effectively. When under investigation or facing legal action, doing this with your emotions can make them worse. The solution: Ride the wave. Instead of focusing on getting rid of or avoiding the emotion, engage it. Identify the physical sensations associated with the emotion, such as muscle tension, stomach discomfort or increased heart rate. Name the emotion(s) — for example, worry, anxiety, anger, fear, sadness and so on. Shift back to the physical sensations and focus on breathing at a slow and steady pace. This will help train your body to work through the emotion and ultimately reduce feeling overwhelmed during what can often be a lengthy investigative or legal process.  

Establishing a new routine

Your routine may change abruptly if you are placed on administrative leave, especially if you are assigned to remain at home. Take action and establish a new routine that includes some exercise and a healthy diet. It is also helpful to wake and sleep around the same time each day. If you are going to watch television or play video games, limit this to just an hour or two so that you are not sedentary or falling into a pattern of emotional distraction activities. Think about hobbies or interests that you used to have or have wanted to try; sign up for a college class or training on subject matter that interests you; learn something new such as cooking, hiking, biking or scuba diving; or read a book. 

It takes a village

No one can go through this alone. Lean on your supportive friends and family members. Utilize available peer support, spiritual support or counseling, if needed. Seeking support while under investigation or facing legal action doesn’t mean that you can’t talk to someone. Share how you are feeling, or ask for help establishing a new routine or managing uncomfortable thoughts and emotions. 

If you’re supporting someone who is going through an investigation or legal proceedings, here are some suggestions:

  • Buddy checks: Lend your ear, take a partner to lunch, bring them food, or join them for some exercise or time outdoors. Be consistent and check on them regularly throughout the process. 
  • Be a good listener: It is best to not get caught up in issues of guilt or innocence, right or wrong. Instead, focus on how the person is feeling and give them a place to vent. If needed, point them in the direction of additional supportive resources. 

Internal investigations and legal proceedings take time. By knowing what to expect, implementing healthy coping strategies and utilizing your support system, you can buffer the impact of the stress inherent with these situations. If you prefer to talk with someone outside of your peers and family, I recommend calling CopLine at (800) 267-5463 (copline.org), or seeking the support of a law enforcement chaplain, licensed mental health professional or trained peer supporter.

Medina Baumgart , Psy.D. , ABPP

Medina Baumgart , Psy.D. , ABPP

Dr. Medina Baumgart is an in-house psychologist with a large metropolitan law enforcement agency and a board-certified specialist in police and public safety psychology. Correspondence concerning this article can be sent via email to drbaumgart@att.net.

View articles by Medina Baumgart , Psy.D. , ABPP

As seen in the January 2023 issue of American Police Beat magazine.
Don’t miss out on another issue today! Click below:

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Categories: Health/Wellness

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Iowa House proposes legislation to criminalize ransomware
  • Atlanta’s “Cop City” training center project approved despite activist opposition
  • Pig crosses path with law enforcement in Virginia
  • NYPD iconic police cruisers get high-tech makeover
  • Georgia officer pushes stranded woman’s car to gas station
  • Washington’s King County sets record for fentanyl overdose deaths in 2022; morgue running out of space for bodies
  • NYPD warns of police attacks after Apple AirTag device was found on marked patrol vehicle
  • South Dakota Police Department offers $5,000 hiring bonuses to boost recruiting and diversity
  • Washington police K-9 retires after nearly a decade of service
  • Brotherly love: Police officer donates kidney to deputy sibling

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

The power of teamwork

The power of teamwork

July 23, 2021

Stay awake and alert on the job

Stay awake and alert on the job

July 20, 2021

The worst rank in law enforcement

The worst rank in law enforcement

July 19, 2021

Firearms maintenance

Firearms maintenance

July 04, 2021

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.