Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 4018 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: AUGUST 2016 by John Becker L aw enforcement of- ficers face so many risks today. Drug use, robberies, and violent crimes are on the rise. Repeat offenders seem to perpetually revolve through the justice system. In years past, police officers held an esteemed position in society. In today’s heated climate, it seems more and more people are mistak- enly singling police out as a problem, instead of the solution. Law enforcement does have a culture of brother- hood and family. But it can also foster a culture of avoidance and depen- dency. Many officers are taught and expected to be able to “fix” every problem. They are to shoulder the ugly side of society, yet make it to their kid’s t-ball game in time with a smile on their face. That can be a difficult transition. Learning how to deal with the stress of the job and maintaining a func- tioning personal life is a skill many officers don’t learn. The end result is al- coholism, drug abuse, and divorce. Knowing how to handle emotions is just as impor- tant to a law officer’s long- term success as is eating healthy and being aware of their surroundings. But “emotions” is a dirty word in many depart- ments. Officers are drilled on codes, procedures and handling weapons. But they are not taught how to process the daily drudge and the intense and traumatic experiences they encounter. Coping mechanisms come in all shapes and siz- es. Healthy and unhealthy ones become the everyday practice of LEOs. Alcohol is a depressant and will dull thoughts and feelings, while also causing some to feel even more invincible. Along with each promo- tion or even the end of a shift comes the desire to gather, share stories, and spend time with people who understand you. Celebrating a promotion or the new recruit gradua- tion isn’t a bad thing. What makes it negative is the culture that encourages excessive drinking – the “sleep it off” before your next shift mentality that many officers share. Departments need to shed the idea about the neigh- borhood bar being the perfect after-shift meeting place. Leaders need to encour- age old and young officers alike to seek out healthier alternatives to venting frus- trations or celebrating than raising a glass. One of the most poten- tially volatile areas of a law enforcement officer’s life is the very part that should be the most stable: family life. But divorce is prevalent among the law enforce- ment community. Long odd hours, rotating schedules, dangerous environ- ments, and unmet expectations all can combine to derail a marriage. Most marriages go through periods of confusion, fights, and disappoint- ments. With a mar- riage involving a police officer, many spouses complain of their spouse being “married to the job.” Some spouses do okay with this but many do not. Years of missed birthdays, anniversaries, and other family events lead to frustration. In order to have a long and successful work life and per- sonal life, LEOs must find a healthy way to deal with their everyday stress. Re- sources do exist. Workplace anonymous hotlines, faith-based meet- ings, and community clin- ics all have something to offer as an alternative to the negatives of using alcohol as a coping mechanism. Seeking help for stress is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of reality-based intelligence. JohnB@SproutHealthGroup. com. The longer version of this article can be found on the American Police Beat website at: www. Cops and booze: the danger is real John Becker has experience as a po- lice officer, clinician, and outreach professional. John also possesses a unique understanding of substance abuse among first responders, having overcome addiction in his own life. He is the Director of First Responder Services for the Sprout Health Group. He can be reached at 215-833-1572 or johnb@sprouthealthgroup.com. Run for the Badge Saturday, October 15 |Washington, DC Join us for a 5K Run and Walk in honor of our law enforcement heroes on October 15, 2016, in Washington, DC. Help us support law enforcement officers by registering today to run, walk, or participate virtually. RegisterToday www.RunfortheBadge.org