32 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: SEPTEMBER 2017 S tressful situations, rough conditions and split-second de- cisions. They’re all part of the job. While most police of- ficers are out combating crime, there are many oth- ers working to combat the effects of the debilitating stress they face in their profession every day. According to Barry Yeo- man, whose in-depth report was featured recently in the magazine Mindfulness, Mindfulness Based Resil- ience Training (MBRT), which includes meditation and intentional breathing, is proving to work won- ders with officers who are experiencing unusual stress and even symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Law enforcement of- ficers put their lives on the line to ensure the public’s safety and their work en- tails constant exposure to violence, suffering, and conflict. The good news is that work is being done to find A welcome, drug-free relief from stress Officers say mindfulness techniques are helping them cope ways to help officers, depu- ties and troopers cope both on and off duty. Researchers have found that the stress brought on by doing law enforcement work results in depression, PTSD, and even debili- tating physical problems including trouble sleeping, high blood pressure and depression. After seeing the effect practicing mindfulness techniques, especially meditation, had on her own life, Chief Jennifer Tejada (Emeryville, Cali- fornia P.D.) introduced mindfulness techniques to her officers. “Meditating gave me back my sense of self, my sense of worth,” Tajeda says. “It allowed me to breathe.” The weight she had lost returned. She started to sleep. She felt whole and hopeful, again. “It’s not about going to your happy place. This is not la-la, lightweight non- sense,” says Don Chart- land, who Tejada has asked to come in and work with her officers. “This is blood and guts, sometimes, life and death,” Tajeda continued. “Don is teaching our officers how to use deep and intentional breathing to help deal with their anxieties.” Richard Goerling is a lieutenant in Hillsboro, Oregon. He’s also the founder of the Mindful Badge Initiative (www. mindfulbadge.com) which provides resilience training to first responders. “How are we supposed to navigate someone else’s suffering if we can’t navi- gate our own?” Goerling asks. His goal is to create an environment where stress can be dealt with in a healthy way. MBRT is designed to help officers do that. “If I’m clinically de- pressed and undiagnosed —which I would argue many of us are — and I’m Continued on next page Register Today! ConferenceTopicsInclude: -Survivingandthrivinginacareerinlaw enforcement -Strategiestomanageexposuretotrauma -Preparingyouragencyforaline-of-dutydeath -Classesforlawenforcementspouses -StrategiestoavoidorworkthroughPTSD -Leadingahealthyagency -Police2f¿cerdeathanddisaEilityEene¿ts -Helpingyourfamilythroughyourcareer -Financialplanningforlawenforcement of¿cers -Settingupasuccessfulpeersupportprogram -Policechaplainprograms 3rd Annual C.O.P.S. National Conference on Law Enforcement Wellness & Trauma November 10-12, 2017 Grapevine, Texas Conference will be held at: Hilton DFW Lake Executive Conference Center 1800 Texas 26 Grapevine, TX 76051