The Dangers of Being a Police Officer

The Dangers of Being a Police OfficerThe Dangers of Being a Police OfficerMost people understand that the day-to-day work of a police officer can be full of profil dangers. Nearly every day, we see news stories of another police officer somewhere in the United States who is hurt or killed. There are bad people in the world, willing to harm law enforcement officers who may be in their way. However, that is only one of the many dangers faced by these first responders every day. The majority of people law enforcement officers interact with daily are compliant- if not exactly friendly- and respectful. Even if theyre not happy about getting a ticket, a notice to appear, or even arrested, most people understand and appreciate the job that law enforcement officer is trying to accomplish. Dangerous People There are some people who do not want to comply with law enforcement officers. In these circumstances, how an officer interacts with those folks will very often determine how the encoun ter will go, which is why soft skills- such as communication and body language skills- areso important for police officers. Then there are those few people who have every intention of hurting or killing police officers in their path. These people intend to do harm, no matter how expertly an officer handles the situation. The latest FBI data says that 106 officers lost their lives on duty in 2018- an increase of 13% over 2017. In 2017, over 60,000 police officers were assaulted. The challenge- and the inherent disadvantage- for police officers in any given citizen encounter is that they never know what kind of person they are dealing with- compliant or murderous. And so for apoliceofficer, every single citizen interaction comes with atremendousamount of risk of being assaulted or killed. People Arent the Biggest Danger Its not a surprise to most that police officers encounter people who may want to hurt them, this is a recognizable risk. What is often underappreciated- especially by career hopefuls who want to become police officers themselves- are the other dangers that come with the job. The majority of officerswho sie in the line of duty are killed by accident or other means besides the hands of a criminal. That means the greatest dangers to officers are the least understood or appreciated. Traffic Is a Threat Traffic accidents are a tremendous danger to a police officer, especially those whose primary responsibilities are traffic enforcement. Traffic fatalities have consistently been the single leading cause of death for police officers for the past several years. Officers spend a great deal of time driving, which naturally increases their risk of being in an accident. Add to that the dangers that come from driving in emergency response or police pursuits and you can quickly understand the increased risk. On top of their own driving, many officers work outside of their vehicles on busy streets, whether at scenes of traffic crashes or traffic stops. Those officers are in extremely vulnerable positions and risk getting hit by inattentive drivers. In fact, most officers will tell you one of the things they fear most is traffic. Training Accidents Training, too, can be dangerous for police officers. Its no secret that law enforcement careers come with physical rigors and that the training to become a police officer can be very intense, whether in firearms, defensive tactics, physical fitness or immersive programs like active-shooter-response training. The nature of police training is such that there is a relatively high potential for injury or even death if safety precautions are not imposed and adhered to. Even then, officers and police recruits alike can succumb to injuries they incur during their training. Numerous Health Risks The truly hidden dangers that come with the job, health risks, are magnified for police officers. Numerous reports, including a comprehensive study by the University of Buffalo School of Public H ealth and Health Professionals, have identified significant links between police officers jobs and their own health. According to those studies, there are two primary components that contribute to significant health issues for officers, the shift work schedule and job stress. Non-standard working hours, especially rotating shifts, encourage poor sleeping habits and police officer fatigue. Add to that the stress that comes from working in an already dangerous and libelous job that fosters poor eating and exercise habits, and youll understand that associated health issues become a significant danger to officers on the job. Suicide Is a Danger That stress, along with the potential for post-traumatic stress from being involved in frightening and dangerous incidents, horrific scenes of death, and destruction and unpleasant encounters with angry citizens can lead to yet another hidden danger depression and suicide. By some estimates, somewhere between 120 and 150 police officers commi t suicide each year, at a rate of about 17 suicides per 100,000 officers, 1.5 times higher than the rate of the general population and nearly triple the number of officers killed by criminals each year. Why You Should Be a Police Officer? So why would anyone want to be a police officer? The fact of the matter is, the dangers of the job can be overcome. Mental fortitude, physical strength, a healthy spiritual life, and the soft and hard skills necessary to make every citizen encounter successful are accessible through training, reflection, and caution. The policing profession offers an opportunity to help others and to make a difference. It fills a void in the world, where individuals are willing to make sacrifices in order to serve a greater cause the safety and well-being of our society as a whole. Our world needs guardians to protect each other from the dangers we all face, and the law-enforcement profession offers the opportunity to be a parte of something more important than the self. In the end, despite the dangers, a job in law enforcement is more than worth the risk for the well-qualified officer.