According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 650 police officers died in the line of duty in 2021. Excluding Covid-19, the leading cause of death was suicide. As I reflect upon my first year as Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Charitable Foundation and as President of the Fox Valley Fraternal Order of Police, my education on that heartache extends well beyond those brave heroes. I have waked up in the middle of the night sweating, thinking to myself, “how can we reduce the number of officers suffering from PTSD or considering suicide?” In most cases, those feelings stem from job-related stresses — for example, a recently promoted officer involved in a critical incident without the support of a union or legal-defense plan, or a decorated police officer facing politically-charged John Doe inquiries after multiple independent investigations. The world has changed drastically, even over the past 10 years. Gone are the days of thinking, “that won’t happen to me.” Just like honing our skills with training, we must learn from the past situations of our brothers and sisters in blue.
The good news is we’re making progress each day, and I am excited to share information — in two steps — crucial to protecting you and your family for years to come.
Step one: Sign up for a legal-defense plan. Because of my position with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), I am well-versed in the FOP plan, but other unions offer similar plans. A good plan will provide additional support for criminal, civil, and administrative investigations. On average, this coverage costs about $300 a year.
Step two: I promise you, there is life beyond law enforcement. I have been there. You start to feel anxious during your shift. It may come after a significant incident or result from progressive stress. Anxiety starts to consume your thoughts and make you doubt everything you do. You are not the only police officer to feel that way. However, in most cases, those thoughts will not go away on their own, and suppressing them can create long-term complications. You need to talk to a professional. Doing so is not a sign of weakness nor a guarantee you cannot continue in law enforcement. But for argument’s sake, let’s say you have concluded that staying in law enforcement is not what’s best for your health or family. What do you do now? I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, “I only know how to be a police officer.” When I hear those words, I immediately think of the skills it takes to be a police officer. So, what you meant to say is, “I am a trained multitasker with experience in conflict resolution and problem-solving.” Other strengths include attention to detail, community relationship building, and the ability to work in high-stress situations. Oh, and don’t forget that in most cases, you’re a trained first responder. I could continue highlighting the skillset that police officers possess, but I think you get the point. Countless employers are looking for those skills — and we didn’t even mention that you love to help people.
Please understand, I am not encouraging people to leave the law-enforcement profession. I am simply asking you to be honest with yourself and do what is best for your health (yes, that includes mental health) and family. Many great resources are available to assist you on your journey. One of them is CopLine. According to CopLine.org, “COPLINE® has earned the trust of the Law Enforcement community by providing peer listening through a hotline by maintaining complete confidentiality as well as anonymity if the caller chooses. We train competent, confident, committed, and compassionate retired officers to engage with callers on the daily stressors officers and their family members experience.” Visit CopLine’s website or call 1-800-267-5463. In this family, no one fights alone. Stay safe!
— Matt Harper, Director, LECF, Inc
(920) 225-5763