Stress-producing aspects experienced in policing
What are the unique stress-producing aspects experienced in policing, and what can be done to reduce stress for law enforcement officers?
3. Public Perception & Criticism: The public often holds police officers to an unrealistic standard of conduct while simultaneously criticizing them for perceived errors or mistakes - leading to feelings of frustration, helplessness and demoralization among officers who are only doing their jobs. To help combat this, departments should work hard at cultivating strong relationships between police forces and local communities by providing positive opportunities for interaction through community policing initiatives or public events like National Night Out programs. Additionally executive staff should ensure internal disciplinary standards are enforced fairly and consistently across all ranks within the force in order to demonstrate a commitment towards maintaining mental health among its members