by Brian Warriner
PTSD
or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is often associated with the military. The
combat veterans have been in many battle areas. However, I want to raise
awareness among law enforcement. Especially with many putting their lives on
the line to protect the community. Not those who are “dirty” cops who betray
the community they were sworn to protect. Hell, the good cops deal with them
because of the dirty ones, and the reputation of law enforcement throughout the
country in these dark times. Not all cops are the same, but the trauma they
experience in responding to calls is. Answering the call of a domestic dispute
can turn into a shoot-out, or a traffic stop can turn deadly. Alternatively,
maybe you are a rookie showing up to the first call of your career, and it is a
multi-car accident with victims' bodies mangled. The sight of blood, open
wounds, and it all is hitting you at once can leave a lasting impact. It is
something that you will never forget. You have to jump in and do your job.
Given
the constant under-fire, the news stories we hear, and the public's views of
law enforcement, things are not good. Because the “dirty” cops who go on power
trips and racially profile, and believe the public does not know their rights. The
political climate also does not help matters any, when you have police officers
cooperating with ICE. The public has lost confidence in the police and various
law enforcement agencies. There have been numerous cops murdered due to the
public's view. Whether they are on duty or off, the trauma that they experience
is traumatic to say the least. Back in
December, a Delaware cop was shot and killed at the DMV. Sometime ago in
Philadelphia, a cop was delivering a warrant and was shot and killed. This led
to a standoff between the police and the shooter.
These
experiences in being a cop can be traumatic experiences, when your friend,
partner, brother, or sister in arms is shot and killed on the job or not. You
may experience PTSD. With my nephew being a police officer, or cop, I am on
high alert and worried. However, he is a fighter and has a lot to live for, and
I am very proud of the man he has become. However, knowing what the police go
through makes the protective uncle in me come out. I would fight a bear if it
attacked any of my nieces or nephews. This is why I am writing this entry,
because mental health disorders do not discriminate; they are equal opportunity
employers.
What is PTSD?
PTSD,
or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is defined by the DSM-5 as the development
of characteristics or symptoms after experiencing one or more traumatic events
(American Psychiatric Association, 2024). These events can be anything that
causes trauma, such as sexual assault, war events, and even natural disasters.
For law enforcement, this can be their first accident, responding to the
numerous murders and the various calls that they have to respond to. Imagine
being a police officer, and you respond to a call where a woman was beaten,
raped, stabbed, and left for dead in a vacant lot. When you see the victim, you
see her as someone’s child, someone’s daughter. Afterwards, you go home to your
children and hug them. Events like this can be traumatic for a person. I have
found it something that, as a homicide detective, you have experienced numerous
murder investigations. It is difficult to experience while keeping your mind
from going to the dark places this kind of trauma can cause.
Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder varies from person to person, with fear-based
re-experiencing, emotional, and behavioral symptoms predominating. For others,
it may be arousal and reactive-externalizing symptoms are prominent. While
others may show signs of dissociation, some can experience a combination of
symptoms. The DSM-5, which is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, was published by the American Psychiatric Association. Therapists,
psychologists, and psychiatrists use this manual to diagnose patients.
Statistics
According
to firstresponderswellness.com, 61% of police officers are screened positive
for PTSD. The statistics of law enforcement having PTSD vary. However, nationwide,
the rates of PTSD range from 7%-35%, which means approximately 19 % of officers
may have PTSD. Where 35% of officers meet the criteria of PTSD, 38 % have
experienced a significant impact of trauma.
Unfortunately,
some law enforcement agencies are teaming up with ICE and federal agents to
commit illegal kidnappings and murders of people. Law enforcement is taking a
hit. Moreover, the number of those who are suffering or living with PTSD is
going up.
Symptoms and Signs
There
is a set of signs and symptoms that define PTSD. For law enforcement, the
frequent exposure to traumatic events that involve children, accidents, natural
disasters, and violent crimes is a concern. The lack of mental health treatment
and support, and organizational stress, such as long shifts, disruptions to
sleep and personal lives, and public scrutiny. All of these, mounted together
over a long period of time, can cause a person to develop PTSD (Patel, 2025).
The
problem with the lack of mental health support is that it can affect officers'
lives. It can lead to addictions, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, affect
workplace performance, and issues in the community (Patel, 2025). It can make
an officer unprofessional on the job and when dealing with the public, which
can spill over and cause more issues than they intended.
Treatment
Researchers
have found evidence that Cognitive Behavior Therapy and/ or Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing have been beneficial to the treatment of PTSD
(Hasan, 2024). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a treatment
that is backed by evidence that helps the client process their traumatic
memories. It is achieved by engaging both sides of the brain through bilateral
stimulation, such as tapping and sound (Positive Change Psychological Services,
2025).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on
changing negative thought patterns, behaviors, and beliefs once they have been
identified. CBT is an evidence-based approach to treating PTSD (Team, 2024). Through
the process, the client learns to identify triggers that influence their
thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs. CBT has been known to treat anxiety,
depression, and various other mental health disorders (Positive Changes
Psychological Services, 2025).
However,
when combined with journaling, you can write out your thoughts, ideas, and
behaviors and identify them through writing. Because I believe speaking to them
does not cement them into your reality. When you journal them down, you cannot
escape them. They are right in front of you in writing and clear as can be.
In
conclusion, it is possible to have PTSD, and it becomes a managed disorder. I ask
those in law enforcement to seek help if they feel they are dealing with PTSD
to get some help. If your department does not have the resources, other
agencies can help you. Ask around, ask your union, and even go to organizations
that offer mental health services. Thank you for protecting our communities.
References
American
Psychiatric Association. (2024). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association.
Team,
N. editorial. (2024, August 22). PTSD in Police Officers: Comprehensive
Guide to Treatment, Recovery, and Support. NeuroLaunch.com. https://neurolaunch.com/ptsd-treatment-for-police-officers/
Hazan,
J. (2024, December 19). EMDR Therapy vs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:
Which is Right for You? Modern Therapy Group. https://moderntherapygroup.com/emdr-therapy-vs-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/
Positive
Changes Psychological Services (2025, July 30). Positive Change
Psychological Services. Positive Change Psychological Services. https://www.positivechangepsychological.com/articles/combining-emdr-therapy-with-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt-what-you-should-know
Patel, D. S.
(2025, December 22). How Many Active Law Enforcement Officers Suffer
From PTSD? - Advance Study. Advance Study. https://advancestudy.org/how-many-active-law-enforcement-officers-suffer-from-ptsd/
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