Page 42 - Top Cover Issue 9
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42 TOP COVER ISSUE 9
I recently spoke with a response t was a privilege for me to have the opportunity to speak with
him at this early stage of his career and impart advice which
Officer, young in service, that has may see him continue in policing with healthy strategies in
all the enthusiasm you might expect place for psychological well-being.
He has already identified behaviour which is a normal
from someone early in their career. adaptation to the policing role and subsequent evolution
of a police personality. Sam has noticed that the vigilance
Policing is a vocation for him and he is Ihe exercises on duty is ever present off duty. After being in
discovering how personal relationships crowded environments in which he continually scans people
for threat, he is physically tired on returning home. When this
can be affected by his commitment to behaviour becomes exaggerated over time, it can become hyper-
vigilance which is synonymous with PTSD and can result in
the job. Sam has aspirations to become hyper-arousal.
Sam is living away from home, family and close friends
an Armed Response Officer. As with and he has been filling the loneliness with extra duties. He has
most Officers, he has a strong sense noticed he has become isolated. His window on the world is
in danger of becoming exclusively troubled, violent, deceitful,
of mission associated with his role and abusive and threatening. This is another warning sign that, if
allowed to continue, it could raise Sam’s risk of developing post-
through conversation it became clear he traumatic symptoms, vicarious traumatization and/or secondary
has a rescuer personality and his natural traumatic stress. Sam’s perception of the world around him can
be balanced when he makes a concerted effort to engage with his
position is to be protective and put the wider community: make time for friends and enjoyable activities
separate to friendships within the police and his work. He must
needs of others before his own. remind himself that there is kindness, generosity, selflessness and
goodness to be found around him.
Most SHUK members have long service and are looking for
support with PTSD. Some are still working with adjustments
and others have severe debilitating symptoms. Partners are in
