Police Departments With A Ptsd Policy?

[ven1047]

Is anyone aware of any police departments where they actually try to help their officers who may be suffering with the symptoms of PTSD? My department has no such policy and, as a result, they perpetuate the negative stereotyping of PTSD. I was diagnosed with PTSD nearly two years ago and since that time they've refused to aknolege my diagnosis and tried to fire me and piled the stress of a legal battle on top of the PTSD. Now that I've been reinstated I've faced an endless barrage of threats to remove me, told that they will "make my life hell on light duty" if I refuse to resign, and warned that I will never be allowed to resume full duty work ever again because I'm viewed as a liability (even if I'm cleared by a psychologist--as I am about to be). My own union representative is even working against me--issuing many of the threats himself and even meeting with my friends on the force to bully them into not supporting me.

I'm hoping that, if there are other departments out there with a good policy for handling this issue, my department may be able to educate itself. It saddens me that my situation may serve as a warning to my fellow officers; essentially telling them, "if you are feeling overwhelmed or having trouble coping or trauma you've witnessed is eating you up you BETTER NOT GET HELP. If you do, and happen to be diagnosed with PTSD, Your career is over, you will be viewed as a liability, and we will work as hard as possible to ostracize and bully you until you resign." It's unfortunate and doesn't have to be that way. Police work can be difficult and officers should not be afraid to seek help if they need it. It's amazing to me that the officer who has received professional help and effectively learned how to manage the symptoms of PTSD is viewed as more of a liability than the countless undiagnosed co-workers who never address it or try to drink it away.

Please, if you know of any department with a good PTSD policy that I can review, will you share a link with me so I can pass it on?

Thanks
-mike

 

[anthony]

I know they do in Australia already. There was a cop here who was being treated in conjunction by their Police department. They sent them here to Melbourne for in-patient treatment and helped them recover, seeing if they could return to duty or endure discharge.

 

[NarcSis]

Do a search for "Ontario Ombudsman PTSD" and you will find out just how widespread this problem is.

I wish I could offer help but as a medic, despite having policies and measures in place for dealing with critical incidents, we are often "forgotten" once we leave the ranks for PTSD treatment. It is frustrating, I feel your pain.

 

[Ian Vp]

Hi Mike, I may be the one Anthony is referring to. It has been a while since I logged in.

I am close to the end of my employment with my department. I am to be ill health retired. I have just started seeing people more local to where I live and it is a slow process. The department in my experience will treat you as a liability and putting your hand up as having a problem is a career limiting move. Having said that I am looking forward to finding my way to managing my PTSD and a better me. That is not to say that I didn't value the work I was doing or miss parts of it.

At the end of the day I couldn't do it any more. I have made my peace with that and I am starting small. Being a better dad and husband. I am trying to develop some of my artistic interests. These things may not rate on BRW's top 100 but they are what is helping me and giving me a positive purpose on my journey.

I dont think I gave you a model for your employer to follow but instead look for something that is most helpful to you. You might find that your interests and that of your employers may have diverged. If not and you are determined to return I wish you the best of luck in your service.

 

[Maud'Dib]

If any of you are in the U.S. and are veterans, let me know. I might be able to turn on the heat on some of the departments. Fixing those kind of problems is pretty much what I do in my state.