17 Tips to Help Prevent Police Suicide
Police officers are twice as likely to kill themselves as to be killed in the line of duty. To prevent someone from killing themselves, don't mince words. Two crucial ways to intervene with a suicidal officer are to separate them from their weapons and to buy time. If...
Is New Federal Law Encouraging Cops to Commit Suicide?
On August 16th, President Biden signed two bills into law, the “Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Law Enforcement Training Act” (H.R. 2992) and the “Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022” (H.R. 6943). There is much to be appreciated...
The Uvalde Massacre: What’s in Store for First Responders?
I hadn’t planned to write another blog this month, but the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, and the massacre in Buffalo, New York, compelled me to put my thoughts on paper. I’m thinking about trauma and first responders and the emotional wallop created by mass...
Growing Old in a Young Person’s Profession Pt. 1
One of the great pleasures of a long-lived career as a police psychologist is watching officers as they grow from wide-eyed, eager rookies to a more settled version of themselves. From recruitment to retirement, police work changes people and affects their families. A...
Women in Policing: How It Feels to Be a Reluctant Hero
Women in law enforcement face continuing doubts about their ability to be as brave, competent, and dedicated as their male counterparts. How we respond in a life-threatening crisis may be hard to predict. One woman may have exceeded expectations. Being hailed as a...
How to Make Love Last Past Valentine’s Day and Date Night
Research shows that durable, happy relationships need daily doses of positivity. To strengthen your relationship, find out what feels like affection to your mate, because it may not be the same for you. Your relationship can deepen with small, spontaneous acts of love...