Joining the Police

[edthefed]

I did my full 30

Physical injuries in that time

Numerous broken bones
Bitten
Serious neck injury that almost left me paralysed
Hearing loss (noise induced through work)
Also Disarmed a man with a gun who had just robbed a petrol station, had a man charge at me with an axe, had someone trying to take my head off with a length of 2x2
The list goes on and on those things are easy to deal with

Ive also been diagnosed with PTSD arising from a "domestic" murder, father killed mum and then tried to kill the very young daughter. Mum was clearly deceased on our arrival, toddler barely alive and despite our best efforts she died en route to hospital.

Even now years later i have nightmares, wake up at night back at the scene, still covered in the blood of a 2yr old and feeling responsible for the death of a child

[Red 4]

Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.

[Don Roque]

Cliffe60 said:

I know about a dozen recently retired or soon to be retiring coppers and none have even had a scratch on duty, that’s about 300 years service between them.
I think outside the big cities , the chance of getting hurt , is pretty low.

Ooh, are they taking transfers?

In all seriousness, anyone with experience of a mixed force area will tell you the chances of running into trouble outside of a built up area are pretty good. The line at training school, no longer applicable since the cuts, went something like "laugh all you like at the chaps going to the rural stations and make your jokes about shifts spent chasing sheep off the road. In the towns you'll be wrestling with drunks every day. In the sticks you won't be, but when you do your backup will be 30 minutes away rather than just around the corner".

Although in truth, in some areas you'd be lucky to get there in 30 minutes in an advanced car, with that being a number they pulled out of thin air to make a point.

[Pothole]

Red 4 said:

Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.

Nothing compared to that one time the cyber security blokey had to stay after 5 pm, though, is it?

Edited by Pothole on Wednesday 7th July 13:14

[LosingGrip]

Don Roque said:

Ooh, are they taking transfers?

In all seriousness, anyone with experience of a mixed force area will tell you the chances of running into trouble outside of a built up area are pretty good. The line at training school, no longer applicable since the cuts, went something like "laugh all you like at the chaps going to the rural stations and make your jokes about shifts spent chasing sheep off the road. In the towns you'll be wrestling with drunks every day. In the sticks you won't be, but when you do your backup will be 30 minutes away rather than just around the corner".

Although in truth, in some areas you'd be lucky to get there in 30 minutes in an advanced car, with that being a number they pulled out of thin air to make a point.

My patch is 240 square miles. Mostly rural.

Furthest point of the patch is 40 minutes from my station. I’ve done it in 30 before. But that was perfect conditions. No traffic as it was 0615 on a Sunday. The roads are st.

Nights we have two of us. Nearest back up will be an hour away. Further if they aren’t at that hub station.

Twice I’ve had to call for assistance. Both times backup was fairly close as in 20 minutes.

We often talk about different policing skills in different areas. Some of the cops in the towns come across as rude in my mind at times. Knowing if they wind someone up and end up fighting back up is a few moments away.

We have to be friendly with them.

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

Pothole said:

Red 4 said:

Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.

Nothing compared to that one time the cyber security blokey had to stay after 5 mp, though, is it?

Speaking as a psychologist I have treated police officers who have some terrible problems.
Given what some of them experience it is unsurprising. Some of the things will be totally alien to the average person on the street.

[anonymous-user]

Maximus Decimus Meridius said:

Pothole said:

Red 4 said:

Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.

Nothing compared to that one time the cyber security blokey had to stay after 5 mp, though, is it?

Speaking as a psychologist I have treated police officers who have some terrible problems.
Given what some of them experience it is unsurprising. Some of the things will be totally alien to the average person on the street.

I’m not unsympathetic but surely you know what you’re getting into when you join the police?

[Bigends]

Cliffe60 said:

Maximus Decimus Meridius said:

Pothole said:

Red 4 said:

Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.

Nothing compared to that one time the cyber security blokey had to stay after 5 mp, though, is it?

Speaking as a psychologist I have treated police officers who have some terrible problems.
Given what some of them experience it is unsurprising. Some of the things will be totally alien to the average person on the street.

I’m not unsympathetic but surely you know what you’re getting into when you join the police?

True, personally never had any problems (that I know of) following any of the nasties I attended, however everybodys threshold is different

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

Cliffe60 said:

Maximus Decimus Meridius said:

Pothole said:

Red 4 said:

Sorry to hear that edthefed.
I think some people underestimate the psychological effects certain jobs have on police officers but we are all human after all.
No shame in admitting stuff affects you. I know I think about a job very similar to the one you describe from time to time.
I hope things get easier for you.

Nothing compared to that one time the cyber security blokey had to stay after 5 mp, though, is it?

Speaking as a psychologist I have treated police officers who have some terrible problems.
Given what some of them experience it is unsurprising. Some of the things will be totally alien to the average person on the street.

I’m not unsympathetic but surely you know what you’re getting into when you join the police?

I'm not entirely sure what your point is Cliffe60.
Are you suggesting that because/ if people have an idea what they may be dealing with then their experiences should not affect them ?

[edthefed]

I never had a problem till after i retired when things came back to haunt me.

As for the comments "you know what you are getting"

Nothing can prepare you for turning arriving at a scene to find a young mum stabbed to death, a toddler stabbed repeatedly and seriously injured and whilst you try to stem the bleeding / give mouth to mouth whilst at the same time dealing with the father / husband still armed with a knife and intent on causing more injury !

I must have missed the training that prepared me for that !

[superlightr]

edthefed said:

I never had a problem till after i retired when things came back to haunt me.

As for the comments "you know what you are getting"

Nothing can prepare you for turning arriving at a scene to find a young mum stabbed to death, a toddler stabbed repeatedly and seriously injured and whilst you try to stem the bleeding / give mouth to mouth whilst at the same time dealing with the father / husband still armed with a knife and intent on causing more injury !

I must have missed the training that prepared me for that !

i think it can well be a cumulative effect, perhaps no one single event but a build up.

This I believe can happen in all manner of jobs which involve different levels of stress.
I think traumatic events (such as the police experience) may accelerate the stress for sure but a steady build up does occur for many people I believe.

My theory maybe bks.

[Armchair_Expert]

Cliffe60 said:

I’m not unsympathetic but surely you know what you’re getting into when you join the police?

You may have an idea that you will ses some grizzly sites, but you can never prepare for how you will cope with them or how your mind will process them over a prolonged period of time.

Burnt bodies, decapitated humans, abused children, dead children and peadophiles tend to be some of the most taxing scenarios on officers. Dealing with it as a one off is one thing, after 5, or 10 + years of it and your brain starts to struggle a bit. I know of a lot of traffic officers I used to work with who are now on heavy meds and regular deep meditative counselling with PTSD, unable to sleep with memories of the amount of fatals they dealt with over their career. I am incredibly fortunate that over 12 years in Traffic I dealt with fewer fatals than I perhaps should have,

Edited by Armchair_Expert on Tuesday 6th July 13:42

[Kaelic]

Some great but sobering reading in this thread.

I am probably the opposite of what the some of the retiring cops are doing, I am a Network/Cyber security full timer who is becoming a special at the ripe old age of 46!

When people have asked me why, I say why not? I work Monday-Friday full time (but from home) and with child all grown up its time to go and do something for my community, even if it's checking the local park is safe or something, but at least I will be doing some good with my spare time.

I know specials are a bit meh, but even if I am the second person in a normally single crewed car/van I can be there to help the regular or at least (hopefully) help ease the pressure on regulars.

Have a very close friend who went special > regular > arv and he was a big infulence, but I have no aspirations of ever going regular.

One thing I would like to ask is what is the opinion of regulars on specials at the minute? I am hoping to be an asset rather than a hinderance but its going to be a steep learning curve for a couple of years but something I am looking forward to!

Cheers and keep safe!

[LosingGrip]

Kaelic said:

Some great but sobering reading in this thread.

I am probably the opposite of what the some of the retiring cops are doing, I am a Network/Cyber security full timer who is becoming a special at the ripe old age of 46!

When people have asked me why, I say why not? I work Monday-Friday full time (but from home) and with child all grown up its time to go and do something for my community, even if it's checking the local park is safe or something, but at least I will be doing some good with my spare time.

I know specials are a bit meh, but even if I am the second person in a normally single crewed car/van I can be there to help the regular or at least (hopefully) help ease the pressure on regulars.

Have a very close friend who went special > regular > arv and he was a big infulence, but I have no aspirations of ever going regular.

One thing I would like to ask is what is the opinion of regulars on specials at the minute? I am hoping to be an asset rather than a hinderance but its going to be a steep learning curve for a couple of years but something I am looking forward to!

Cheers and keep safe!

Good luck!

I was a special for nine and a bit years in total. I’ve got a lot of time for them (I certainly wouldn’t do it for free now!). You get some st ones, but you get some st regulars as well.

What worked for me was aligning my shifts to the same squad. That way they learnt about me and I learnt about them.

You won’t be expected to know everything.

Ask lots of questions when the time is right.

You can get a lot out of it if you put time in.

[BossHogg]

Kaelic said:

Some great but sobering reading in this thread.

I am probably the opposite of what the some of the retiring cops are doing, I am a Network/Cyber security full timer who is becoming a special at the ripe old age of 46!

When people have asked me why, I say why not? I work Monday-Friday full time (but from home) and with child all grown up its time to go and do something for my community, even if it's checking the local park is safe or something, but at least I will be doing some good with my spare time.

I know specials are a bit meh, but even if I am the second person in a normally single crewed car/van I can be there to help the regular or at least (hopefully) help ease the pressure on regulars.

Have a very close friend who went special > regular > arv and he was a big infulence, but I have no aspirations of ever going regular.

One thing I would like to ask is what is the opinion of regulars on specials at the minute? I am hoping to be an asset rather than a hinderance but its going to be a steep learning curve for a couple of years but something I am looking forward to!

Cheers and keep safe!

I'm sort of in the opposite direction, Highways traffic officer in the day job, but volunteer as a community first responder for the ambulance service in my spare time.

[Maximus Decimus Meridius]

superlightr said:

i think it can well be a cumulative effect, perhaps no one single event but a build up.

This I believe can happen in all manner of jobs which involve different levels of stress.
I think traumatic events (such as the police experience) may accelerate the stress for sure but a steady build up does occur for many people I believe.

My theory maybe bks.

Repeated exposure to trauma can cause psychological problems.
A single exposure to trauma can cause problems;
some people may be exposed to trauma repeatedly but that one incident sticks with them.
No simple answer I'm afraid.
Physical injury caused by trauma/ chronic pain has links to PTSD (pain and psychological trauma share the same neural pathways in the brain and serve to maintain each other).
The list goes on ...

[Who me ?]

LosingGrip said:

My patch is 240 square miles. Mostly rural.

Furthest point of the patch is 40 minutes from my station. I’ve done it in 30 before. But that was perfect conditions. No traffic as it was 0615 on a Sunday. The roads are st.

Nights we have two of us. Nearest back up will be an hour away. Further if they aren’t at that hub station.

Twice I’ve had to call for assistance. Both times backup was fairly close, as in 20 minutes.

We often talk about different policing skills in different areas. Some of the cops in the towns come across as rude in my mind at times. Knowing if they wind someone up and end up fighting back up is a few moments away.

We have to be friendly with them.

The point was driven home a few( or more) years ago. Council had an empty flat in a block close to us, where the LA had ideas of making it into a drop in centre. Town area. Local beat lad came to us ( as resident's association) to help him with his case as we had contact with those in charge and our county councillor was on our side. His argument was that at the right time of day he'd be on his own with help at least 10 minuts away.

[Jamescrs]

Cliffe60 said:

I’m not unsympathetic but surely you know what you’re getting into when you join the police?

You would think so and given most people on these forums have probably a decent grasp of life experience to one degree or another they can maybe imagine some of it.

I have a friend of a friend who works in Police training specifically training new recruits, who are often 18 and straight out of college now because they are joining on the apprenticeship program which leads to a degree of some sort which on the face of it is a good move for them, they get a degree without incurring the same student fees.

The issue is that many of these 18 year old recruits don't have life experience, most come from decent homes and families and have never dealt with a proper confrontation in their lives, they do the initial training where they are looked after and then are put out onto the streets for 10 weeks with a tutor who may only have been in the Force 2 years themselves.

They then go out looking shiny and new and believe me the Police's regular customers spot them a mile away and they become a target as they are seen as the weakest there and many of these people simply can't handle what they are faced with and it is now common to have half a dozen resignations from every intake within the first week or two of them being away from training, seemingly many do not know what they are getting into.

I was told another story of a new recruit who was shocked to learn she would be expected to work night shifts and didn't complete her training period.

[Derek Smith]

Maximus Decimus Meridius said:

Repeated exposure to trauma can cause psychological problems.
A single exposure to trauma can cause problems;
some people may be exposed to trauma repeatedly but that one incident sticks with them.
No simple answer I'm afraid.
Physical injury caused by trauma/ chronic pain has links to PTSD (pain and psychological trauma share the same neural pathways in the brain and serve to maintain each other).
The list goes on ...

I went loopy after one particular case, but I was told that, as it was one of many, it wasn't that simple. It was very strange. I'd dealt with worse cases and for the particular one, we had the offender, to court, convicted and imprisoned. The victim was, in many ways, inspiring in the way she dealt with the trauma. Very brave, quite outstandingly so. I felt guilty, odd word I suppose, for not being able to cope. Scary though, as I used to dream - I didn't class it as a nightmare - of continually smashing the face, particularly the right cheek, of the offender into, of all things, the wooden surround to the identification parade window, until it exposed the bone, and then fractured it. I would wake up, then try to go back to sleep, thinking about it to ensure I dreamed it again. Yet I've always thought of myself as gentle.

When I eventually told a psychiatrist - I obviously did not want to admit to being as bad as the people I dealt with - he nodded away, unshocked, and seemingly pleased that I had been so predictable in my response. He was brilliant. Turned me around, or, at the very least, helped me along the route. I was the last patient he dealt with, postponing his retirement.

Using a soft, enquiring tone: "How do you think you should have responded to what you were dealing with?" >2.7 rape and serious sexual offences cases a week. Indeed. He showed that going mad was the sensible option; proved that I was sane.

If that's what you do, good on you. Feel pleased with yourself.

[Dibble]

The job that was my trigger event wasn’t the worst job I’ve been to (as in, the most grisly or horrific).

What it was, was a five year old boy who’d drowned in a swimming pool at a family party. I and other colleagues tried CPR while we waited for the ambulance, unsuccessfully. That was over ten years ago. I had flashbacks, nightmares, alcohol abuse, hypervigilance and a suicide attempt. I can talk about it now, but it took a year of EMDR, several years of medication, weeks of daily home visits from the mental health crisis team and coming close to getting sectioned - twice - under the mental health act. Even now, when I think about it, I can still taste the chlorine-laced vomit as I gave that young lad mouth to mouth.

Still, not the worst thing I’ve seen or dealt with in almost 30 years of policing. That should tell you something, if a dead five year old isn’t the worst thing. I’m not sure how any sane person wouldn’t be affected by any of it, expected or otherwise. As I and others have said, witnessing or experiencing traumatic incidents can cause problems, even just one event. Try seeing and dealing with hundreds and not being affected.

But yeah, what about those poor sods in cyber security, with their paper cuts and lukewarm lattes? fk. Right. Off.