Deck 10: Health and Safety Issues in Police Work

Question 1

______ occurs when a person experiences any physiological and/or psychological demand that causes a person to have to adjust to that demand, physiologically or psychologically.

A) Friction
B) Pressure
C) Stress
D) Tension

Answer 1

Stress

Question 2

Personal problems, difficulties at work, and extreme temperatures could all be considered ______.

A) stressors
B) disciplinary issues
C) factors
D) manipulators

Answer 2

stressors

Question 3

The most common way to measure stress is ______.

A) psychologically
B) perceptually
C) physiologically
D) mentally

Answer 3

perceptually

Question 4

Monitoring officers' heart rates and cortisol levels to measure stress is an example of ______ testing.

A) psychological
B) perceptual
C) physiological
D) dynamic

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of an organizational stressor?

A) engaging in a high-speed pursuit
B) witnessing violence
C) inadequate support from supervisors
D) being yelled at by a member of the public

Question 6

According to research, which group of officers was most likely to express a negative workplace experience and higher levels of stress?

A) African American male officers
B) African American female officers
C) Caucasian male officers
D) Caucasian female officers

Question 7

Which perceived workplace stressor may have an especially negative impact on the recruitment of female officers?

A) lack of support from supervisors
B) won't get along with coworkers
C) shift work
D) sexual harassment

Question 8

Research suggests that sexual harassment is ______.

A) more likely to be experienced by female police officers
B) more likely to be experienced by male police officers
C) experienced by male and female police officers
D) more likely to be perpetrated by supervisors

Question 9

Shift selection is most often assigned ______.

A) randomly
B) based on seniority
C) based on merit
D) alphabetically

Question 10

Which shift is most desirable to work in policing?

A) day (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
B) afternoon (4 p.m. to 12 a.m.)
C) night (12 a.m. to 8 a.m.)
D) rotating shift

Question 11

Which shift is most likely to cause disruption to the officer's circadian rhythm?

A) day (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
B) afternoon (4 p.m. to 12 a.m.)
C) night (12 a.m. to 8 a.m.)
D) power

Question 12

The more serious long-term effects of ______ may include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, obesity, depression, ulcers, problems with fertility and pregnancy, and even cancer.

A) sitting in patrol cars for more than 8 hours
B) working in day shift
C) post-traumatic stress disorder
D) sleep deprivation

Question 13

In regard to suicide, research suggests that police officers ______.

A) are more likely to commit suicide than members of the general public
B) are less likely to commit suicide than members of the general public
C) are no more likely to commit suicide than demographically comparable people in other occupations
D) commit suicide so rarely that statistical analysis is not possible

Question 14

______ is a prolonged response to chronic and interpersonal stressors on the job.

A) Burnout
B) Pressure
C) Sleep deprivation
D) Harassment

Question 15

Research suggests that ______ percent of measured police officers experience severe level of emotional exhaustion

A) 9
B) 19
C) 49
D) 59

Question 16

______ is a response to a stressful situation or event of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature.

A) Burnout
B) Post-traumatic stress disorder
C) Pressure
D) Sleep deprivation

Question 17

Symptoms of ______ include nightmares, flashbacks, loss of memory, sleep disorders, and difficulty controlling emotions.

A) chronic fatigue
B) pressure
C) post-traumatic stress disorder
D) burnout

Question 18

Research suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder ______.

A) is more common among police officers than other occupations not typically exposed to traumatic situations
B) is less common among police officers than other occupations not typically exposed to traumatic situations
C) is less common among police officers than the general public
D) is equally present in police officers and the general public

Question 19

PTSD is the result of ______.

A) ongoing work conditions and circumstances
B) an event or situation of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature
C) extended periods of sleep deprivation
D) chronic fatigue

Question 20

One of the most effective ways to treat post-traumatic stress disorder is ______.

A) cognitive behavior therapy
B) behavioral activation
C) interpersonal therapy
D) acupuncture

Question 21

______ consist of trained officers and mental health counselors offering valuable empathetic assistance as well as resources for officers.

A) Temporary assistance programs
B) Reintegration programs
C) Clinical programs
D) Peer-counseling programs

Question 22

According to the Bureau of LaborStatistics, in the year 2017, where did policing rank in terms of "on the job deaths?"

A) first
B) third
C) seventh
D) not in the top 10

Question 23

Statistical analysis shows that from 2004 to 2018, ______.

A) there is no clear trend in accidental deaths or murders
B) accidental deaths usually outnumbered felonious deaths
C) felonious deaths consistently outnumbered accidental deaths
D) accidental deaths and felonious deaths reported were nearly identical each year

Question 24

The definitive source on injuries and deaths to police officers in the United States is ______.

A) the National Crime Information Center
B) the FBI's Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted report
C) the Harvard University National Crime Reporting Service
D) the National Law Enforcement Association's Database

Question 25

A majority of assaults on police officers are committed using ______.

A) firearms
B) edged weapons like knives
C) hands, fists, and feet
D) impact weapons like baseball bats

Question 26

According to FBI statistics, assaults on police officers have ______.

A) increased significantly since 2008, then decreased 2015 through 2017
B) decreased gradually since 2008, then increased 2015 through 2017
C) constantly increased since 2008
D) remained constant since 2008

Question 27

Which are some measures police departments implemented to reduce risks during foot pursuits?

A) Officers should stop a foot pursuit if they are outnumbered.
B) Officers should stop a foot pursuit if the suspect enters a building.
C) Officers should stop if they lose their weapon.
D) all of these

Question 28

Which type of injury is most common in policing?

A) lacerations
B) dislocated joints
C) broken bones
D) torn ligaments

Question 29

The four tasks and activities that place police officers at an increased risk of injury are ______.

A) making arrests, serving warrants, foot pursuits, and traffic stops
B) making arrests, vehicle accidents, vehicle pursuits, and foot pursuits
C) vehicle accidents, foot pursuits, crowd control, and patrol
D) foot pursuits, undercover operations, serving warrants, and traffic stops

Question 30

When dealing with police vehicle pursuits, ______.

A) the trend is for departments to restrict officer discretion
B) the trend is for departments to expand officer discretion
C) departmental policies have changed little since the 1950s
D) increasing the number of police vehicles involved in the pursuit lowers the risk of accidents

Question 31

Some stress may be positive and desired.

Question 32

The standard measure of job-related stress is to measure cortisol levels of police officers.

Question 33

Research shows that there is little variance in stress levels among officers in urban and rural police departments.

Question 34

Despite the efforts of researchers, there are few conclusions that can be drawn with certainty regarding police stress.

Question 35

A majority of recent studies have identified organizational stressors to be the most significant stressors for police officers.

Question 36

Policing is an example of a genderized profession.

Question 37

A citizen yelling at a police officer is an example of an organizational stressor.

Question 38

Sexual harassment can occur between people of the same sex.

Question 39

Supervisors are the most common perpetrators of sexual harassment in law enforcement agencies.

Question 40

Shift work is unique to policing.

Question 41

Federal law mandates that officers working rotating shifts work no more than 8 hours per shift.

Question 42

Day shift is generally viewed as the most desirable shift among police officers.

Question 43

Working day shift often leads to the disruption of police officer's circadian rhythm.

Question 44

Research suggests there are no significant long-term health risks associated with shift work.

Question 45

The research is very clear: police officers suffer from alcohol abuse, hypertension, and depression at much higher rates than members of the general public.

Question 46

Most police suicides occur with a firearm and while the officer is off duty at home.

Question 47

Research found that police vehicle accidents more likely happened when there was only one officer in the vehicle, compared to two officers.

Question 48

Research suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder is often found to be more common among police officers than among members of other occupations not typically exposed to traumatic situations.

Question 49

Post-traumatic stress disorder is typically the result of ongoing conditions and circumstances.

Question 50

Traditionally, police culture has not looked favorably upon officers who seek psychological services.

Question 51

The research is clear, early death is more common among police officers than members of other comparable groups.

Question 52

Research suggests that increased levels of social support are consistently related to decreased levels of perceived stress.

Question 53

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, policing ranks first among occupations in regard to fatal injuries on the job.

Question 54

Most "on the job" deaths in policing are the result of homicides.

Question 55

If the definition of danger includes homicides, other fatal injuries on the job, as well as non-fatal injuries, the police occupation would be rated as a more dangerous job compared to other occupations.

Question 56

Explain what stress is and provide at least two examples of stressors.

Question 57

Discuss the difficulties associated with measuring police stress.

Question 58

Identify the workplace problems that are most often associated by police officers as stressful.

Question 59

Assess why shift work is potentially stressful for officers.

Question 60

Identify what actions could be taken to minimize the negative effects associated with working night shift.

Question 61

Define "burnout" and name one way you think police officers could try to prevent burnout.

Question 62

Identify post-traumatic stress disorder and why one should work on minimizing its negative effects.

Question 63

Identify and discuss the four types of physical hazards to police officers.

Question 64

Address why it is difficult to accurately assess the danger those in policing face.

Question 65

Evaluate trends in officers feloniously killed in the line of duty as opposed to those accidentally killed.

Question 66

Evaluate trends in officers assaulted in the line of duty.

Question 67

Please identify the four policing activities that increase the risk of injuries to officers.

Question 68

Discuss why making arrests increases the risk of police officers being injured.

Question 69

Discuss why foot pursuits increase the risk of injury to police officers.

Question 70

Define motor vehicle pursuits and identify what steps can be taken to reduce the risks associated with vehicle pursuits.