Question 1

Officer Brown had a difficult time going back to his job as a police officer after witnessing his partner get shot; he felt intense feelings of fear and helplessness and continuously thought about the shooting. It appears Officer Brown is suffering from

Accepted Answer

Officer Brown is experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, which can occur after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. He is struggling with intense emotions related to the shooting and is having difficulty returning to his job as a police officer.

Question 2

Officer Davidson addressed the stressors related to his job through smoking and drinking too much alcohol. Such _______ strategies are harmful means to address stress.

Accepted Answer

Avoidance strategies involve ignoring or avoiding the stressor, which can provide temporary relief but ultimately does not address the source of the stress. Using harmful coping mechanisms like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption falls under avoidance strategies, and can have negative long-term consequences for physical and mental health. Action-oriented strategies involve taking active steps to address the stressor, while smoothing-focused strategies aim to reduce tension and conflict in social situations. Deterrence strategies involve taking steps to prevent stressors from occurring in the first place.

Question 3

Which of the following reflects the research findings regarding police officers and drug abuse and alcohol use disorders?

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently found that police officers are at a higher risk than the general public for both drug abuse and alcohol use disorders. Factors such as exposure to traumatic events, shift work, and access to substances may contribute to this increased risk. However, it is important to note that not all police officers engage in substance abuse and many departments have implemented policies and programs aimed at preventing and addressing substance abuse among officers.

Question 4

Which of the following reflects the research findings regarding police officers and domestic violence?

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently found that police officers have higher rates of domestic violence compared to the general public. This may be attributed to factors such as exposure to violence, stress, and the normalization of violence within police culture.

Question 5

Which of the following provides funding to police departments that adopt protocols that address domestic violence cases involving police officers?

Accepted Answer

The Crystal Judson Domestic Violence Protocol Program provides funding to police departments that adopt protocols that address domestic violence cases involving police officers. The other options listed do not exist or do not have any known association with funding for police departments regarding domestic violence involving officers.

Question 6

The Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban, which is often called the _______ Amendment, bans access to firearms by individuals who are convicted of domestic violence.

Accepted Answer

The Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban is often referred to as the Lautenberg Amendment, after its sponsor, Senator Frank Lautenberg.

Question 7

Which of the following would be considered a critical warning sign that an officer may be considering suicide?

Accepted Answer

Giving away personal items can be a warning sign that an individual is considering suicide. This behavior may indicate that they are trying to tie up loose ends and make arrangements before ending their life. It is important for friends, family, and colleagues to be aware of this warning sign and to intervene if possible. The other choices are not necessarily warning signs of suicide.

Question 8

Stress cannot be beneficial.

Accepted Answer

While excessive stress can have negative effects, moderate levels of stress can actually be beneficial by improving focus, motivation, and productivity. This is known as "eustress."

Question 9

The harmful effects of policing include stressful situations that can result in psychological and physical harm.

Accepted Answer

Policing can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and physical harm such as injuries sustained on duty or exposure to contagious diseases. These harmful effects can impact not only the individual officer but also their families and the communities they serve.

Question 10

Female officers face several unique stressors compared to male officers.

Accepted Answer

Female officers may face gender-based discrimination, bias, and harassment, which can add to their stress levels. They may also face challenges balancing work and family responsibilities, such as pregnancy and parenting, which can add to their stress levels.

Question 11

Officers who use alcohol and drugs generally do so for the same reasons as civilians: for recreational purposes and to cope with problems.

Accepted Answer

Officers are not immune to the same issues and stressors that civilians face, and may turn to alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism or for recreational purposes.

Question 12

The research literature is very clear in stating that police officers are more likely than those in other occupations to experience health-related problems due to the lifestyle of the officers, and not the stress involved with the position.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that police officers experience health-related problems due to both the stress involved with the position and the lifestyle associated with the job.

Question 13

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that protective services (including police officers) are among the occupations with the lowest levels of suicide.

Accepted Answer

Protective services, including police officers, are often reported to have higher levels of suicide compared to other occupations due to job-related stress and exposure to traumatic events.

Question 14

Police officers have increasingly taken advantage of suicide support programs, and departments have encouraged officers to report critical warning signs in other officers.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true, as reported by various news sources and studies. Police departments have been implementing suicide prevention programs and urging their officers to seek help and report concerning behavior in their colleagues.

Question 15

Identify and discuss the various categories of police stress. Now, assume you are a police chief and want to best address stress in your department. What would you do to confront the issues within each of these categories?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify and discuss the various categories of...

Question 16

Discuss how substance abuse, family problems, health problems, and suicide impact policing. Are officers particularly susceptible to these issues? If so, why? If not, why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss how substance abuse, family problems, health...

Quiz 13: Personal Toll of Police Work