Why is it that police officers have the highest rate of alcoholism, spousal abuse, suicide, and divorce?
Posted by: Alan in alcoholism treatment, tags: Abuse, Alcoholism, Divorce, highest, officers, Police, rate, spousal, Suicide
Question by : Why is it that police officers have the highest rate of alcoholism, spousal abuse, suicide, and divorce?
I am considering pursuing a career in law enforcement but after having done a little bit of research and talking to a couple of police officers it seems that law enforcement personnel are plagued with alcoholism, spousal abuse, suicide, and divorce. Supposedly their rates for these four categories are higher than the national average. What can explain for these trends and how stressful and fun is a career in law enforcement.. (I would preferably like responses from current or former police officers but anyone is welcome to answer. Please state whether you are involved in law enforcement)
Best answer:
Answer by Bruce
I have not seen a single statistic to support your claims of alcoholism and abuse. If you have one, please post it.
I have seen a statistic on divorce that puts police at 60%. This may seem high, but the average for the entire US is 55%, so it is only slightly higher. You can probably account the extra 5% simply to working holidays, weekends, and lots of overtime.
Suicide has always been high in the police profession due to the stress, long hours, shift work, high expectations, and the fact they see the worst of society on a daily basis.
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July 26th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
My experience deals with enforcing state alcohol laws and FAA regulations but I shall focus on the enforcement of laws at my liquor store. I suspect that it would have to do with dealing with the worst kind of humanity. Everyday I have to deal with alcoholics who use every sob story to get booze and I must keep them from getting intoxicated or violent. Then I must deal with every single person with suspicion that they might rob me or steal from my store, I learned to trust no one when an old woman stole $50.00 worth of gin from me. Finally, I have noticed that dealing with the personality types, and sheer mass of negative people, drives me and my employees to hate (literally hate) humanity by the end of our shifts. It is the interaction with the worst kinds of people that drives those who have to enforce the rules of our society to such personal choices.
July 26th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Because of the pressure that is put on them everyday, and most spouses do not understand what exactly their husband of in some cases wife do?
They do not understand having to work holidays, midnights, getting called at all hours of the day and night, Having to cancel plans because of court, or other emergencies that happen at the last minute.
Not being home for holidays, birthdays also plays into it.
Alcoholism for some (not all) is caused by the stress of the job. If you respond to a call to quickly you are over zealous, if you don’t respond fast enough your not doing your job. Police officers see death from murder, self inflicted wounds and natural causes. I don’t know about you, but seeing a baby that has been raped and killed does not make for a good day, nor does any death that is caused by another. Arriving on a scene of an auto accident and seeing an entire family killed because of a 18 year old drunk driver who does not even have a scratch on him, has an effect, and some officers drink to try to remove these memories. Not saying that is the way to do it, but many do. Wives want to know what happened during your shift and then get upset with you when you say “I don’t want to talk about it”
Spousal abuse? I don’t think it is anymore common in police officers than any other profession
Suicide, Some officers as well as in every other profession just have problems that they don;t know how to get rid of. Teachers, postal people, lawyers, suicide in every profession is there, it is just that when a police officer does it, it makes the news because he did it because he was hiding something, and he felt he would get caught
July 26th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Well, I myself don’t know where you are getting your info from, BUT I will say this is NOT accurate.
Alcoholics, Yes there are some, But there are less cops who are than the rest of the population.
Spousal abuse, Again Yes there is some, but not all that many. I mean a cops KNOWS first hand that if he gets abusive he is subject to arrest as anyone else is. He is arrested (and convicted) He LOSES his job.
Suicide, No. Vary few and far between does a cop become suicidal. During my career I had only heard of a few. BUT None were in my area.
Divorce, Again Many people get divorced. NOT just cops.
I myself am divorced. BUT I got divorced while I was in the Marines.
I was NEVER and will NEVER be abusive.
Suicide, Nah, I got better things to do.
Divorce, Nah I AM married, but my first divorce cost me EVERYTHING.
July 26th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
people do not respect the law enough… people don’t respect police officers. they hate them… call them pigs… based on a few bad cops. i have the up-most respect for them. look what they have to go through.