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Don’t Let the Holidays Fizzle Your Physical Fitness Regimen

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By Leischen Stelter, editor of In Public Safety

November is the time of the year when health regimens tend to get tossed aside in favor of all the preparations and indulgences that go along with the upcoming holiday season. But for public safety professionals, being in good physical shape is not an option. Whether you’re a police officer, firefighter, intelligence analyst, emergency manager, or emergency medical professional, your physical health and strength are critical to your job performance.

Physical Health_TreadmillWe all know it’s not easy to keep physical health a top priority. Many public safety professionals work long hours and alternating shifts, which leads to irregular sleep patterns, poor eating habits, and minimal time for exercise. But not taking the time to focus on your physical health through exercise and eating habits can be detrimental to your career and impede your job performance.

So this month, In Public Safety, asked faculty members, staff, alumni, and students with public safety backgrounds to write about strategies for maintaining physical health. Many faculty members reported that focusing on exercise and strength-building were not only important for their physical health, but also for their mental wellbeing. Exercise was another way to help them cope with the stress of their profession and keep them mentally focused and fit.

Below are articles to inspire and guide public safety professionals to keep physical health a high priority now and throughout their entire career.

Ginny HaddockPhysical Health for Strong Critical Thinking Skills

AMU’s Ginny Haddock writes about how physical health is particularly essential to intelligence professionals. It could be the difference between making an accurate judgement at a critical moment or not.

 

Shana nicholson_FireTruck_pic_SMBeyond the Scene: Focus on Exercise and Hobbies to Lower Stress

Firefighting and public safety careers are stressful professions and those who work in public safety must adopt positive coping skills. AMU professor Dr. Shana Nicholson writes about the importance of maintaining outside hobbies and focusing on physical fitness to help manage stress.

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Getting to the Heart of Issues Behind Mass Shootings

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After the deadly shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, a very intelligent friend of mine posted a question on social media that got me thinking. He asked: “When are Americans going to do something about their angry 20-year-old white men with guns?” While such tragedies continue to incite the debate about gun control, it is important to remember that a gun is just a tool and such horrific incidents are perpetrated by people of all races. But there are common threads in many of these mass shootings, namely religion and mental illness. So how can average citizens help prevent such incidents? Start in your own community. Here’s how.

Correctional Officers Are Killing Themselves

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The suicide rate among correctional officers is significantly higher than other occupations and twice as high as police officers. Yet, the topic of suicide and the stressors contributing to suicide are rarely discussed. AMU professor Michael Pittaro recently presented to correctional representatives from 14 southern states about suicide awareness and the need for a change in leadership style.

Unequal Disciplinary Actions for Officers After Shooting Deaths

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In recent months, the news has been rife with stories about police officers shooting and killing civilians. While each incident has unique aspects, there are also commonalities. One question that remains unanswered by the law enforcement community is: If an investigation finds no criminal behavior by the victim, should disciplinary action be taken against the officer(s)? AMU professor Gary Minor examines this question and draws comparisons between two similar incidents that have very different outcomes for the officers involved.

Reach Out to Those Who Are Hurting

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Having been in law enforcement for many years, I have seen fellow police officers struggle with stress, financial problems, family life-changing events, time management issues, PTSD, and several other issues that affect their mental health. Whether you are a coworker or family member, we all must recognize the warning signs or symptoms of depression and distress and then help those who are impacted. In recognition of May as Mental Health Month, read more about common signs and symptoms of someone who may have a mental health condition.

Coping with the Stress of Police Work

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Police respond to a variety of difficult events, which can create a roller coaster of emotions. Research shows that officers who don’t manage their stress are prone to burnout, poor judgment, substance abuse, divorce, and suicide. Here are ways officers can look after their physical and mental health.

National Police Week: Honor ALL Those Who Died Serving

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Being a police officer has never been easy, but recent events have made it even more difficult to be an officer. Incidents like Ferguson and Baltimore have put officers and agencies under severe public scrutiny. These highly publicized events have served as a wake-up call for many agencies to enhance officer training, improve policies and procedures, and revitalize community relations.

The public cannot let these events overshadow the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice made by our nation’s law enforcement officers. May 10-16 is National Police Week 2015, a time to show gratitude for those officers who died on the job. It is also a time to thank current officers who continue to dedicate their lives to protecting our communities.

Walk to Raise Awareness of PTSD and Suicide Among Veterans

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By George Holmes
In Military Education, Guest Contributor

Currently, the Veterans Administration estimates that each day 22 veterans take their own lives, or over 8,000 annually. I personally know four veterans who have taken their own lives after losing a battle with PTSD. I decided to take action to help my fellow veterans who fought for this beautiful country defeat the demons of PTSD. I founded the Arooh Initiative to raise awareness that we are losing our nation’s heroes and they need our help.

Putting Experience to Work: The Value of a Formal Mentoring Program

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Law enforcement agencies around the country have gotten smarter about who they hire and how they nurture individuals throughout their careers. One tool that has been proven to meet both goals is the development of formal mentoring programs for officers. Such programs can help increase the retention of new officers, help develop healthier officers, and improve agency morale. Learn how the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) built its mentoring program, how it uses mentoring in its recruiting efforts, and how its program has helped lower officer discipline rates by 40 percent.

States Can Save Money Prioritizing Education Over Incarceration

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The U.S. has 5 percent of the world’s population, but 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. While spending on incarceration continues to increase, funding for education at every level—from Head Start to colleges and universities—continues to be cut each year. States now spend four times more per capita to incarcerate than to educate. Change must occur. Here’s how states could save money by prioritizing spending on education over incarceration.