For Police, Stress Can Boil Over -- Crimes, Hartford County

[Concerned in CT]

When I first heard this story on TV and the delay with the results, I knew the Officer did something to himself. My husband just said it was standard procedure but I figured if someone was shot by someone else, it would be pretty clear of that fact once the autopsy was done. I'm sure there were signs but of course, those close to him probably just shrugged it off as him being upset about his children being gone or maybe he was tired from working double shifts - excuses other than what were truly happening. It really doesn't matter who you are, sometimes, children and adults just get so frustrated, they either do harm to themselves or decide someone else has to pay for their pain. While this is a sad situation, I'm glad that no other lives were lost.

[lejos]

its no big deal if a usa police gets shot---they are bullies who enforce bad usa type laws-- its no ones business what goes on between a husband & a wife--least of all--some usa feminist or police type---usa police are well known to be the biggest drunk drivers---they sleep with other mens wives & girl friends--& arrest the husbands & boyfriends or threaten false charges if they are caught--no one cares about these corrupt polce--or their stupid wives

[Money talks]

John B wrote:

<quoted text>
That's partially true.
From day one at the Academy they are taught that the 'citizens' are the most important people in the world: that it is they who pay their salaries: that you are nothing but a well-paid servant of the people, and the Police Admin, and especially, the politicians who sign that paycheck.
So you strap on the gunbelt and the EMS equipment, start the cruiser and drive out looking for people to help.
Soon, you are confronted with the reality that there are 'citizens' out there who hate you - and you haven't even met them. Some of them hate you so much that they will beat you, or even shoot you, if you abuse their 'citizenship'.(Or when they get older, they come on forums like this one and hurl insults at the cops they couldn't deal with when they were being naughty).
After a while - some longer than others, you begin to see that not quite all 'citizens' are worth protecting - that they are carrying newer and better weapons than you are and nobody seems to care.
If you dare arrest one, or God forbid, shoot one in defense of your life, you are quickly abandoned and hung out to dry.
With all this, is it any wonder that some police officers become 'aggressive' rather than act like a dutiful slave? And worse, as probably in Officer Morelli's case,- it becomes impossible to balance the two, and then the servant opts out.

I meant no criticism. I understand that the officers are under stress and that they are trained to keep their emotions in check and to stay detached from the issues they face every day. To me, it's a recipe for disaster in terms of the officers' mental health and personal safety. What is the answer? What can be done?

[Greatest Dane]

Your statements make about as much sense as saying everyone on AOL is a pedophile. Only a person with little or no common sense would paint any group with a broad paint brush. Next time you need the police call one of your homeys.

lejos wrote:

its no big deal if a usa police gets shot---they are bullies who enforce bad usa type laws-- its no ones business what goes on between a husband & a wife--least of all--some usa feminist or police type---usa police are well known to be the biggest drunk drivers---they sleep with other mens wives & girl friends--& arrest the husbands & boyfriends or threaten false charges if they are caught--no one cares about these corrupt polce--or their stupid wives

[John B]

Money talks wrote:

<quoted text>
I meant no criticism. I understand that the officers are under stress and that they are trained to keep their emotions in check and to stay detached from the issues they face every day. To me, it's a recipe for disaster in terms of the officers' mental health and personal safety. What is the answer? What can be done?

I know you didn't criticize. I apologize if yout hought I was being critical.

To your question: not much.

If the officer holds all those fears and personal problems inside, he actually will become a ticking time-bomb because remember, he is facing some pretty horrible events every day he's on the job, in addition to those other problems. They just keep comin' at you.

[Money talks]

John B wrote:

<quoted text>
I know you didn't criticize. I apologize if yout hought I was being critical.
To your question: not much.
If the officer holds all those fears and personal problems inside, he actually will become a ticking time-bomb because remember, he is facing some pretty horrible events every day he's on the job, in addition to those other problems. They just keep comin' at you.

John, what kind of work schedules do cops work, not counting OT? 5 days on and 2 off? Or something different?

[Zeets]

Money talks wrote:

<quoted text>
I meant no criticism. I understand that the officers are under stress and that they are trained to keep their emotions in check and to stay detached from the issues they face every day. To me, it's a recipe for disaster in terms of the officers' mental health and personal safety. What is the answer? What can be done?

The answer is the departments must have outings, sessions, whatever it takes to allow the Officers to blow off steam. And they should not wait for the Officer to ask for help. There should be some kind of questionaire or monthly seminars. These people are human beings!

[John B]

Money talks wrote:

<quoted text>
John, what kind of work schedules do cops work, not counting OT? 5 days on and 2 off? Or something different?

My son is a CT State Trooper and he is 5 on and 3 off. But being married and the father of two girls, a homeowner, he has to work a good deal of OT or PJ's.(Private duty jobs).

Hartford PD is mostly 5 on 2 off - with the shifts 8-4, 10-6, 4-12, 6-2, 12-8.

The Unions usually bargain for shift changes and such.

One of the problems with work hours, is that most of these guys are fiercely devoted to their assigned district. They often complain that after their 2 days off the area has "gone to hell", the "car is dirty", etc.

The stress and pressure to "protect" your district is enormous. It's one of the few ways a cop can be 'judged' on his effectiveness.

[Pay Attention]

Kathleen M Dickson wrote:

<quoted text>
And you're a certified coward.
Making you a certified CT resident.
Kathleen M. Dickson

Are you not a resident of CT as well? If you hate it here so much then why don't you move somewhere more desirable?

[RISING STAR]

John B wrote:

<quoted text>
I suspect you are friends with Mr. Simpson Star. It's a shame because a long time ago when he first started at the Courant, I would write to him regarding his work, but was finding that he seemed to slant everything towards the "black experience", and almost always, something positive about it.
I called him on it and suggested that he tackle more pressing needs in the black community, if that's all he was going to write about, and, of course, I became a racist.
Since then he has gotten worse. Positive stories on "Upper Albany" or the "Rising Star", but not a word on the causes of the crime rate, the education gap, the violence among kids in the northend, unless ... unless, it was positive.
It is the culture of violence, irresponsibility, unaccountability, loss of personal values and a tendency towards violence as a solution, sometimes to the most ludicrous of challenges, that he needs to focus on. As a leader and prominent figure in the community, he could do some good, but he chooses not to. He does, however, pounce on any negative police issue he can find.
The Courant has more than its share of liberal writers and even a silly cartoonist. It doesn't need one more.

JB - I can understand some of what you say...but, do you expect the editor of the Hartford Courant, or a caucasian businessman, or the Governor, or anyone else white that I can think of to run around putting out fires? That's not fair in your thinking that this one man has to do the bidding of all that you as a white man want. Don't put that responsibility on him, just I can't say all whites are prejudiced or ignorant of the Black experience. That's my itch in a nutshell.

[JBC]

Not sure what you mean by "whites running around putting out fires".(?)

Simpson doesn't have to do my bidding or anyone else's, but as a reporter and 'opinionator', he has some obligation to inspire, be credible and put his money (efforts) where his mouth is.

He won't, because he chooses to ignore the problem.