Many people experience trauma in their lives, trauma that can have a lasting impact. Law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel experience trauma on a regular basis. While we expect police and EMTs to meet a standard of physical fitness and health in order to do their jobs efficiently, we pay little attention to their mental health.
If there is an incident, then an agency may force an officer to meet with a counselor or a psychologist, yet unless we’re forced to do so because of some tragedy we just don’t seem to care. Our law enforcement and emergency services personnel do very difficult jobs, and if we want them to do their jobs better, then we need to do better by them. It's just common sense.
In Oregon there’s an effort to do just that. This session, State Senator Lew Frederick has introduced SB1531, legislation that would require that law enforcement personnel visit with a psychologist or mental health professional every two years. It’s not for cause, it’s not a punishment, it’s just a visit. On this week's installment of Prison Pipeline, we look at this sensible idea to improve the mental health fitness and the performance of law enforcement.
- KBOO