Help sought for police after combat

Help sought for police after combat
By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Police officers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are returning to duty with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder that law enforcement and mental health authorities fear could put their judgment and public safety at risk.
The USA's largest organization of police chiefs is developing a national strategy to assist returning officers, citing worries that prolonged exposure to combat could make it harder for police to follow strict regulations on the use of lethal force in civilian life.
"This is about trying to save careers," says Jim McMahon, chief of staff for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
CONCERNS RAISED: Reservists back in police jobs raise concerns
A survey last month of 103 psychologists across the USA who treat public safety officers found 16% were counseling those who had returned from combat zones, says Stephen Curran, a Maryland psychologist who conducted the survey and counsels officers.
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