Cop-shock and awful

We all know about the National Guards and Reservists being deployed into Iraq and Afghanistan, over and over again, while we expect them to just go back to work in between deployments. We know of the strain it puts on them and their families, their financial problems caused because they have to give up their incomes on their regular jobs and businesses, but what we don't talk about is when they are also cops.

From every state, the member of the National Guard and Reservists are coming in with PTSD rates hovering about 50%. A lot of them are cops, which in itself can cause PTSD depending on where they are from, the level of violence and other demographics. While some department heads are also veterans of combat, fully aware of the wounds caused by trauma, there are too many who are not aware at all. This is changing.

At the NAMI convention, while I found things to complain about, I also found much to be hopeful for. Since this was a mental health convention, privacy has to be protected. The person I spoke to regarding the cop/combat forces, shall be called "Spartan" until I have permission to tell his story fully. He's traveling back home today so hopefully, I can get his permission sometime this week. He's a fascinating man.

"Spartan" is head of a police department. He's fully invested in taking care of his men and very aware of the PTSD issue they are coming back with. He's making sure the rest of his department is trained to understand them as well as the people in their community they serve. Keep in mind, that when they become a cop, they do so with the same ideals of protecting and serving the same way the members of the regular military members do only they are going to war against criminals, placing their lives on the line on a daily basis. When they also happen to be members of the National Guard or Reserves, deployed into Iraq and Afghanistan, cycled back to their police uniform then cycled back into their combat gear, this adds to the stress they are under.

"Spartan" is fully aware of the sexual trauma in the military and he's doing what he can to learn more about it as well as what he can do for them. We spoke several times during the convention simply because the first time he saw me, he saw the IFOC badge from a distance and thought I was a cop as well. He wanted to learn as much as possible about teaching the people in his command as well as how to raise awareness in his community. "Spartan" has only been involved with this for less than a year and in that time he has learned a great deal. This was one of the most hopeful moments of the convention for me. He's so involved in this, I was surprised he has not been doing this work for years.

There are wonderful things being done in communities across the nation. Police commanders are opening their minds and their hearts to get not only their own into treatment for PTSD but are training their departments to respond with wisdom, being able to look at a "suspect" as a person in need of help or a person in need of jail.

Judges are now developing treatment programs instead of sending the wounded and mentally ill to jail where they are only cycled back to society and then back to jail with no one addressing their illness sending them into contact with the police in the first place. These judges are not just sending them into treatment, they are requiring the "defendant" to show they are doing what they are supposed to be doing, preparing probation officers to address these individuals differently when they do not report with the full knowledge of the mental health issues instead of criminal inclinations.

Taking an active, fully invested attitude is moving mountains within the police force itself and in these communities.

What is found is that the jails are no longer used to house the mentally ill. It is not only morally right, it is financially right as well. It is good use of tax payer funds to treat these people instead of locking them up.

As the awareness became an issue to address the needs of the cop/combat forces, it also raised awareness of the needs of the community. Judges and police officers are joining NAMI, not just to learn but to become advocates. Changes are happening and these are truly wonderful times we are entering.

I keep saying that I search daily for some positive news coming out. I get tired of posting problem after problem, heartache after heartache. It feels good to be able to post on something that is being done right. "Spartan" is a hero to me with what he's doing for his department and the community he lives in.

Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
International Fellowship of Chaplains
Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org
www.Woundedtimes.blogspot.com
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington