To Those Who Serve

Chapter 3: Stay in the Fight

You are surrounded by voices within your ranks and the public at large reminding you that now is the most difficult time in history to be in law enforcement. This may very well be the case. A day no longer exists in which we are able to turn on the television without hearing of a brother or sister being killed in the line of duty. You are torn by the tragedy. You seek to honor their leadership, heroism, and sacrifice. You mourn for their families and vow to learn more, train harder, and do everything in your power to protect those you hold most dear.

The challenges you face as a law enforcement officer seem to be at an all-time high. You recognize there are dangers at every turn and as a result, you remain in a constant state of alertness. Many of you struggle to turn off the “survival mindset”, even after the shift ends. You bring it home with you, and sometimes it causes you to push away from others; family and friends included. Your instincts serve you well as a protector, but they also weigh on you. The effects your job can have on you are endless. To call it stress only scratches the surface. Many of you deal with depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Being the strong person you are, you do not feel you can let anyone else in. You can handle it on our own, or so you try and convince yourself. At this point you reach the danger zone.

Some of the highest rates of suicide are found amongst law enforcement officers and the military. This is not news to those of you who pay attention-you are taught it almost every year during annual in-service training. In fact, the suicide rates are much higher than the rates at which officers are killed. So why is it that you don’t spend as much time and effort learning about ways to combat depression and anxiety? You are afraid to be vulnerable. You cannot talk about your feelings because that simply is not what those like you do; or you think it makes you look weak. You know exactly what it means to stay in the fight on the job. But do you know how to do so after you go home?

If you consult scripture here, the apostle Paul takes a different look at the fight. In his letter to Timothy, Paul calls Timothy to “Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). Paul has just warned Timothy to flee from the love of money, which is the root of all kinds of evils (1 Timothy 6:10). Paul is urging Timothy to view his life as a fight for his faith, a war being waged over the fate of his soul. He encourages Timothy to press on, to stay in the fight, the fight of faith. As followers of Christ, we are also called to remain engaged in this spiritual battle, throughout our lifetime.

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”- 1 Timothy 6:10-12

On Duty

We know that the dangers of depression and suicide among law enforcement officers is an epidemic, but what can we do? I am not arguing we all need to huddle in a circle around a campfire and confess our insecurities and feelings (although perhaps an agency may adopt this idea). I do however think it is vital to begin cultivating climates which encourage discussion around this topic. Smaller groups tend to allow for more openness and minimize the fear of speaking on sensitive topics.

Regular, scheduled meetings to discuss the struggles and stresses of the job are a great place to start. I personally find it more beneficial to have this group consist of friends outside of law enforcement. Now I can already hear the objections formulating in your minds-they cannot understand exactly what we are going through right? No, they may not be able to resonate with every detail of our jobs, but I think we will be surprised at how healthy and healing it is to share with those outside our ranks. I cannot overemphasize how vital it is to have friends outside of law enforcement. Perhaps a chapter dedicated to this topic is warranted, but the point is to get away from the job when you are not on duty. If all of your friends are in law enforcement, then you undoubtedly speak mainly about the job.

I hope this is already understood, but in case I have been too vague up to this point, this is a group with an established trust. This is a group of trusted friends, family, or church members. They have our best interest and we theirs. Ask around at your local church, even if you aren’t a member, and you will more than likely find that these groups not only exist but are already meeting regularly. Don’t sit on the sidelines because it is easy. Get involved. Get in the fight.