A Police Officer Stress Study: Sources, Impacts, and Supportive Organizational Policies and Programs

This conference workshop presentation discusses how occupational stress represents a severe threat to police officers' wellness and safety. Understanding and managing officer stress are essential due to the increasing complexities that shape police work. Based on responses to qualitative questions in a survey of a United States state police agency's officers, this study analyzes and synthesizes sources and consequences of occupational stress described by both female and male officers. Three major themes emerged: organizational challenges, the emotional impacts of being an officer, and the effects of stress on the officers' support network. This presentation concludes with model resiliency practices and programs/policies to assist officers, organizations, and their families in mitigating stress, burnout, and work-family conflict.

Jennifer D. Griffin, Captain, PhD

Captain / Ph.D.

Delaware State Police / University of Delaware

Captain Jennifer D. Griffin, Ph.D. is a Patrol Operations Commander and Chair of the Employee Wellness Unit for the Delaware State Police, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Delaware (U.D.), a certified Performance Coach, Yoga Alliance RYT 200 Yoga Instructor, and a Performance and Mental Training Coach for the U.D. Div. 1 Women’s Field Hockey Team. She has over 21 years of law enforcement experience in a variety of assignments and ranks. She has a Doctorate from the University of Delaware Sociology / Criminal Justice Department, where she currently teaches four classes. Captain Griffin is a peer-reviewed author and presents nationally and internationally to include: The United States of America, China, Taiwan, and Canada. She is an F.B.I. National Academy Associates Training Committee member & Comprehensive Officer Resiliency Program Master Instructor, and a recognized Resiliency Subject Matter Expert with the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC). She is also a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy graduate of Session 268, United States Secret Service Dignitary Protection Seminar, and the I.A.C.P. Leadership in Police Organizations (L.P.O.) Program. She has presented numerous times at both the I.A.C.P. Annual Conference and the I.A.C.P. Officer Safety and Wellness Symposium.

Components visible upon registration.