Mental Health for Law Enforcement Anger Management (Excerpt)

Anger is an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation (the idiot texting while driving) to intense fury and rage (O.J.?). A little is normal, a lot is a problem. Anger is not unique to law enforcement. However, the unique stresses that law enforcement deal with on a daily basis puts them in a position to experience more stressors than the average person. A stressor can be: + the person you just pulled over calling you a racist + district attorney dropping a case you’ve worked long hours on + traffic fatality where a drunk killed an innocent child + your wife wanting you to spend more time with the family + your child’s upcoming college tuition + your sergeants demand for tickets (but there’s not a quota…honest!)

Domestic Violence rates with the law enforcement community are much higher than the general population. Two studies show that 40% of law enforcement households have experienced domestic violence. (Note: The study concluded that physical intimidation, or the threat of physical harm by person or weapon, was within the definition of domestic violence.) The general population experiences domestic violence at 10 – 13% of households. Why? Law enforcement are trained to use violence to gain compliance. Ready access to weapons Increased exposure to stressors Accustomed to commands being followed

- How to spot the abuser + Isolation: Abusers will isolate their victims socially and geographically. + Jealousy: Abusers will accuse victims of having affairs, label the victim a “whore” or “slut”. + Emotional Abuse: Belittle the victim in front of peer group. + Control: Abusers will micro-manage the victims life including what clothes are worn, where the victim goes, who the victim talks to, or access to money. Demanding of the victim to perform or serve the abuser. + Blaming: Abuser shifts responsibility to the victim. + Success Fantasies: The abuser feels that he/she would be successful if the victim was not “holding them back”.

+ Lying: Abusers will lie to cover up their actions of abuse. + Ownership: Abusers will refer to their victims as property. “She’ll do what I say because I own her.” + Vague: Abusers will refrain from involving details about their abusive relationships. “I had stuff to do.” or “Well, you know how it goes.” + Fragmentation: Abuser will fragment their abuse. On the job they may be super polite, but then rude toward their victim. + Over-Compensation: Abuser will feign indignation or anger toward other domestic violence situations to compensate for their own behavior or to “balance out” their actions. + Power Display: Hits the wall or themselves to display their power. This often happens immediately prior to an assault or when in public to avoid a witnessed assault.

Lautenberg Amendment is the federal law that prohibits certain domestic violence convicted persons from owning a firearm. “any person…who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor of domestic violence.” – 18 U.S.C § 922(g)(9) Key Elements: + It is retroactive to any conviction of domestic violence in any state + It only applies to misdemeanors + Convictions do include “nolo” pleas with conviction + Does not include pre-trial intervention, deferred adjudication or other alternative dispositions + Also prevents people with convictions from joining or staying in the military

Domestic Violence “has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent or guardian of the victim by a person whom the victim shares a child in common, cohabitating or has cohabitated with the victim as a parent, spouse or guardian or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent or guardian of the victim” + Parent (In-laws) + Guardian + Spouse + Cohabitate Partner + Similar relationship Doesn’t matter if it’s current or a past relationship.