CHAPTER 1

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

A. Description of the crrent sit!tion
On January 16, 2005, at around 8:45 a.m., while Superintendent Odelardo
Magayane, the !"lan pro#in$ial poli$e $hie%, wa lea#ing the $athedral a%ter the
$ele&ration o% a ma on the o$$aion o% the 'ali&o !ti(!tihan )eti#al, hi &odyguard,
*oli$e O%%i$er + Jonathan Moreno uddenly gunned him down with an M16 !rmalite
ri%le. ,www.the%reeman.$om- .herea%ter, Moreno went on a hooting rampage that le%t
eight ,8- peron(i/ ,6- poli$emen and two ,2- $i#ilian dead and thirty(one ,01-
peron(i/ ,6- poli$emen and twenty(%i#e ,25- $i#ilian wounded ,Senate 1ommittee
2eport 3o.88-
+n a letter purportedly written &y a %riend o% *O1 Moreno, addreed to the
1ommittee on *u&li$ Order and +llegal 4rug, 5uoted:
6+ wa ho$"ed when + heard %rom the new that *oli$e O%%i$er Jonathan Moreno,
a &odyguard o% Magayane, wa "illed &y reponding poli$e o%%i$er. + 7ut don8t "now
what went wrong with John. May&e, too mu$h paranoia, la$" o% pea$e o% mind. + did not
e/pe$t that it will end up li"e thi $onidering John8 ideal and a$$omplihment in li%e,
the ret i hitory.9
.he Senate in#etigation o% the !ti(atihan hooting wa $ondu$ted in aid o%
legilation. .he in#etigation alo re#ealed eriou iue $on$erning the hooting
rampage. )irt, *3* inter#iew with *O1 Moreno8 %ather re#ealed that when Moreno
went home in 3egro during the 1hritima &rea", he told hi &rother that he %elt
threatened and that he wanted to &e tran%erred to 3egro to a#oid a $ertain *O0 :aguna,
uppoedly a poli$e o%%i$er under the payroll o% 'im 1uadra, a drug lord arreted &y *O1
Moreno prior to the in$ident.
Se$ond, the pro&lem with hi %amily, re$ruitment and promotion whi$h $ould
ha#e aggra#ated Moreno8 mental tate. +t hould &e noted that *O1 Moreno paed the
neuro(py$hiatri$ e/amination when he wa re$ruited to the *3*.
.he u&e5uent %inding o% the initial in#etigation o% .a" )or$e 'ali&o headed
&y $hie% *3* 4ire$tor !rturo :omi&ao re#ealed that *O1 Moreno wa u%%ering %rom an
6a$ute py$hoti$ &rea"down9. *oli$e py$hiatrit ha#e diagnoed *O1 Moreno o% the
aid mental illne &aed on inter#iew with witnee and hi &eha#ioral pattern &e%ore
he went on a hooting rampage. ,www.new%lah.org-
.he %o$u on the mental illne o% *O1 Moreno a the ole reaon on why he went
on a hooting rampage on January 16, 2005 in 'ali&o, !"lan i mipla$ed. .he
$ir$umtan$e urrounding the deultory hooting $ommitted &y *O1 Moreno, a
eta&lihed &y the initial %inding o% the *3* in#etigation and preented during the
January 24, 2005 hearing, re#eal that hi unta&le mental $ondition prior to and during
the in$ident wa the reult o% hi per$ei#ed threat $oming %rom hi %ellow poli$e o%%i$er
*O0 :aguna and S*O0 ;ela$o. *3* in#etigation %urther eta&lihed that *O0 :aguna
and S*O0 ;ela$o are a$ting on &ehal% o% Joe 'im 1uadra, a upe$ted drug lord. +t wa
eta&lihed that *O0 :aguna wa o%%ering &ri&e money to *O1 Moreno and *O1 4ia< %or
them to retra$t their tetimonie againt 1uadra. =ut *O1 Moreno and *O1 4ia< re%ued
to a$$ept the &ri&e money.
*age 2 o% 41
.he u$$eeding paragraph are ta"en %rom the )irt 2eport o% the +n$ident and
+n#etigation and 2e#iew 1ommittee on the !ugut 20, 2010 2i<al *ar" >otage .a"ing
in$ident more than ten ,10- year a%ter the !ti(!tihan hooting rampage.
.he >ong 'ong tour group held hotage &y *oli$e +npe$tor ,1aptain- 2olando
4. Mendo<a inide the >ong .hai tour &u on !ugut 20, 2010 in %ront o% the ?uirino
@randtand along the +ndependen$e !#enue o% 2i<al *ar" $onited o% three %amilie, two
$ouple, a mother and daughter, and the tour leader.
.he :AB3@ %amily $onited o% the 58 yr. old %ather :AB3@ 'am(wing ,'en-,
the 40 r. old mother 3@ Cau(woon ,!my-, a 21 yr. old daughter :AB3@ 1hung(ee, and
18 yr. old on :AB3@ Song(/ue ,Jaon-, and a 14 yr. old daughter :AB3@ Song(yi
,Jeie-. ! the end o% the tour, !my will loe her hu&and and two daughter, and will &e
le%t with a $omatoe on.
.he )B %amily $onited o% the 0D yr. old )B 1heu"(yan, the 40 yr. old mother
.ang Cee(lai, a 10 yr. old on )B 1ha"(yin, and a 4 yr. old daughter )B 1hung(yin. !
the end o% the tour, e#ery one o% the )B %amily will &e releaed e/$ept %or the %ather, who
will die trying to a#e the ret o% the tour group %rom a mad hotage(ta"er.
.he EO3@ %amily $onited o% the 51 yr. old %ather EO3@ .<e(lam, the 44 yr.
old mother CAB3@ Cee(wa, the 45 yr, old iter in law, CAB3@ Cee("am, the 15 yr. old
daughter EO3@ 1heu"(yu ,.ra$ey-, and the 12 yr. old on EO3@ 1hing(yat ,Jaon-. !t
the end o% the tour, the EO3@ i&ling will &e orphan.
.he mother and daughter duo o% 66 yr. old :O 'am()un and 06 yr. old :AA
Cing($huen will &oth ur#i#e.
*age 0 o% 41
.he elderly :+ $ouple, F2 yr. old :+ Ci$"(&iu and 66 yr.old :+ .SB+ )ung("wan
will &e &oth releaed.
.he $ouple, 46 yr. old 1>!3 'wo"($hu ,Joe- and 04 yr old C+' Siu(ling, will
&oth ur#i#e &ut hea#ily in7ured.
.he tour leader 01 yr. old .SA .ing($hunn ,Maa- will re$ei#e the %irt &ullet
%rom the hotage ta"er.
.he hotage ta"er, 1aptain 2olando 4. Mendo<a died o% multiple gun hot
wound.
.he 2eport did not in#etigate the mind %rame o% the hotage ta"er at the time o%
the hotage ta"ing nor did it preent %a$t regarding the pro&lem o% 1aptain Mendo<a, a
de$orated poli$e o%%i$er, whi$h may ha#e triggered the in$ident. .he only "nown reaon
%or hi a$tion wa hi dimial %rom a$ti#e duty.
.he a&o#e data are only two o% the reported iue urrounding the py$hologi$al
well(&eing o% poli$e o%%i$er on a$ti#e duty. .hee are %a$t that reulted in many Senate
and >ouing +n#etigation, uppoedly in aid o% legilation, adly, aide %rom 2epu&li$
!$t 8551G no law ha &een paed regarding the iue on py$hologi$al e#aluation o%
poli$e o%%i$er on a$ti#e duty.
B. "cope !n# "e$erit% of the Pro&'e(
.hi tudy, $ondu$ted during the $hool year 2010(2011, %o$ued parti$ularly on
the igni%i$ant e%%e$t o% the $riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent in the peronal li%e and
per%orman$e le#el o% =atanga *3* O%%i$er. .hi i alo in relation to 2epu&li$ !$t 8551
where the *3* organi<ation through a 3!*O:1OM a$$redited go#ernment hopital
*age 4 o% 41
hall $ondu$t regular py$hiatri$, py$hologi$al drug and phyi$al tet randomly and
without noti$e.
+n order to gather pertinent data, a ur#ey among the poli$e o%%i$er in the
*ro#in$e o% =atanga wa $ondu$ted. Se$ondary in%ormation $ome %rom reear$h
material li"e &oo" and 7ournal o% imilar $ontent.
.he *hilippine 3ational *oli$e i under enormou preure a%ter the ?uirino
=lood&ath where the hotage(ta"er wa a de$orated poli$e o%%i$er digruntled o#er hi
dimial %rom the er#i$e there&y %or%eiting all &ene%it due him. .he in$ident, whi$h
hould ha#e &een an iolated one, wa enationali<ed due to the hotage who were
tourit %rom 1hina and >ong"ong. .he mihandling o% the in$ident &y *3* O%%i$er le%t
numerou hotage dead and the whole *3* Organi<ation and the $ountry a well with
wounded image.
T!&'e 1
1riti$al +n$ident and .raumati$ A#ent A/perien$ed &y the *oli$e O%%i$er
Critic!' )nci#ents Fre*enc% Percent
>otage .a"ing 5 12.82
>ighly *ro%iled Media A#ent 4 10.25
*oliti$al !aination 5 12.82
4rug(related 1ae 04 8F.18
1om&at Situation 12 00.FF
1ar(7a$"ing D 20.FF
4eath o% a 1hild 5 12.82
2ape 1ae 2D F4.06
Murder 1ae 00 F6.D2
Maa$re D 20.FF
=om&ing 10 25.64
.errorim 0 0
Sui$ide D 20.FF
'idnapping 8 20.51
Tot!' 20 100.00
*age 5 o% 41
.a&le 1 preent the $riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent that the poli$e o%%i$er
e/perien$ed in the line o% duty. .he $riti$al in$ident in the ta&le a&o#e are #iolent a$t &y
$riminal apprehended &y poli$e o%%i$er. 4rug related $ae ha#e the mot num&er o%
repone with 8F.18H %ollowed &y murder $ae at F6.D2H and rape $ae at F4.06H.
3one o% the repondent e/perien$ed terrorim.
+n drug(related $ae, the arreting o%%i$er o% the arreted upe$t are uually
ta"en a witnee in $ourt againt the a$$ued. .he tetimony o% thee arreting o%%i$er
i #ery #ital to the proe$ution $ae a the guilt o% the a$$ued may &e eta&lihed there&y
a well a whether or not the law en%or$ement agen$y $omplied with the law in the arret
o% the a$$ued. .he importan$e o% the tetimony o% the arreting o%%i$er in drug(related
$ae e/plain the #ulnera&ility o% the witnee to preure, harament, intimidation,
and $orruption, %rom the a$$ued and their $ohort in the o$iety. .hi #ulnera&ility i
magni%ied three(%old i% the a$$ued ha the reour$e and $ommand a $ertain degree o%
politi$al in%luen$e in the o$iety. >en$e, there i a need to addre thi $on$ern not only
%or the wel%are o% the o$iety and well(&eing o% the $on$erned law en%or$ement o%%i$er
&ut alo their lo#ed one. ,Senate 1ommittee 2eport 3o.88-
.he $riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent that they ha#e e/perien$ed $an &e
$onidered relati#ely mild &ut thi doe not mean that it will not a%%e$t them in the near
%uture. .he a$$umulation o% thee $riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent o#er the year
will pro#e detrimental to their a&ility to $ope with u$h tre &e$aue it will ta"e it toll
no matter how mild thee $riti$al in$ident are.
*age 6 o% 41
T!&'e +
Most Co((on Fee'in,s of Po'ice Officers !fter e-periencin, Critic!'
)nci#ents !n# Tr!(!tic E$ents
)un$tion EM ;+ 2
He!#!ches 2.05 ! 1
Msc'e Aches 1.85 ! 0
"'eep Distr&!nces 1.8F ! 2
Ch!n,e# !ppetite 1.4D S 16
Decre!se# interest in se-!' !cti$it% 1.26 3 22
)(potence 1.00 S 21
An-iet% 1.6D S 5.5
Fe!r 1.6D S 5.5
Gi't 1.FF S 4
"!#ness 1.62 S 8.5
An,er 1.56 S 12.5
)rrit!&i'it% 1.5D S 10.5
Fee'in, 'ost !n# n!ppreci!te# 1.46 S 1F.5
.ith#r!/!' 1.56 S 12.5
De&i'it!tin, f'!sh&!c0s 1.62 S 8.5
Repe!te# $isions of the inci#ent 1.46 S 1F.5
Ni,ht(!res 1.64 S F
"'o/e# thin0in, 1.51 S 15
Diffic't% (!0in, #ecisions !n# so'$in, pro&'e(s 1.56 S 12.5
Disorient!tion 1.45 S 1D
L!c0 of concentr!tion 1.5D S 10.5
Me(or% '!pses 1.08 3 20
Tot!' 1.51 S
.a&le 2 how the repondent per$eption on their %eeling a%ter e/perien$ing
$riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent. !$$ording to py$hologit, the a&o#e %eeling are
mot $ommon %or thoe who ha#e 7ut &een through traumati$ e#ent. >eada$he i the
mot $ommon %eeling at a weighted mean o% 2.05 with a #er&al interpretation o% !lway
%ollowed &y leep ditur&an$e at a weighted mean o% 1.8F. 3e/t i mu$le a$he and guilt
with a weighted mean o% 1.85 and 1.FF repe$ti#ely, &oth with a #er&al interpretation o%
!lway. +n the &ottom o% the ta&le i the de$reaed interet in e/ual a$ti#ity at ran" 22.
.he poli$e o%%i$er reponded that they ometime %eel the ymptom o% tre
&rought a&out &y their e/poure to the $riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent. .hi i
already the %irt tage o% tre and without the proper inter#ention program o% the
*age F o% 41
leaderhip o% *3*G it will woren the already wore %eeling o% the mem&er o% the poli$e
%or$e.
T!&'e 1
De,ree of "i,nific!nce of the Effects of the Critic!' )nci#ents !n# Tr!(!tic
E$ents to the Le$e' of Perfor(!nce !n# Person!' Life of the Po'ice Officers in
B!t!n,!s Cit% PNP
A%%e$t EM ;+ 2
Sui$ide 1.F4 +S 16
)ailed Marriage 2.15 S 2
A/$ei#e ue o% al$ohol 2.21 S 1
4itan$ing oneel% %rom %amily and %riend 2.10 S 0
=e$oming o#erly needy and dependent 1.DF S F
=e$oming outrageouly demanding and impatient 1.8F S 10.5
1hroni$ %atigue and depreion 2.05 S 5.5
)aulty de$iion(ma"ing 1.D5 S 8.5
4i$iplinary pro&lem 2.08 S 4
A/$ei#e ue o% i$" lea#e 1.8F S 10.5
.ardine 2.05 S 5.5
On(the(7o& a$$ident 1.FD +S 15
1omplaint %rom $iti<en 1.10 +S 1D
>igh o%%i$er turno#er 1.D2 S 10.5
+n$reaed interperonal $on%li$t 1.D5 S 8.5
:ow morale 1.D2 S 10.5
:ow moti#ation 1.44 +S 18
!#oiding ta" 1.F2 +S 1F
Sta%% $on%li$t 1.D2 S 10.5
A2ERAGE 1.34 "
.a&le 0 how the per$eption o% the repondent regarding the le#el o%
igni%i$an$e o% the e%%e$t o% thee $riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent to their
per%orman$e and peronal li%e. .he data in the ta&le are the wor"(related and %amily
iue mot $ommon to poli$e o%%i$er. .he data re#eal that e/$ei#e ue o% al$ohol i at
ran" 1 with a weighted mean o% 2.21 and with a #er&al interpretation o% Signi%i$ant
%ollowed &y %ailed marriage with a weighted mean o% 2.15 at no.2 and with a #er&al
interpretation o% Signi%i$ant. On ran" 0 i ditan$ing oneel% %rom %amily and %riend with
a weighted mean o% 2.10 at a igni%i$ant #er&al interpretation. !nd the lat i $omplaint
%rom $iti<en with a weighted mean o% 1.10 at a #er&al interpretation o% +nigni%i$ant.
*age 8 o% 41
.he poli$e o%%i$er reponded that thee $riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent
ha#e already igni%i$ant e%%e$t to their peronal li%e and le#el o% per%orman$e. .hi
mean that the wore i yet to $ome i% thi will &e ta"en %or granted. .he gi#en e%%e$t are
already damaging %or omeone who i not in the poli$e %or$e. =ut $om&ine thee to the
power o% authority, not to mention the power o% the gunG thee will damage not only the
li%e o% the poli$e o%%i$er &ut alo the li%e o% the people around them.
.he a&o#e mentioned wor"(related e%%e$t o% tre and trauma to poli$e o%%i$er
are 7ut the %irt layer o% the pro&lem. .he deeper pro&lem lie in the drati$ a$tion o%
poli$e o%%i$er to #ent out their emotion that $aued li#e and tarnihed the reputation o%
the *3* organi<ation and the pea$e and e$urity o% the $ountry.
T!&'e 5
"i,nific!nt Re'!tionship &et/een the Le$e' of Re!ctions on Critic!' )nci#ents !n#
Tr!(!tic E$ents !n# )ts Effect on their Person!' Life !n# Perfor(!nce Le$e'.
31 32 30 34 M1 M2 M0 M4
+++ 4F 411 400 2.14 18.68 18.18
+; 24 1D8 251 248 1.26 10.42 10.21 10.05
.a&le 4 how i% there i a igni%i$ant relationhip &etween the le#el o% rea$tion
o% the repondent a%ter a $riti$al in$ident and it e%%e$t to the peronal li%e and peronal
li%e and per%orman$e le#el o% the repondent.
Bing <(tet, the margin or $riti$al o% error i et at 5H. .he $omputed S.A i 0H
and thi i le than the $riti$al error o% 5H whi$h upport the hypothei that there i a
igni%i$ant relationhip &etween the two $ompared #aria&leG the le#el o% rea$tion a%ter a
$riti$al in$ident and it e%%e$t to the peronal li%e and per%orman$e le#el o% the o%%i$er.
.here i a igni%i$ant relationhip &etween the le#el o% rea$tion o% the poli$e
o%%i$er to the $riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent and it e%%e$t to the peronal li%e
*age D o% 41
and le#el o% per%orman$e o% the repondent. !lthough little igni%i$an$e wa %ound, the
%a$t that there i a relationhip &etween the two and omehow, little &y little, thee i
ta"ing it toll on the poli$e o%%i$er, an a$tion %rom the leaderhip o% the %or$e will &e
needed to pre#ent the damaging e%%e$t o% tre to it mem&er.
1. Re$ie/ of Re'!te# Liter!tre !n# "t#ies
A#ery year, hundred o% o%%i$er e/perien$e intene traumati$ e#ent that $an ha#e
eriou long term $one5uen$e %or them, their %amilie, and their department. +t i
in$um&ent upon poli$e adminitrator to enure that their o%%i$er and their department
ha#e the tool at hand to $ope with u$h $riti$al in$ident.
*oli$e are li"ely to &e u&7e$t to a #ariety o% traumati$ in$ident throughout the
$oure o% their wor"ing li#e Iphyi$al aault, motor #ehi$le a$$ident while puruing
$riminal, and #iewing #i$tim o% udden death. A/poure to traumati$ death alone
in$reae intrui#e and a#oidant ymptom, hotility, omatiation, the ri" o% *.S4 and
thee ymptom $an perit %or month ,Brano, et.al. 1DD5-
*oli$e u%%erer o% *.S4, who ha#e long(term ymptom tend to ha#e a %ew
ho&&ie, diplay a$ute hyper aroual, u%%er %rom 7o& diati%a$tion, &e &rooding o#er
wor", and ha#e a la$" o% o$ial intera$tion.
.1riti$al in$ident typi$ally are udden, power%ul e#ent that %all outide the range
o% ordinary human e/perien$e. =e$aue they happen o a&ruptly, they $an ha#e a trong
emotional impa$t, e#en on an e/perien$ed, well(trained o%%i$er. ,2. =la$", 1DD1-.
+t i alo important to note that $riti$al in$ident tre i ynonymou to *ot(
.raumati$ Stre 4iorder that will &e di$ued later on in thi $hapter.
*age 10 o% 41
*y$hologi$al rea$tion to trauma ha#e &een re$ogni<ed %or $enturie and la&eled
under u$h di#ere name a 6$om&at neuroi9, 6$om&at %atigue9, and 6hell ho$"9
,Shale#, =onne J Ath, a $ited in :epore, 2004-, although it wa only in 1D80, with the
pu&li$ation o% !meri$an *y$hiatri$ !o$iation8 4SM(+++, that *ot(.raumati$ Stre
4iorder ha &een $onidered a py$hiatri$ diorder.
+n law en%or$ement, any ituation in whi$h an o%%i$er8 e/pe$tation o% peronal
in%alli&ity uddenly &e$ome tempered &y imper%e$tion and $rude reality $an &e a $riti$al
in$ident. ,E. )owler, 1D86-
Su$h e#ent in$lude a line(o%(duty death or eriou in7ury o% a $o(wor"er, a poli$e
ui$ide, an o%%i$er(in#ol#ed hooting in a $om&at ituation, a li%e threatening aault on an
o%%i$er, a death or eriou in7ury $aued &y an o%%i$er, an in$ident in#ol#ing multiple
death, a traumati$ death o% a $hild, a &arri$aded upe$tKhotage ituation, a highly
pro%iled media e#ent or any other in$ident that appear $riti$al or 5uetiona&le.
.he de%inition o% a $riti$al in$ident mut remain %luid &e$aue what a%%e$t one
o%%i$er might not a%%e$t another. !n o%%i$er who ha $hildren, %or e/ample, might &e
a%%e$ted &y reponding to the death o% a $hild more than an o%%i$er who ha no $hildren.
+n addition, the $ir$umtan$e o% an e#ent, the peronality o% the o%%i$er, and the way the
e#ent i handled &y the department, the media, and the o%%i$er8 %amily all a%%e$t the
o%%i$er8 rea$tion to an in$ident.
Many B.S oldier returned %rom war 6hell ho$"ed9 and u%%ering %rom the
a%%e$t o% $riti$al in$ident tre, o%ten re%erred to a 6&attle %atigue9. +n 1D80, the
!meri$an *y$hiatri$ !o$iation %ormally re$ogni<ed the $i#ilian #erion o% &attle
%atigue whi$h &e$ame "nown a *ot(.raumati$ Stre 4iorder ,*.S4-. ,)igley, 1DD5-
*age 11 o% 41
Symptom are $hara$teri<ed &y intrui#e re$olle$tion, e/$ei#e tre aroual,
withdrawal, num&ing and depreion.
1riti$al in$ident tre mani%et itel% phyi$ally, $ogniti#ely and emotionally.
.he o%%i$er might e/perien$e ome or all o% thee rea$tion immediately, or perhap, not
until a%ter a delay. Ehile in mot intan$e, the ymptom will u&ide in a matter o%
wee", a %ew o% thoe a%%e$ted &y u$h tre will u%%er permanent emotional trauma that
will ad#erely a%%e$t their $ontinued #alue to the department and $aue eriou pro&lem
in their peronal li#e. ,2. =la$", 1DD1-
1learly, adminitrator $an no longer a%%ord to ignore the iue o% traumati$ tre
$aued &y in#ol#ement in a $riti$al in$ident. Su$h tre impair o%%i$er8 a&ility to
per%orm their dutie and impa$t on the operation o% the department.
*oli$e agen$ie $an &e held lia&le in $ourt %or ignoring lingering tre(related
pro&lem or %or di$iplining wor"er who e/hi&it the &eha#ioral e%%e$t o% trauma %rom a
7o&(related $riti$al in$ident. 1ourt ha#e made igni%i$ant $ah award to o%%i$er whoe
department did not pro#ide them with pro%eional aitan$e. .hu, it i in the &et
interet o% poli$e adminitrator to identi%y tre%ul ituation and addre their e%%e$t
early. )ailure to do o $ould pro#e detrimental to the department, not only operationally
&ut alo %inan$ially. ,.. *ieron, 1D8D-
+t too" ten year %or the ;eteran !dminitration to re$ogni<e thee and &egin to
et up program to help ;ietnam ;et whoe li#e were in a ham&le &e$aue o% *.S4.
!nd one thing &e$ame tragi$ally $lear in the $oure o% a %ew year a%ter they lot e#eral
#et to ui$ide and aw a num&er o% marriage end due to ymptom o% *.S4. .hat i
how mu$h o% thi would ha#e &een a#oided i% the #et had re$ei#ed ome $ouneling
*age 12 o% 41
immediately a%ter horri%i$ in$ident. A#en war ha $riti$al in$ident &eyond the uual
day(to(day $arnage. ,2. )reidman, et.al., 1D88-
.here are $redi&le report that a %ew $hie% and $ommand o%%i$er in $orre$tion
pri#ately ugget that o%%i$er who need help handling their emotion a%ter a $riti$al
in$ident are 6$ry&a&ie9. .hee o($alled leader are not in the ma7ority. +n %a$t, they are
the dwindling minority. =ut until they either die out or are enlightened, one i too many.
.he mot $ommon a%ter e%%e$t o% not dealing promptly and appropriately with the
emotion aroued &y $riti$al in$ident i 6repreion e%%e$t9, more $ommonly $alled
6tu%%ing your %eeling9. !nd in time, the mot pre#alent ymptom aren8t the nightmare
and %lah&a$" that are o dramati$ and ditur&ing. .hoe ymptom o%ten lead o%%i$er to
%inally ee" the $ouneling they need. .he typi$al ymptom i emotional num&ing and
hutting o%% %eeling, ditan$ing oneel% %rom %amily and %riend, and o%ten uing al$ohol
to %urther deta$h one el%.
>umor, gallow humor to &e pe$i%i$, i one way o%%i$er, %ire %ighter and
emergen$y peronnel ometime deal with $riti$al in$ident where li#e where are lot.
)ol", &urn #i$tim are not 6$ripie $ritter9L .hey are people who had li#e and %amilie
and %uture and hope 7ut li"e you, who pro&a&ly died a horri&le pain%ul death. >umor
ha it pla$e, an important one in %a$t, in $oping with high(tre 7o&. +t i pro&a&ly the
one thing that "eep u going at time. =ut it i unhealthy when it i ued a a way to
e$ape your own humanity.
Mild *.S4 $an dirupt a li%e, &ut moderate to e#ere *.S4 i a naty $ondition.
)or one thing, it in#ol#e a $om&ination o% py$hologi$al and phyiologi$al $hange in a
peron. On the py$hologi$al ide, it $an ha"e a peron8 #ery &elie% ytem to the $ore.
*age 10 o% 41
+t $an produ$e an o#erwhelming, i% illogi$al, guilt %eeling. +t $an lead to an 6+ don8t gi#e
a $rap9 attitude. +t $an ma"e a poli$e o%%i$er 5uetion whether the 7o& ha any meaning or
#alue. +t $an ma"e omeone o #igilant he &e$ome paranoid, una&le to trut or let hi
guard down e#en when he8 $ompletely a%e. +t $an lead to ui$idal thought and in rare
intan$e, a$tual ui$ide. On the phyiologi$al ide, it $an produ$e an/iety, irrita&ility,
depreion, trauma, inomnia and a hot o% phyi$al pro&lem %rom heada$he to
digeti#e pro&lem. ,J. ;aughn, 1DD1-
=ut in the interperonal realm, there8 where the %amily i really a%%e$ted. *.S4
$an $aue the u%%erer to &e$ome emotionally withdrawn and ditant %rom %amily
mem&er. .he e/ dri#e $an go out the window. >e $an re#ert &a$" to old ha&it li"e
mo"ing or drin"ing, or &e$ome a newly hat$hed adole$ent and engage in re$"le,
ometime, li%e threatening ho&&ie. Sometime, ho&&ie li"e motor$y$ling $an &order on
ui$idal when o%%i$er thin"ing 6what the hell, + might a well ha#e an a%%air9. >e may
not do it, &ut thin"ing it $an &e #ery ditreing, and the poue may pi$" up ign her
mate i thin"ing o% traying.
3eedle to ay, i% an o%%i$er ha turned into a de#il(may($are adole$ent or
&e$ome ullen and melan$holy, and hi peronality i di%%erent, he might a well &e a
di%%erent peron than he wa &e%ore the $riti$al in$ident and the onet o% *.S4. .he
%amily &e$ome the e$ondary #i$tim. :oyalty i teted in the e/treme. So poue and
"id a" themel#e, 6i% hu&and or dad in8t the peron he ued to &e, i% ometime +
hardly "now him, what am + thin"ing ti$"ing with himM9 O% $oure the %amilie "now
when the $hange o$$urred and why, and 4ad wa pro&a&ly a hero, made the newpaper,
got a ditinguihed o%%i$er award. So they tand &y him, &ut the unhappine i in$redi&le.
*age 14 o% 41
Re'!te# "t#ies
+n the pat, mot tudie o% tre in law en%or$ement %o$ued e/$lui#ely on pot(
hooting trauma. 2e$ently, howe#er, the reear$h ha e/panded to en$ompa tre
indu$ed &y other traumati$ e#ent, $olle$ti#e "nown a $riti$al in$ident. ! $riti$al
in$ident i any e#ent that ha a tre%ul impa$t u%%i$ient to o#erwhelm the uually
e%%e$ti#e $oping "ill o% an indi#idual.
*oli$e u%%ering %rom *.S4 tended to &e more li"ely to ha#e re$ei#ed
antidepreant treatment and to ha#e re$ei#ed $ouneling. .hi %inding did not attain
igni%i$an$e le#el, howe#er.
Studie on military peronnel ha#e indi$ated that men and women who were
e/poed to imilar le#el o% tre were e5ually li"ely to ha#e *.S4 ymptom, and that
men were more li"ely to &e diagnoed with *.S4 than women6. .hi tudy how no
great di%%eren$e in the ymptom pro%ile o% male and %emale poli$e peronnel with
*.S4. =y and large, thi re%le$t $i#ilian $ae a wellF. Mot $ae re%erred were men,
&ut thi may re%le$t the maleI%emale ratio o% re%erring poli$e %or$e, rather than any
di$rimination on &ehal% o% re%erring agent.
+n $omparing the ymptom pro%ile o% poli$e and $i#ilian u%%erer o% *.S4, the
poli$e tended to ue al$ohol more and to try and thin" a&out the trauma le. .hi $ould
indi$ate an in$reaed ue o% the py$hologi$al de%en$e me$hanim o% denial and the ue
o% al$ohol to N&lot out8 memorie o% trauma. Military peronnel with *.S4 are alo li"ely
to ue 13S depreant to uppre *.S4 ymptom ,1alhoun, et.al, 2000-. ! high inde/
o% upi$ion %or *.S4 hould &e applied to poli$e o%%i$er preenting with al$ohol or
u&tan$e miue.
*age 15 o% 41
>yper aroual, irrita&ility and ue o% al$ohol een in *.S4 are ao$iated with
male(perpetrated marital a&ue in military #eteran ,Sa#aree, et.al., 2001-. +ntuiti#ely,
there may &e ditin$t ri" to the %amilie o% poli$e peronnel i% they de#elop *.S4.
)urther reear$h into poi&le e$ondary e%%e$t o% poli$e *.S4 on their %amilie i
needed.
*oli$e tended to &e more li"ely to diplay an/iety i% %a$ed with reminder $ue,
whi$h perhap had &ro"en through their de%ene o% denial. .hey alo tended to $omplain
more o%ten o% ditur&ed $on$entration. .hi $ould re%le$t other di%%eren$e &eide any
$ontitutional or peronality %a$tor. .he poli$e were igni%i$antly more li"ely to a$5uire
their *.S4 a a reult o% aault or threatened murder. Su$h trigger may re5uire
alternati#e de%en$e me$hanim, u$h a denial to %un$tion. +n the $i#ilian population, the
mot $ommon $aue o% *.S4 wa a motor #ehi$le a$$ident. 1oming to term with thi
may in#ol#e repeated Na%e8 e/perien$e o% dri#ing or &eing a paenger in a $ar a%ter the
trauma. *eople %a$ed with traumati$ aault are unli"ely to re(e/perien$e Na%e8 intan$e
o% thee o$$urren$e routinely, &y de%inition. .he healing pro$e $ould there%ore di%%er
&etween the two group.
.he Na$ting a i% the trauma i re$urring8 ymptom i parti$ularly mar"ed amongt
$om&at #eteran $ae o% *.S4. .he trend %or the poli$e to &e more li"ely to ha#e thi
ymptom perhap indi$ate the 5uality o% the trauma they %a$e, partway &etween $i#ilian
and military $om&at e/perien$e. +n$reaing num&er o% gun(related in$ident in the B'
may ee thi ymptom &e$ome more pre#alent in poli$e #i$tim o% *.S4. *oli$e *.S4
$ae in o$ietie with higher le#el o% gun(related $rime, e.g. in the BS!, may ee higher
*age 16 o% 41
%re5uen$ie o% thi parti$ular ymptom. ! $omparati#e tudy o% ample o% poli$e o%%i$er
with *.S4 &etween $ountrie would &e re5uired.
One law en%or$ement e/pert tated that F0H o% the poli$e o%%i$er who ue deadly
%or$e lea#e law en%or$ement within 5 year. ,J. ;aughn, 1DD1-
.he impa$t, there%ore, o% an o#ertreed o%%i$er $an &e %ar rea$hing. Stre a%%e$t
the o%%i$er, other employee, the department, the pu&li$ and the o%%i$er8 %amily. +t $an
lead to %aulty de$iion(ma"ing, di$iplinary pro&lem, e/$ei#e ue o% i$" lea#e,
tardine, on(the(7o& a$$ident, $omplaint %rom $iti<en, and high o%%i$er turno#er. !ll o%
thee $ot the department time and money.
! 1DF4 tudy identi%ied e#eral $aue o% tre among adminitrator and %ield
uper#ior in the 1in$innati, Ohio *oli$e 4epartment . Aighteen o% 00 uper#ior
%ingered e/$ei#e &ureau$rati$ red tape a ma7or treor. Other pointed to their la$" o%
input into adminitration o% the department, poor e5uipment or the $ar$ity o% it,
peronnel hortage and la$" o% $onideration &y the $ourt in $heduling patrol o%%i$er
%or $ourt appearan$e. ,Eillim M. 'roe, et.al., 1DF4-
*erhap, the tudy8 mot intereting reult wa the identi%i$ation o% two treor
uni5ue to the uper#iory role. .he ur#ey %ound that ta"ing di$iplinary a$tion againt a
u&ordinate and ma"ing amend with the pu&li$ &e$aue o% u&ordinate8 mita"e $aue
uper#ior the mot tre.
Mu$h o% the tre e/perien$e &y uper#iory or adminitrati#e poli$e o%%i$er
tem %rom their lo$ation in the department hierar$hy. *eople on all ideO&oe,
u&ordinate, mem&er o% the pu&li$ and e#en muni$ipal o%%i$ialOma"e $ontant
demand on them.
*age 1F o% 41
+n a more re$ent tudy o% uper#iory law en%or$ement o%%i$er8 tre le#el,
repondent $on$urred $iting u$h tre a poorly de%ined role within the department,
inu%%i$ient upport %rom adminitrator, little or no input into departmental poli$y and
authority in$ommenurate with reponi&ilitie. +t alo %ound that the normal uper#iory
a$ti#itie o% meting out di$ipline, moti#ating employee, &uilding morale, appraiing
per%orman$e, identi%ying peronal pro&lem in u&ordinate and ma"ing appropriate
inter#ention and $ommuni$ating e%%e$ti#ely with u&ordinate $aued tre among the
law en%or$ement uper#ior tudied. ,3an$y 3or#ell, et.al., 1DD8-.
! tudy $ondu$ted &y Martin, M$'ean and ;elt"amp ,a $ited in Steed J
4owning, 1DD8- wor"ing with ur#i#or o% e/ual aault on poli$e o%%i$er %ound that
*.S4 ymptom were $ommon among poli$e o%%i$er who dealt with rape ur#i#or.
Oli#eri and Eaterman ,a $ited in Steed J 4owning, 1DD8- $ondu$ted a
retrope$ti#e ur#ey o% 21 therapit, who, %i#er year pre#iouly, had &een in#ol#ed in
treating e/ually a&ued $hildren in pre($hool $enter. .herapit reported e/perien$ing
*.S4 ymptom and ditre a a reult o% treating the $hildren.
)ollete, *olunny J Mil&e$" ,a $ited in Steed J 4owning, 1DD8- e/amined the
impa$t o% pro#iding er#i$e to e/ual a&ue ur#i#or, and %ound thi to &e igni%i$ant
%or &oth mental health pro%eional and poli$e o%%i$er.
D. Theor% !n# Concepts Re'!te# to the Rese!rch
+n 7ut o#er the pat de$ade it ha &e$ome $ommon "nowledge that law
en%or$ement peronnel, along with other emergen$y er#i$e wor"er, are a population
highly prone to u%%ering with *ottraumati$ Stre 4iorder ,*.S4-. ! a dire$t reult o%
their wor", there i regular in#ol#ement with traumati$ e#ent o#er the $oure o% their
*age 18 o% 41
entire $areer. .hi i epe$ially true %or thoe o% u wor"ing in the %ield o% $riti$al
in$ident tre management. )or thoe indi#idual in law en%or$ement, howe#er, who
generally entered into their $areer a phyi$ally and mentally Ptrong,P highly idealiti$,
and $aring people, *.S4 i o%ten 5uite &a%%ling. Moreo#er, it i a $on$ept that i hard to
a$$ept &y thoe who are %ollowing the mantra Pto prote$t and er#e.P Bndertanding the
need o% thi uni5ue population, highly prone to *.S4, i imperati#e %or mental health
pro%eional attempting to ait ur#i#or with healing and mo#ing &eyond thi
diorder.
Ehen di$uing *.S4 within the law en%or$ement $ommunity, one mut &e
$are%ul not to preume that it only a%%e$t the men and women on the P%ront lineP ( thoe
in uni%orm. *.S4 doe not only a%%e$t poli$e o%%i$er. 1all ta"er who %irt tal" with a
traumati<ed #i$tim or dipat$her who end their Pmen and women in &lueP into harm
way or hear the %ranti$ #oi$e o% an o%%i$er ,who i, perhap, alo a peronal %riend o%
their- $alling o#er the radio %or deperately needed help, are alo a%%e$ted. 4epending
upon the dipat$her or $all ta"er per$eption, any o% thee e#ent $an &e 7ut a
harrowing %or them a they $an &e to an o%%i$er on the $ene.
.he 4iagnoti$ and Statiti$al Manual o% Mental 4iorder ( )ourth Adition
,4SM(+;- indi$ate that the eential %eature o% *.S4 in$lude: Pe/perien$ing,
witneing or $on%rontation with an e#ent or e#ent that in#ol#e a$tual or threatened
death or eriou in7ury, or a threat to the phyi$al integrity o% el% or other.P Moreo#er,
the peronQ repone in#ol#e Pintene %ear, helplene, or horrorP ,!meri$an
*y$hiatri$ !o$iation, 1DD4-. Ehen *.S4 wa %irt re$ogni<ed and named a a diorder
in 1D80, the 4iagnoti$ and Statiti$al Manual o% Mental 4iorder ( .hird Adition
*age 1D o% 41
,4SM(+++- imply indi$ated that the eential %eature in#ol#ed e/poure to a Ptraumati$
e#ent that i generally outide the range o% uual human e/perien$eP ,!meri$an
*y$hiatri$ !o$iation, 1D80-. +n either $ae, thi eential %eature eem to &e a
$ontant, una#oida&le hallmar" o% the law en%or$ement $areer.
! $omparion o% the remaining diagnoti$ $riteria %or *.S4 to the ProutineP
e/perien$e o% law en%or$ement paint an intereting pi$ture. Other 4SM(+; $riteria
in$lude:
1. *eritent re(e/perien$ing o% the traumati$ e#ent ,e.g., dream, %lah&a$", or
other intrui#e re$olle$tionG intene py$hologi$al ditre and phyiologi$al
rea$ti#ity upon e/poure to internal or e/ternal $ue that ym&oli<e or reem&le
an ape$t o% the trauma-.
.2. *eritent a#oidan$e o% timuli ao$iated with the trauma and num&ing o%
general reponi#ene ,e.g., a#oidan$e o% thought, %eeling, a$ti#itie, pla$e or
peopleG diminihed interet or parti$ipation in igni%i$ant a$ti#itieG %eeling o%
deta$hment or etrangement %rom otherG retri$ted range o% a%%e$t and ene o% a
%orehortened %uture-.
0-. *eritent ymptom o% in$reaed aroual ,e.g., leep ditur&an$e, irrita&ility or
anger, di%%i$ulty $on$entrating, hyper #igilan$e, e/aggerated tartle repone-.
4. 4uration o% the ditur&an$e i more than one month ,or onet o% ymptom i
delayed &eyond i/ month-G the ditur&an$e $aue $lini$ally igni%i$ant ditre
or impairment in o$ial, o$$upational, or other important area o% %un$tioning.
*age 20 o% 41
=eyond the o&#iou, u$h a a hooting, what e#ent are Pgenerally outide the
range o% uual human e/perien$eP that might $ontri&ute to the potential de#elopment o%
*.S4M !mong many, $onider $ontinually &eing $alled upon to ma"e plit(e$ond,
ometime Pli%e or deathP de$iion that, in many $ae, ha#e no %a#ora&le reolution.
1onider %a$ing a weapon in the hand o% a $riminal who would "ill you i% gi#en a
$han$e. Moreo#er, $onider in#ol#ement with %ight, %oot $hae, #ehi$le puruit,
phyi$al in7urie andKor death o% a %ellow o%%i$er. +magine ha#ing to deal with hotage
ituation, under$o#er wor", dangerou drug &ut or other raid or handling in7ury or
%atal a$$ident. >ow a&out ha#ing to manage in(progre $rime $all, hi%t(wor", diater
,epe$ially thoe man(made-, the ne#er(ending pro$eion o% people &eing in7ured,
mutilated or "illed and ha#ing to &e$ome Pa$$utomedP to eeing, melling, %eeling and
hearing the &lood, gore, pain and u%%ering ao$iated with $rime $ene and #i$tim
in$luding &attered and a&ued $hildren. )inally, thin" a&out what it would &e li"e to ha#e
made an error on the 7o& and &e $riti$i<ed or wore, %a$e in#etigation, di$iplinary a$tion
or $riminal proe$ution.
=y #irtue o% their 7o&, law en%or$ement peronnel generally e/perien$e or are
e/poed on a re$urrent &ai to traumati$ e#ent. 1onider the %a$t that thee indi#idual
peritently re(e/perien$e traumati$ e#ent &y #irtue o% reponding to and handling
imilar e#ent throughout the duration o% their $areerL .hey need to operate depite their
peronal %eeling and &e a&le to reume a$tion immediately &eyond a traumati$ e#ent
&e$aue the pu&li$ depend upon them to &e a#aila&le when needed. O#er time, o%%i$er
get a$$utomed to Pnum&ing.P .hey may not e#en reali<e that, a%ter a while, many o%
their daily a$ti#itie whi$h eem o ProutineP are a$tually 5uite tre%ul. Seeing the
*age 21 o% 41
de#atating e%%e$t o% $riminal a$ti#ity, hyper#igilan$e $an &e$ome $ontant on and o%%(
duty. !ny noie or ditur&an$e within hearing range o% the hyper#igilant i uually
interpreted a a pending atta$" o an e/aggerated tartle repone alo appear to &e a
norm. =eing e#er #igilant, tuned in to anything out o% the ordinary and &eing ready %or
anything are o%ten the di%%eren$e &etween whether an o%%i$er ur#i#e the 7o& or not
,Maon, 1DD0-. .hi, o% $oure, in$reae an/iety.
=e$aue a law en%or$ement $areer uually lat %or at leat twenty year, the
duration $riterion i met. 1lini$ally igni%i$ant ditre or impairment in o$ial,
o$$upational or other important area o% %un$tioning all too o%ten how up in an o%%i$er
li%e a e#iden$ed &y high di#or$e, al$oholim, and ui$ide rate. On an intimate le#el,
o%%i$er who learn to "eep thing at wor" on a deperonali<ed le#el, are uually una&le to
tal" a&out the detail o% &rutal and horri%ying e/perien$e with anyone other than a %ellow
o%%i$er. !lo, along with &eing a$$utomed to alway &eing the PauthorityP who mut ta"e
$ontrol o% e#ery ituation, they may ha#e a hard time u$$e%ully relating emotionally
with their lo#ed one. !n o%%i$er8 traumati<ation doe not grant immunity %rom it
e%%e$t to hi or her lo#ed oneL Ehen it $ome to *.S4, indi#idual going into law
en%or$ement do o with the de$" ta$"ed againt them %rom the tartL +t i a natural Pet
upP %or *.S4 or other tre(related dieae and maladie.
:aw en%or$ement i a pro%eion where the danger le#el and tre potential o%
traumati$ e#ent remain %airly high on any gi#en day. .o &et enure ur#i#al, law
en%or$ement peronnel mut &e P$om&at readyP at all time while remaining PnormalP in
e#ery other way ,Eilliam, 1D8F-. .hey learn to remain at a high le#el o% readine.
.here i alo an unrealiti$ tereotype that many o%%i$er mut "eep up li"e
*age 22 o% 41
PSupermanP or PEonder EomanP ,Shilling, 1DD0- and &e immune to tre. +n addition,
regardle o% what the o%%i$er &elie#e, the pu&li$ o%ten hold o%%i$er to thi tereotype.
O%%i$er may go out o% their way to portray themel#e a P$ool,P P$almP and alway in
P%ull $ontrolP o% their emotion ( an image that i rein%or$ed repeatedly on .; and in
mo#ie ,Jone, 1D88-.
.oo o%ten in law en%or$ement, peronnel e5uate mental diorder with &eing
P$ra<yP and they %eel that an emotional repone to trauma indi$ate Pwea"ne.P .hi
myth mut &e eraed. :aw en%or$ement peronnel mut $ome to admit that they, too, are
PnormalP human &eing who rea$t in PnormalP way to e/poure to a&normal e#ent that
ma"e up their 7o& en#ironment. +t i important to $onider that thi i an en#ironment that
lend itel% naturally a a Pet upP %or *.S4. .o thi end, edu$ation &e$ome mot
imperati#e.
*age 20 o% 41
CHAPTER ))
PROBLEM "TATEMENT
A. Definition of the Pro&'e(
.hi tudy aimed to analy<e and addre the pro&lem o% inade5uate py$hologi$al
e#aluation o% poli$e o%%i$er e/perien$ing $riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent.
! &a$"ground o% the pro&lem, thi tudy thi determined the $riti$al in$ident
and traumati$ e#ent that poli$e o%%i$er e/perien$e in their line o% duty, their rea$tion
a%ter $ontinuou e/poure to the ame and the e%%e$t on their py$hologi$al and
emotional well(&eing.
B. CAU"E6AND6EFFECT ANAL7")"
*age 24 o% 41
1. !ppli$a&ility o%
+mplementing 2ule
2ule on py$hologi$al
e#aluation no longer apply
to the preent mood o% the
time
+nter#al o% py$hologi$al
e#aluation i not enough
2. =udget 1ontraint
A/peni#e
$onultation %ee %or
py$hiatrit
*3* =udget $annot
upport
$onultation
*2O=:AM
+nade5uate
py$hologi$al
e#aluation %or
poli$e o%%i$er
e/perien$ing
$riti$al in$ident
and traumati$
e#ent
0. +ue on the =udget o% *3*
*oli$e o%%i$er are
digruntled in the
mimanagement o%
*3* =udget
4. A$onomi$ Statu o% *oli$e
O%%i$er
*reent alary o%
poli$e o%%i$er hinder
them %rom $onulting
py$hiatrit at their
own e/pene
C. Go!'s !n# O&8ecti$es
3o one $an predi$t how power%ul an in$ident will &e or what e%%e$t it will ha#e
on them. +t i in$um&ent upon poli$e adminitrator that while they $annot top thee
e#ent %rom happening, they $an at leat prepare their employee %or u$h e#ent &y
tea$hing them the ign and ymptom o% $riti$al in$ident tre and eta&lihing poli$ie
that ena&le them to get help when they need it.
.he o%%i$er who reponded to the terri&le a$$ident de$ri&ed earlier need not
u$$um& to the de&ilitating e%%e$t o% $riti$al in$ident tre. Eith the proper upport
%rom hi department and $ouneling %rom a $erti%ied pro%eional, he and hi %amily will
learn to deal with the trauma, and the department li"ely will "eep a #alued employee.
.he *oli$e $ouneling, poli$e peer $ouneling, e#en $riti$al in$ident tre
management, and $riti$al in$ident tre de&rie%ing while they ha#e &een "nown to &e
e/$eeding help%ul, are till not employed o%ten enough. Ehile o$iety i %a$inated &y the
poli$e pro%eion, poli$e tre i not part o% the 6glamorou9 ape$t o% 6the 7o&9. )or
e#ery depi$tion in the media o% poli$e tre, there mut &e a hundred $ar $hae and
hoot(out. +t $annot emphai<e enough that poli$e tre i an iue that e#eryone, %rom
poli$e o%%i$er and thoe $loe to them, and other in the 6on the %ront line9 pro%eion,
need to %ully undertand and in a ene ino$ulate themel#e againt a &et a they $an.
+t i too eay and entirely natural %or people wor"ing in thee pro%eion to ue humor
and denial a way to a#oid the emotional impa$t o% what they ee and do a part o% their
7o&. *oli$e o%%i$er e/perien$e more poli$e tre when their aignment i u$h that they
wor" $ae or $rime $ene alone, or when, &e$aue o% the $ulture within their
department, they "eep their %eeling to themel#e &e$aue they don8t want to ta"e the
*age 25 o% 41
time and energy to e/plain detail to their $olleague, who a%ter all, may ha#e pro&lem
o% their own. +t i in thi repe$t that poli$e manager and adminitrator hould &e a&le to
re$ogni<e thee and &e a&le to do omething a&out it &e%ore they loe #alua&le li%e to thi
wor"(related tre that $an &e a#oided and remedied in the %irt pla$e.
+t i alo &et to emphai<e that their %amily $an alo &e a%%e$ted and it i
paramount to intill to them that thee $riti$al in$ident are not only damaging to
themel#e &ut alo to the people around them. +n addition, the %amilie o% the o%%i$er
in#ol#ed in $riti$al in$ident might how imilar ign o% tre. Spoue might adopt the
role o% either upporter or #i$tim. )re5uently, they %ind themel#e alternating &etween
thoe role, at time &eing a&le to upport and nurture the o%%i$er, while at other moment
%eeling terri&ly #ulnera&le, alone, and in need o% upport themel#e. ! the $hildren o%
o%%i$er who u%%er %rom pot(traumati$ tre diorder mature, they alo might e/hi&it the
ame %ear, emotion, and $yni$al attitude a their a%%e$ted parent. .o help o%%i$er and
their %amilie prepare %or the tre o% a $riti$al in$ident, a 6igni%i$ant other9 tre
$oure $an help. 1ondu$ted when o%%i$er %irt enter the department and again
periodi$ally during the $oure o% their $areer, u$h a $oure $an allow poue to %eel
le e/$luded and gain #alua&le inight into &eha#ior and rea$tion o% their lo#ed one.
)amilie need upport and inter#ention, and they mut not &e %orgotten.
D. An!'%sis of M!8or "t!0eho'#ers
.he ma7or ta"eholder o% the tudy in$lude the %ollowing:
1. Phi'ippine N!tion!' Po'ice M!n!,e(ent. .he management i in($harge o%
o#er(all operation o% the department. .hey play a #ery #ital role in the
*age 26 o% 41
poi&le ad7utment in the poli$y. .here i a need to $oordinate to them in
order to ma"e the ne$eary ad7utment %un$tional.
+. NAPOLCOM. .he agen$y i mandated &y the 1D8F 1ontitution and the
Ma7or *oli$e 2e%orm :aw., 2epu&li$ !$t 3o. 6DF5 and 8551 to adminiter
and $ontrol the *hilippine 3ational *oli$e under 2.! no. 8551, otherwie
"nown a the *3* 2e%orm and 2eorgani<ation !$t o% 1DD8, the $ommiion
regained the power to in#etigate poli$e anomalie and irregularitie,
adminiter poli$e entran$e and promotional e/amination and ummarily
dimi erring poli$e o%%i$er. .hey will adminiter implementation o% the
poi&le $hange in the poli$y
1. Po'ice Officers. .hey are the primary u&7e$t o% the tudy. .heir repone
regarding the tudy i #ery #ital in determining i% there i indeed a need to
re#ie the preent poli$y.
*age 2F o% 41
CHAPTER )))
METHODOLOG7 OF ANAL7")"
.he reear$her $ondu$ted a erie o% literature re#iew regarding the $riti$al
in$ident and traumati$ e#ent e/perien$ed &y poli$e o%%i$er.
.he reear$her alo $ondu$ted a ur#ey in a %orm o% 5uetionnaire ditri&uted to
the *oli$e O%%i$er in the *ro#in$e o% =atanga to ae their a$tual e/perien$e o%
$riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent.
.he data gathered were preented in ta&ulated %orm, analy<ed and interpreted
through the ue o% the %ollowing te$hni5ue and pro$edure:
1. )re5uen$y 4itri&ution. .hi te$hni5ue wa ued to ena&le a $lear and logi$al
preentation o% data. +t i a ytemati$ arrangement o% data &y row and $olumn in
ta&ular %orm $learly mani%eting $lae and u&($lae, $ategorie and u&($ategorie.
2. Simple *er$entage. .he item in the repondent8 pro%ile a well a the
repone in ome 5uetionnaire item were interpreted through the ue o% thi tatiti$al
te$hni5ue
0. Eeighted Mean. .o analy<e and interpret 5uetionnaire item pro#iding %or
5ualitati#e option, thi method wa ued to 5uanti%y the repondent8 aggregate
repone.
)or #er&al interpretation o% the $omputed mean, the reear$her et the %ollowing
$ale:
0.41 I 4.00 (;ery Signi%i$ant
2.61 I 0.40 (Moderately Signi%i$ant
*age 28 o% 41
1.81 I 2.60 (Signi%i$ant
1.80 I 1.00 (+nigni%i$ant
4. Standard 4e#iation. .o determine the #aria&ility o% the %re5uen$ie
o&tained %rom the 5uetionnaire related to the teting o% the hypothei.
5. R(tet. .o tet the hypothei o% igni%i$ant or non(igni%i$ant relationhip o% the
le#el o% rea$tion and e%%e$t o% $riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent in the per%orman$e
le#el and peronal li%e o% the o%%i$er o% =atanga *3*. +n teting the hypothei, the
reear$her et the le#el o% igni%i$an$e at .05 ao$iated with 3 S 3 (2 degree o%
%reedom.
.he $ondition %or 7o& a$$eptan$e ore re7e$tion o% the hypothei i that i% the
$omputed <(#alue i e5ual to or greater than the ta&ular #alue o% < at a et le#el o%
igni%i$an$e $orreponding to 3 S 3 (2 d.%., the hypothei i re7e$ted. On the other
hand, i% the $omputed <(#alue i lower than the ta&ular #alue o% <, the hypothei i to &e
a$$epted.
*age 2D o% 41
CHAPTER )2
POL)C7 OPT)ON"9ALTERNAT)2E" POL)C7 "OLUT)ON"
A. Description of A'tern!ti$e Po'ic% "o'tions :AP";<
.he %ollowing !lternati#e *oli$y Solution ,!*S- were de#eloped a poi&le
olution to the pro&lem:
1. Mandate the 3!*O:1OM and *3* to $ondu$t a regular py$hologi$al
e#aluation o% all it *eronnel.
2. Stri$tly implement a py$hologi$al e#aluation o% all peronnel in#ol#ed a%ter
e#ery poli$e operation.
0. Amploy an +n(houe py$hiatrit in e#ery poli$e tation %or regular $ouneling.
.he a&o#e poli$y alternati#e are deri#ed %rom the reult o% the ur#ey $ondu$ted.
)rom the data gathered and analyi made, it i imperati#e that inter#ention &e made to
pre#ent the long term e%%e$t o% the $riti$al in$ident and traumati$ e#ent e/perien$ed &y
poli$e o%%i$er. .he reult in the e%%e$t o% thee in$ident to the pro%eional and
peronal li%e o% a poli$e o%%i$er are alarming. 1urrent iue &eing thrown at poli$e
o%%i$er are thorn on the image o% the *3*. +t i in the &et interet o% the poli$e o%%i$er
to undergo inter#ention in any %orm to maintain their py$hologi$al and emotional
ta&ility and %or ordinary $iti<en who rely to thee poli$e o%%i$er %or their e$urity and
a%ety.
Po'ic% A'tern!ti$e No.1
M!n#!te the NAPOLCOM !n# PNP to con#ct ! re,'!r ps%cho'o,ic!'
e$!'!tion of !'' its personne'. 1ondu$t a py$hologi$al e#aluation when a poli$e o%%i$er
enter the er#i$e and periodi$ally during the $oure o% hi $areer. Su$h e#aluation $an
*age 00 o% 41
allow poli$e o%%i$er to alo ae hi pat e/perien$e and &e a&le to #ent out whate#er
negati#e %eeling he had during the traumati$ e#ent and they will &e a&le to gain
#alua&le inight into their &eha#ior and rea$tion. *oli$e o%%i$er alo need upport and
inter#ention.
Po'ic% A'tern!ti$e No.+
"trict'% i(p'e(ent ! ps%cho'o,ic!' e$!'!tion of !'' personne' in$o'$e# !fter
e$er% po'ice oper!tion. 3o one $an predi$t how power%ul an in$ident will &e or what
e%%e$t it will ha#e on them. +t i in$um&ent upon poli$e adminitrator that while they
$annot top thee e#ent %rom happening, they $an at leat prepare their employee %or the
negati#e impa$t o% u$h e#ent &y aiting them immediately a%ter u$h in$ident ta"e
pla$e.
Po'ic% A'tern!ti$e No.1
E(p'o% !n )n6hose ps%chi!trist in e$er% po'ice st!tion for re,'!r
conse'in,. *oli$e o%%i$er e/perien$e more poli$e tre when their aignment i u$h
that they wor" $ae or $rime $ene alone, or when, &e$aue o% the $ulture within their
department, they "eep their %eeling to themel#e &e$aue they don8t want to ta"e the
time and energy to e/plain detail to their $olleague, who a%ter all, may ha#e pro&lem
o% their own. !n +n(houe py$hologitKpy$hiatrit will &e a &ig help %or poli$e o%%i$er
who ha#e no one to tal" to. +t i alo #ery $on#enient a they $an re5uet %or $ouneling at
their own and at the e/a$t moment when they need it.
*age 01 o% 41
B. Decision M!tri-
T!&'e 5
12+.A2+!
PA61
M!n#!te the
NAPOLCOM !n# PNP to
con#ct ! re,'!r
ps%cho'o,ic!' e$!'!tion of
!'' its personne'.
PA6+
"trict'% i(p'e(ent !
ps%cho'o,ic!'
e$!'!tion of !''
personne' in$o'$e#
!fter e$er% po'ice
oper!tion
PA61
E(p'o% !n )n6hose
ps%chi!trist in e$er%
po'ice st!tion for
re,'!r conse'in,
Efficienc% 8 8 6
Po'itic!'
fe!si&i'it% F F 6
Pr!ctic!'it% F F 5
App'ic!&i'it% F 8 F
TOTAL +4 1= +5
)our %a$tor were ued a the $riteria in the 4e$iion Matri/. 2epondent were
a"ed a&out their pre%erred poli$y alternati#e uing e%%i$ien$y, politi$al %eai&ility,
pra$ti$ality and appli$a&ility a the $riteria. A%%i$ien$y i de%ined a the a&ility o% the
poli$y alternati#e to yield the deiredKoptimum reult. *oliti$al %eai&ility, on the other
hand i the upport that the poli$y alternati#e $an a$hie#e. 2emem&er that although *3*
ha#e &een trying o hard to &e rid o% politi$al in%luen$e, there are ape$t o% *3*
management that pa through legilation li"e it &udget. =udget i another $riterion that
%all under the pra$ti$ality o% the poli$y alternati#e. ! poli$y alternati#e doe not
ne$earily mean that it hould &e $heaper. +t i alo &et to $onider that a poli$y
alternati#e hould &e a&le to a$5uie$e with the e/pe$ted reult within the &udget
perimeter. :atly, appli$a&ility i the a&ility o% the adminitrationKmanagement to
implement a gi#en poli$y alternati#e.
CHAPTER 2
POL)C7 RECOMMENDAT)ON"
*age 02 o% 41
Reco((en#e# Po'ic% A'tern!ti$e
.he re5uired py$hologi$al e#aluation %or new re$ruit i no longer appli$a&le. +t
i not appli$a&le in a ene that newly hired poli$e o%%i$er are till too eager to &e a part
o% poli$e operation. .heir py$hologi$al well(&eing i till relati#ely trong and $an till
re#ert any negati#e %eeling a%ter their %irt operation. ;eteran poli$e o%%i$er, on the other
hand, ha#e e/perien$ed too mu$h #iolen$e and trauma that their py$hologi$al well(&eing
i already in ditraught to mend on their own. !n old adage o% pre#ention i &etter than
$ure relate well to the re$ommended poli$y alternati#e. +t i &etter to pre#ent poli$e
tre &e%ore it e#en o$$ur o that long(term damage $an &e a#oided.
*oli$e o%%i$er tand guard at our threhold while we leep in the $om%ort o% our
home. .hey prote$t u %rom $riminal that lur" at night and e#en at day. .hey ri" their
li#e again and again to ee u e$ured and prote$ted. +t i important that in return, we
prote$t their py$hologi$al and emotional well(&eing. +n thi regard, Po'ic% A'tern!ti$e
No.+ is reco((en#e# /hich is to strict'% i(p'e(ent ps%cho'o,ic!' e$!'!tion for
po'ice officers !fter e$er% oper!tion. Ee do not want an emotionally and
py$hologi$ally unta&le o%%i$er holding a $ali&er .45 gun to prote$t u. Ee want our
poli$e o%%i$er ound and ta&le, and to thi, it i &et to re#ie the $urrent rule on
py$hologi$al e#aluation o% poli$e o%%i$er.
*oli$e o%%i$er, a%ter rigorou mental and phyi$al training, do not 7ut run amo".
.hey don8t 7ut
C. Re!sons for Reco((en#!tion
*oli$y alternati#e 3o.2 re$ei#ed a total $ore o% 00 in the matri/ o% poli$y
alternati#e ele$tion. .he poli$y alternati#e edged out alternati#e no.1 in the area o%
*age 00 o% 41
appli$a&ility. .he politi$al %eai&ility and pra$ti$ality o% thi alternati#e may&e a little
di%%i$ult to attain a it in#ol#e &udget o% the department. =ut it appli$a&ility i #ery
poi&le &e$aue thoe in#ol#ed in it implementation are alo poli$e o%%i$er and they,
themel#e, need $ouneling %or they are alo under enormou poli$e tre. +t
a$$eptan$e among the top management o%%i$er are o#erwhelming &e$aue they
a$"nowledge that they $an &e e%%i$ient and e%%e$ti#e in a%eguarding our a%ety lie in
their well(&eing.
*age 04 o% 41
CHAPTER 2)
"UMMAR7 AND ACT)ON PLAN
P'!n of Action
Acti$it% Ti(e
Fr!(e
Person
Responsi&'e
Resorces9B#,et Re(!r0s
1. 1. Su&mit propoal
to 3!*O:1OM
1 day 2eear$her
2. 2. @et endorement
%rom the
3!*O:1OM to the
*3* 1hie%
2eear$her
with the *3*
2epreentati#e
0. 1oordinate with
the agen$y %or
&udget iue
*3*
2epreentati#e
4. 1oordinate with
the 4O> %or
a$$redited
go#ernment
hopital that will
$ondu$t the
py$hologi$al
e#aluation
*3*
2epreentati#e
5. *reent the
propoed
py$hologi$al
e#aluation to the
4+:@
*3*
2epreentati#e
6. 4ire$t all poli$e
tation to
implement the
program
*3*
2epreentati#e
to :o$al
A/e$uti#e
T!&'e >
*age 05 o% 41
Potenti!' Pro&'e( of the Po'ic% A'tern!ti$e
"TRENGTH .EAKNE""E" OPPORTUN)T)E" THREAT"
1. 1. *y$hologi$al and
emotional ta&le
poli$e o%%i$er
2. 2. *re#ention o%
poli$e o%%i$er
running amo"
0.
1. May &e a little
di%%i$ult to
implement.
2. !$$eptan$e %rom
egotiti$ poli$e
o%%i$er may ta"e
time
1. Eill pro#ide a
window %or proper
aement o% the
re5uirement %or
new re$ruit.
2. May re#eal root(
$aue o% a&ue o%
power &y men in
uni%orm
1.=udget
1ontraint
2. May &e
politi$i<ed a *3* i
till under the
4+:@, hen$e, under
ele$ted o%%i$ial
T!&'e ?
=aed on S(E(O(. !nalyi, the potential pro&lem o% *oli$y !lternati#e 2 are
the a %ollow:
*y$hologi$al e#aluation a%ter e#ery operation o% all *3* o%%i$e in the entire
$ountry will de%initely mean additional &udget o% *3*. .hat &udget may amount
to million and the e$onomi$ tatu o% the $ountry will ma"e it appro#al a little
di%%i$ult.
.he management o% *3* i till wor"ing on &eing %ree %rom the in%luen$e o%
politi$ian %rom the :o$al @o#ernment Bnit. .hi py$hologi$al e#aluation may
re#eal treor $oming %rom the :@B, hen$e, 7uti%ying the numerou $laim o%
poli$e $hie% %rom di%%erent $itie and muni$ipalitie that politi$ian %rom their
repe$ti#e area are trying to $ontrol and manipulate them. 4irty politi$ian will
de%initely not allow thi to happen a they &ene%it a lot %rom manipulating *3*
O%%i$er a they er#e their purpoe o% &e$oming pri#ate armie %or the o($alled
pu&li$ er#ant.
*age 06 o% 41
REFERENCE"
1alhoun, :. @., .ede$hi, 2. @., J 1ann, !. ,2000-. ;i$ariou pottraumati$ growth in
py$hotherapy. Journal o% >umaniti$ *y$hology, 45,2-, 20D(260.
2etrie#ed %rom http:KKd/.doi.orgK10.11FFK002216F8052F4F2D
)igley, 1.2 ,Ad.-. ,1DD5- 1ompaion %atigue: 1oping with e$ondary traumati$ tre
diorder in thoe who treat the traumati<ed. 3ew Cor": =runnerKMa<el.
Stamm, =.>. ,Ad.-, Se$ondary traumati$ tre: el%($are iue %or $lini$ian,
reear$her, and edu$ator, pp. 0(28. :uther#ille, M4: Sidran *re.
Steed, :.@., J 4owning, J. ,2001- .rauma and the therapit: the e/perien$e o% therapit
wor"ing with the perpetrator o% e/ual a&ue. !utralaian Journal o% 4iater
and .rauma Studie, 2001, 12001-. !#aila&le online at
http:KKwww.maey.a$.n<KTtraumaKiueK2001(1Kteed.htm
Jone, 1.A. ,1D88, Mar$h-. )atal %eeling. .he .hin =lue :ine, pp. 1(26.
Maon. *. ,1DD0-. 2e$o#ering )rom the Ear. 3ew Cor": *enguin =oo", pp. 201(250
Shilling. 2. ,1DD0, )all-. On $oping. .he Eahington *oli$e O%%i$er, pp. 4(6.
Eilliam, 1. ,1D8F-. *ea$etime $om&at: .reating and pre#enting delayed tre rea$tion
in poli$e o%%i$er. +n .. Eilliam ,Ad.-, *ot .raumati$ Stre 4iorder: !
>and&oo" %or 1lini$ian. 1in$innati: 4ia&led !meri$an ;eteran, pp. 26F(2D2.
!meri$an *y$hiatri$ !o$iation. ,1DD4-. 4iagnoti$ and Statiti$al Manual o% Mental
>ealth 4iorder ,4th Ad.-. Eahington. 4.1.: !uthor, pp. 424(42D.
E. )owler, P*ot 1riti$al +n$ident 1ouneling: !n A/ample o% Amotional )irt(aid in a
*oli$e 1rii,P in *y$hologi$al Ser#i$e %or :aw An%or$ement, ed., J. 2eee and
>.@oldtein ,Eahington, 41: B.S. @o#ernment *rinting O%%i$e, 1D86-.
2. =la", P1riti$al +n$ident 4e&rie%ing %or :aw An%or$ement *eronnel: ! Model,P in
1riti$al +n$ident in *oli$ing, ed., J. 2eee, J. >orn, and 1. 4unning, re#. ed.
,Eahington, 41: BS @o#ernment *rinting O%%i$e, 1DD1-, 20(00.
*age 0F o% 41
.. *ieron, P1riti$al +n$ident Stre: ! Seriou :aw An%or$ement *ro&lem,P .he *oli$e
1hie%, )e&ruary 1D8D, 02(00
Jerry ;aughn, %ormer dire$tor o% the +nternational !o$iation o% 1hie% o% *oli$e, 5uoted
in J. >orn, P1riti$al +n$ident %or :aw An%or$ement O%%i$er,P in 1riti$al
+n$ident in *oli$ing, ed., J. 2eee, J. >orn, and 1. 4unning, re#. ed.
,Eahington, 41: B.S. @o#ernment *rinting O%%i$e, 1DD1-, 140(148.
J. Brano, et al. ,1DDF- *ot(.raumati$ Stre 4iorder. Eahington 41: !meri$an
*y$hiatri$ *re
*age 08 o% 41
@UE"T)ONNA)RE
). Be'o/ !re so(e of the critic!' inci#ents !n# tr!(!tic e$ents th!t po'ice
officers s!''% encontere# in the ser$ice. P'e!se pt ! chec0 (!r0
opposite the inci#ents th!t %o h!$e e-perience#.
>otage(.a"ing in$ident UUUUU 2ape $ae UUUUU
>ighly pro%iled media e#ent UUUUU Murder $ae UUUUU
*oliti$al aaination UUUUU Maa$re UUUUU
4rug(related $ae UUUUU =om&ing UUUUU
1om&at ituation UUUUU .errorim UUUUU
1ar(7a$"ing UUUUU Sui$ide UUUUU
4eath o% a $hild UUUUU 'idnapping UUUUU
)). The fo''o/in, !re so(e of the re!ctions of the po'ice officers !fter
e-periencin, critic!' inci#ents !n# tr!(!tic e$ents. Pt ! chec0 (!r0 on
%or !ns/er sin, the sc!'e !s %or reference.
A 6 A'/!%s
" 6 "o(eti(es
N 6 Ne$er
Critic!' )nci#ents A " N
He!#!ches
Msc'e Aches
"'eep Distr&!nces
Ch!n,e# !ppetite
Decre!se# interest in se-!' !cti$it%
)(potence
An-iet%
Fe!r
Gi't
"!#ness
An,er
)rrit!&i'it%
Fee'in, 'ost !n# n!ppreci!te#
.ith#r!/!'
De&i'it!tin, f'!sh&!c0s
Repe!te# $isions of the inci#ent
Ni,ht(!res
"'o/e# thin0in,
Diffic't% (!0in, #ecisions !n# so'$in,
pro&'e(s
Disorient!tion
*age 0D o% 41
L!c0 of concentr!tion
Me(or% '!pses

)2. Be'o/ !re the effects of tr!(!tic e$ents to the perfor(!nce 'e$e' !n#
person!' 'ife of ! po'ice officer. P'e!se chec0 %or !ns/er sin, the sc!'e !s
%or reference
5 6 2er% "i,nific!nt
1 6 "i,nific!nt
+ 6 Mo#er!te'% "i,nific!nt
1 6 )nsi,nific!nt
EFFECT" 5 1 + +
Sui$ide
)ailed Marriage
A/$ei#e ue o% al$ohol
4itan$ing oneel% %rom %amily and
%riend
=e$oming o#erly needy and dependent
=e$oming outrageouly demanding and
impatient
1hroni$ %atigue and depreion
)aulty de$iion(ma"ing
4i$iplinary pro&lem
A/$ei#e ue o% i$" lea#e
.ardine
On(the(7o& a$$ident
1omplaint %rom $iti<en
>igh o%%i$er turno#er
+n$reaed interperonal $on%li$t
:ow morale
:ow moti#ation
!#oiding ta"
Sta%% $on%li$t
*age 40 o% 41
Decision M!tri-
Criteri! PA61
M!n#!te the
NAPOLCOM
!n# PNP to
con#ct ! re,'!r
ps%cho'o,ic!'
e$!'!tion of !''
its (e(&ers
PA6+
M!0e ! ps%cho'o,ic!'
e$!'!tion ! (st
!fter e$er% oper!tion
PA61
Or#er e$er% po'ice
st!tion to h!$e !n in
hose ps%chi!trist for
re,'!r conse'in,
Effecti$eness
Po'itic!' 2!'i#it%
Cost
A#(inistr!ti$e
App'ic!&i'it%
Tot!'
*age 41 o% 41