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PubMed1992

Worksite nutrition education can lower total cholesterol levels and promote weight loss among police department employees.

Individuals who work in law enforcement careers are often subjected to stress that can result in health and emotional disorders. Many police departments have begun to offer wellness programs to support their employees. This pilot study designed and implemented a nutrition education component for an existing police department wellness program. Twenty-eight subjects completed the 12-month study that included nutrition counseling, seminars on nutrition and eating behaviors, and monitoring of weight and blood lipid levels. There was a significant group trend for decreased weight and lower total cholesterol levels. Results of the study led to the development of health policy standards for the Austin (Tex) Police Department. Wellness programs that involve registered dietitians can result in weight loss and lower cholesterol levels for employees in high-stress occupations as well as changes in departmental policy.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed2004

Comprehensive and human capital crash costs by maximum police-reported injury severity within selected crash types.

This paper presents estimates for both the economic and comprehensive costs per crash for three police-coded severity groupings within 16 selected crash types and within two speed limit categories ( or=50 mph). The economic costs are hard dollar costs. The comprehensive costs include economic costs and quality of life losses. We merged previously developed costs per victim keyed on the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) into US crash data files that scored injuries in both the AIS and police-coded severity scales to produce per crash estimates. The most costly crashes were non-intersection fatal/disabling injury crashes on a road with a speed limit of 50 miles per hour or higher where multiple vehicles crashed head-on or a single vehicle struck a human (over 1.69 and $1.16 million per crash, respectively). The annual cost of police-reported run-off-road collisions, which include both rollovers and object impacts, represented 34% of total costs.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗
PubMed2004

Writing a police statement.

BACKGROUND: Requests for police statements regarding a patient's medical condition or injuries are common. A lack of training in their preparation, coupled with ignorance as to their fate, combine to make the task one which is generally viewed as a necessary paperwork evil. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to provide practical guidelines and a suggested format for use when preparing a police statement. DISCUSSION: Police statements prepared by medical practitioners are important documents whose intended audience is overwhelmingly nonmedical. A small time investment made in the preparation of a concise, objective report in language likely to be understood by the lay person will assist the courts in understanding complex medical issues and may obviate the need for the doctor to appear in court as a witness. A structured statement 'proforma' can be readily customised and will both reduce time in preparation of reports and serve as a prompt for inclusion of essential details.

Australia↗
PubMed2005

Police-reported intimate partner violence during pregnancy: who is at risk?

The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to determine risk factors for police-reported intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy among Seattle residents with a registered live birth or fetal death in Washington State. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals for the association between demographic, behavioral, and obstetric history risk factors and any, physical, and non-physical police-reported IPV. Significant risk factors for any police-reported IPV during pregnancy included unmarried status (aOR 2.36), public health program use (aOR 1.33), smoking or alcohol use during pregnancy (aORs 1.45 and 1.80, respectively), previous live birth (aOR 1.39), and previous spontaneous or induced abortion (aORs 1.39 and 1.34, respectively). Risk factors for physical IPV varied only slightly from those for any IPV, and fewer factors were associated with nonphysical IPV. Demographic, behavioral, and obstetric history risk factors are potential markers of IPV risk during pregnancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Police officer suicide: causes, prevention, and practical intervention strategies.

More police officers die by their own hand than are killed in the line of duty. This article outlines the facts and statistics about police officer suicide and discusses the range of possible contributory factors to officer burnout, depression, and suicide. It then describes the range of prevention strategies that police agencies can employ to minimize this tragedy, including identification of risk factors, sensitivity to overt and subtle cues of officer distress, and proper utilization of counseling and referral services. Next, the article offers practical guidelines for dealing with officers in states of impending or acute suicidal crises. Finally, the importance of suicide prevention and intervention in the context of comprehensive mental health services for all public safety workers is highlighted.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Health hazard evaluation of police officers and firefighters after Hurricane Katrina--New Orleans, Louisiana, October 17-28 and November 30-December 5, 2005.

In the weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, reports of increased injuries and symptoms of physical illness and psychological strain among New Orleans police officers and firefighters prompted CDC to conduct a health hazard evaluation of these two groups. Questionnaires were distributed to members of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) 7-13 weeks after the hurricane. This report summarizes the results of that evaluation, which determined that upper respiratory and skin rash symptoms were the most common physical symptoms reported by police officers and firefighters and lacerations and sprains were the most common injuries. In addition, approximately one third of the respondents reported either depressive symptoms or symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or both. These results underscore the need to incorporate the safety and health of emergency responders into existing disaster preparedness plans and to provide periodic responder training and education in tasks unique to disaster situations. Clinical follow-up of the physical and psychological health of emergency responders should be conducted to better understand, monitor, and treat their health conditions.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1995

Impact of increased legal access to needles and syringes on practices of injecting-drug users and police officers--Connecticut, 1992-1993.

To determine whether the simultaneous, partial repeal of needle prescription and drug paraphernalia laws in Connecticut affected purchasing and usage of needles and syringes (syringes) by injecting-drug users (IDUs) and risk of needlestick injuries to police officers, we conducted two serial cross-sectional surveys with IDUs recruited in drug treatment centers, correctional facilities, and health department settings. Reports of needlestick injuries among Hartford police officers were reviewed before and after the new laws. Among IDUs who reported ever sharing a syringe, syringe-sharing decreased after the new laws (52% before vs. 31% after; p = 0.02). Fewer IDUs reported purchasing syringes on the street after the new laws (74% before vs. 28% after; p < 0.0001). More IDUs reported purchasing syringes from a pharmacy after the new laws (19% before vs. 78% after; p < 0.0001). Eight to eleven months after the new laws were enacted, over two thirds (91 of 134) of active IDUs interviewed were aware of both new laws. Needlestick injury rates among Hartford police officers were lower after the new laws (six injuries in 1,007 drug-related arrests for 6-month period before new laws vs. two in 1,032 arrests for 6-month period after new laws). The changes in Connecticut laws were associated with decreases in self-reported syringe-sharing and increases in purchasing by IDUs of sterile syringes from reliable sources, suggesting that the simultaneous repeal of both prescription and paraphernalia laws is an important HIV prevention strategy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Section 9 police statement: a guide for junior doctors.

In England and Wales the police require medical evidence in crimes committed against a person. This will take the form of either a verbal statement given to a police officer under his/her direction, or a written report compiled by the doctor. Police surgeons regularly compile these reports without any complications. However, for many junior doctors they have potential pitfalls. This article is aimed primarily at junior doctors and GPs who are asked infrequently to provide medical evidence in criminal cases.

Crime↗
PubMed1994

Worksite AIDS education: a case study of the New York City police.

The New York City Police Department (NYCPD) offers AIDS education on a continuing basis to all uniformed police personnel. The program consists of a videotape, published materials, lecture with medical experts, and individual counseling available on request. This study focuses on police officers' sources of information about AIDS, comparing the workplace program to other sources, as well as their knowledge about HIV transmission and their attitudes towards co-workers with AIDS. Two precincts were surveyed, one in an area of higher prevalence of AIDS cases and the other in an area of lower prevalence. All employees valued the workplace program as more informative than personal and professional sources, but somewhat less informative than the media and the Surgeon General's pamphlet. While officers in both precincts were knowledgeable about the spread of HIV, those more knowledgeable had more positive attitudes towards infected co-workers. Precinct differences suggest that future programs might take into account site-specific characteristics.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

More guns and younger assailants. A combined police and trauma center study.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that guns have become the weapon of choice for assaults and that both assailants and victims have become progressively younger. DESIGN: Retrospective review of trauma center and police department data sources. SETTING: Regional trauma center with university affiliation; municipal police department. SUBJECTS: Victims of assault with a deadly weapon from 3 discontiguous years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age of assailant and victim, type of injury, frequency of blunt vs penetrating injury. RESULTS: From June 1991 to May 1992 and June 1993 to May 1994, the incidence of penetrating trauma increased from 27% to 35% of trauma center admissions (chi 2 test; P < .001). During the period from June 1985 to May 1994, assault with a deadly weapon increased by 220% and firearms became the most common assault mechanism (from 32% to 54%; chi 2 test; P < .001). Assailants using guns became significantly younger, with the percentage of assailants aged 11 to 20 years increasing from 24% to 47% (chi 2 test; P = .001). The ages of assault victims also decreased (P < .003), but were more evenly distributed across age categories. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of penetrating trauma has increased in both absolute numbers and in relative proportion to blunt trauma. Firearms have become the weapon of choice and the single largest group of assailants are 11 to 20 years of age. The use of concurrent police and trauma center databases provides a more cogent basis for developing effective violence prevention strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Police-referred psychiatric emergencies: advantages of community treatment.

Police traditionally have brought persons they define to be in need of psychiatric intervention to state hospitals. However, as large state facilities decline, community mental health centers must be prepared to receive these individuals. The present study defines the client population that police bring to a large, urban community mental health center. In addition, a two-year follow-up compares the dispositions of those persons brought by police to the community mental health center with the outcomes for patients treated at a state facility. Treatment benefits inherent in such a community-based program are discussed.

Community Mental Health Centers↗
PubMed1984

Effect of a mental health educational program upon police officers.

Community-based psychiatric treatment and domestic crises have precipitated police officers to intervene with emotionally disturbed people. The investigator hypothesized that an 8-hour educational seminar would significantly improve knowledge and attitudes of police officers toward people experiencing emotional difficulty. A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design (control n = 33, experimental n = 27) was used. A knowledge measure specific to seminar content, the Osgood Semantic Differential, and an evaluative questionnaire were the outcome measures. Police officers' knowledge about working with people experiencing emotional difficulty increased, but attitudes were not altered. All officers reported that the seminar was a valuable experience. These results suggest that educational programs can impact nonhealth care worker in contact with the emotionally disturbed.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Helping police officers to cope with stress: a cognitive--behavioral approach.

Police Academy trainees participated in a stress management program which focused on developing skills for coping with anxiety and anger. Stress management training took place in six 2-hour sessions and included instruction and practice in the self-monitoring of reactions to stressful situations, muscular relaxation, and the development of adaptive self-statements. Self-report measures of anxiety and anger were obtained before and after the stress management program. In addition, self and observer ratings of trainees' performance in stressful simulated police activities were utilized as posttreatment dependent measures. In comparison to a control group of trainees, the performance of the treatment group was rated, by academy personnel, as superior in several of the simulated police activities. The results of the present study suggest that stress management with law enforcement officers may be most effective when the program focuses on the specific situations which are likely to be encountered by trainees. Limitations of the present program are examined and suggestions for future efforts with law enforcement personnel are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Police responses for mental health assistance.

The police have become one of the primary referral agencies for psychiatric assistance in the community. They utilize certain factors that determine the decisions affecting case disposition for every mental health assistance call they receive. This study of a police department's mental health responses for the year 1985 attempts to analyze the police officers' placement decisions for the mentally ill and the criteria for which such dispositions are made.

Alcoholic Intoxication↗
PubMed1976

Psychological consultation to a police training academy: problems and opportunities.

Police departments are systems of social regulation affecting the lives of many citizens. Psychological instruction to trainees can increase the armamentarium of police techniques in dealing with civil disturbances. Such instruction must be cognizant of attitudinal resistances toward new police instructors, particularly those with an intellectual or university orientation. Crisis situations that are handled by a proper balancing of coercive and negotiation types of techniques generate the most effective solution to disturbance situations. An approach is offered for effective teaching of a balanced-coercive alliance model.

Attitude↗
PubMed1975

Mental health training and consultation with suburban police.

A community mental health consultation and education program with 10 suburban police departments has helped foster the development of an awareness of mental health issues on the part of police officers and their chiefs and increased their orientation toward prevention of problems before they arise. The keys to success in this project have been flexibility in the application of consultation and training modalities, a willingness to view the world through the police officers' eyes, and the cooperative involvement of officers and their chiefs in all phases of program planning.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Bicycle accidents and injuries: a pilot study comparing hospital- and police-reported data.

Bicycle accident and injury data collected by two different samples of North Carolina hospital emergency rooms during the summers of 1985 and 1986 are examined and compared with state police-reported bicycle accident data for the same time periods. Of the 649 emergency room treated bicyclists, 62% were children aged 5-14 and 70% were male. Nineteen percent of the riders suffered moderate or worse injuries (AIS greater than or equal to 2), and 6% were hospitalized. In contrast, less than half of the police-reported accidents involved riders under 15 years of age, 85% of the riders were male, and two-thirds suffered moderate or worse injury. Whereas virtually all of the police-reported accidents involved a motor vehicle, less than a fifth of the emergency room cases did. Only 10% of the emergency room cases were duplicated on the state accident files. It is estimated that 800 children ages 0-19 are hospitalized annually in North Carolina for bicycle-related injuries, and an additional 13,300 children receive emergency room treatment.

Accidents↗
PubMed1990

Facing AIDS: reactions among police officers, nurses and the general public in Sweden.

This study compares police officers and registered nurses and the general public concerning their perceptions of the risk of HIV infection, attitudes toward HIV-infected individuals, and attitudes toward measures used to fight the AIDS epidemic. Information was obtained through mail questionnaires sent to random samples of individuals, aged 25-44 years, from the 3 groups. The samples included 525, 501 and 1600 individuals respectively. Response rates were 85, 93 and 74%. The study showed good knowledge concerning verified carriers of HIV infection (blood, sperm, vaginal secretion, etc.). A widespread fear of unverified carriers of infection (public toilets, kissing on the mouth) existed particularly among the public and police officers. Negative attitudes toward HIV-infected individuals and demands for compulsory measures were common among all groups, although least common among nurses and most common among the police. Positive relationships were established between the fear of unverified carriers of infection, repulsive attitudes toward individuals infected by HIV, and demands for compulsory measures.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗