Dear Editor,
It is rather unfortunate that there appears to be a significant increase in the number of suicidal/stress-related killings by police officers. This is evident in the recent killing of a young lady by her husband who sworn to serve and to protect the citizens of our nation.
Within one year we are looking at three incidents, in May 2013 a policeman was charged for the shooting death of his wife in St Mary. Within the short space of three months a policeman in Portland was charged for shooting his girlfriend and attempting suicide. Unless we deal with the problems proactively with a view of finding the causal link, this may become a regular occurrence, and we may sadly be able to predict an incident within three to six months of this article.
I previously wrote on the importance of psychological testing for police officers. I share a strong passion for this because I recognise that high-stress working environment can break down the strongest of men.
Minister Bunting, you are a world-class leader, with great vision and strategic skills. If needs be, kindly dust off your DB&G proactive thinking cap and move expeditiously with "regular assessment of officers". Not only will you be able to save potential victims, but that very test may save the life of that same officer. We are not reinventing the wheel, this is international best practice. Most recently, two New Jersey police officers and their union challenged a 12-year-old policy requiring officers of all ranks to be tested every three years. The judge blasted the officers and dismissed the suit.
Richard Longmore
richardlongmore@yahoo.comGive cops psychological tests
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It is rather unfortunate that there appears to be a significant increase in the number of suicidal/stress-related killings by police officers. This is evident in the recent killing of a young lady by her husband who sworn to serve and to protect the citizens of our nation.
Within one year we are looking at three incidents, in May 2013 a policeman was charged for the shooting death of his wife in St Mary. Within the short space of three months a policeman in Portland was charged for shooting his girlfriend and attempting suicide. Unless we deal with the problems proactively with a view of finding the causal link, this may become a regular occurrence, and we may sadly be able to predict an incident within three to six months of this article.
I previously wrote on the importance of psychological testing for police officers. I share a strong passion for this because I recognise that high-stress working environment can break down the strongest of men.
Minister Bunting, you are a world-class leader, with great vision and strategic skills. If needs be, kindly dust off your DB&G proactive thinking cap and move expeditiously with "regular assessment of officers". Not only will you be able to save potential victims, but that very test may save the life of that same officer. We are not reinventing the wheel, this is international best practice. Most recently, two New Jersey police officers and their union challenged a 12-year-old policy requiring officers of all ranks to be tested every three years. The judge blasted the officers and dismissed the suit.
Richard Longmore
richardlongmore@yahoo.comGive cops psychological tests
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