Fragile Blue Line

But what happens, over time, as the echoes of those tragedies and horrors begin repeating in their minds, wearing them down, making them question the choices they’ve made, their commitment to the job, and, in some truly unfortunate cases, their very existence?

So far in 2019, nine New York Police Department officers have taken their lives, unable to deal with the stresses and traumas they have endured on the job. Statistics like that, and similar numbers across the country, have led law enforcement agencies to strengthen programs — or initiate them where they haven’t existed — to help officers learn how to better cope with the emotional after-effects of dealing with devastating situations.While programs were already in the works locally, this summer’s murder of two toddlers, discovered in Montauk, put the issue front and center. Southampton Town Police Chief Steven Skrynecki has proposed that the 10 East End police departments band together to form a peer support network, and that effort is gaining significant traction.The idea is that a fellow officer may be best suited to understand and empathize with the unique stresses and experiences that their brothers or sisters in arms deal with on a daily basis, whether it’s a horrific scene like the one in Montauk, or more everyday things like working rotating shifts or missing family occasions or functions while working.

Officers often feel a stigma when reaching out to non-police personnel for help, because they feel they need to perceived as strong and independent. Talking to someone who with similar experiences dispels that stigma.

The peer support network just makes sense. Who better to help than someone who has worked through the same bugaboos an officer is facing?

The program should receive wide support from the community and local lawmakers, all of whom will benefit greatly from a reinvigorated and healthy police force, eager to continue the difficult job they have taken on: making us all feel safe and protected.