FOP wants more resources to help officers struggling with mental health - WLWT Cincinnati

CINCINNATI —

The new year will bring a new push to create more help for Cincinnati police officers who struggle with depression, stress, emotional problems and perhaps even thoughts of suicide.

The issue is top of mind for the Fraternal Order of Police and has taken on greater urgency and meaning in the past 10 days.

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Sergeant Arthur Schultz, a highly regarded veteran officer, died of a self-inflicted gunshot in Eden Park just a few days before Christmas. And although the reasons for his suicide are unknown, the rank-and-file wants officers who are struggling emotionally and mentally to feel comfortable about getting the help they need.

They see on ongoing problem that remains below the surface, hidden.

They fear it will stay there unless individual officers feel more secure about opening up.

The FOP has an idea about how to create a feeling of greater security and intends to raise the matter during contract negotiations in 2019.

The union has heard from officers that there is a reluctance to go to the city for help.

"You don't see that a lot, a lot of officers talkin' about problems that they're dealing with," said Sgt. Adrian Miller.

Schultz was his supervisor for two years in the vice squad.

Sergeant Miller now supervises officers in District Four and tries to stay attuned to their morale, interactions with the public and someone's bad day.

"Absolutely and you also have to be able to provide some type of resource for them to handle what's goin' on or what they're dealin' with", explained Miller.

The FOP said it appreciates what the city does offer to help police officers through difficult circumstances.

There is a peer support program maintained by the city as well as a police psychologist who is available.

There is also the Public Employee Assistance Program (PEAP) through which professional counselors can be accessed.

But even though those resources are in place, there is a hesitancy about utilizing them.

Some officers fear being put on desk duty or labeled a problem.

"There's a mistrust from police officers out in the field to seek any kind of emotional or psychological help if they feel like they're dealing with something", according to K-9 Officer Sean Woods, who is also a police chaplain.

Sergeant Lisa Crisati, who is a trainer at the Police Academy and teaches crisis intervention to recruits, detailed to us how officers keep their stress levels hidden in order to always project an image of certainty and confidence.

"For us to ever open up as a policeman, you know, and to say that we are vulnerable and we are having problems, we need to be okay with who we're talking to", she stated.

In upcoming contract talks next spring, the Fraternal Order of Police will propose asking the city for resources to provide union psychiatrists.

The union sees a need for more than what the city is currently providing in order to make sure cultural diversity is a consideration.

"It's very important to have someone that you can identify with to be able to help you through your problems," said Miller.

The city administration may believe it has a right to know what those problems are.

Sergeant Hils doesn't know if that will be the city's response but has a ready answer for it.

"Would you rather have somebody not get any help at all and in turn nobody know that they're struggling? Cause I think that's what you potentially risk," he said.

Police believe there is still a stigma associated with depression and they worry about being perceived as weak or unable to handle their own lives and doubts.

"We need to give resources to our fellow officers," said Woods.

He sees a need for officers to have a place to go and confide in an expert without a report filed that goes back up through the chain of command. "There's way too many stresses on the job not to have that option."

Crisati referenced the heavy baggage that comes with policing.

She said the emotional impact of having to arrest a parent as a young child cries is just one example of what can build over time and affect an officer's outlook.

"And you don't even know, I think, that it's collateral," Crisati said.

She mentioned the vests that protect police from bullets and pointed out there is no vest protection for the very human wounds of dealing with traumatic situations that require a police response.

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