Do you as a Policeman, mask your feelings, how do you feel about what goes on, on the streets...?

Question

What do you actually feel like, if you have to handle a difficult
crime scene and go home to your family, does it affect you
in a psychological way, how do you cope with this......................

Then on top of it, how do you cope with the general situation,
in the communities you police, touchy feely stuff aside, is it
hard for you...................................................................................

Answer 1

Now you know why police have the highest divorce and suicide rates and health problems such as heart disease.

No other profession demands so much and pays so little. We risk our lives and see the absolute worst of humanity. There is no way to completely turn off your emotions and feelings. You must simply repress them and never let them show. You become somewhat desensitized. Yes, it would have to affect us psychologically, but that is the price you pay much like a war veteran I would imagine.

But worse is the hatred and misunderstanding of the very society that we are sworn to protect. We are routinely falsely accused of everything from racism to corruption to police brutality, and are generally perceived to be guilty of these and a lot more.

It's hard, but you try to block out images of your own family when working cases of child or spousal abuse. Otherwise you may not be completely fair when dealing with the violator in one of these cases. You try to treat everyone equally, despite your true feelings.

We're human beings, despite what the general public thinks of us.

Answer 2

I have answered this question before. When you go to work your have to turn off your fears, emotions. If you let the dead bodys, the child victims, the ignorant people, the hours etc. you will go crazy. The problem rest with the ability to turn back ON to be a loving father, husband, good neighbor. Police work does not get left at the "office". I still wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking about things I have seen.

Answer 3

Policing is a job, all police must remain divorced from anything but the facts of a case. There is no room for emotional responses