I did not become a police officer because I didn't think I could handle all the gore- ie ; dead bodies, etc. How do you handle all of the sickening things you have to see? Did you have a very hard time at first? Does it ever give you nightmares?
2007-08-12 13:03:54 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I have been a officer since 1971 and it is difficult and never gets really easy. I don't know that I have ever really had any nightmares from what I have seen. The way I learned to handle the dead bodies and gore etc... was to realize that what I was looking at was no longer a person per se. What makes you a person i.e. the soul, leaves at the time of death. As to persons with injuries you just learn to deal with it or get in a different line of work. I will tell you this, I have found that the opportunities that I have had over the years to help my community have far out weighed the negatives so I feel truly blessed to have been given the chance to have had this career. Currently I am a retired state trooper and working part time as a deputy sheriff in some of the prettiest country God ever created. Hope that helps to answer your question. Rob.
2007-08-12 13:19:32 · answer #1 · answered by Robin B 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
To be honest with you, I don't really know how I handle it. I saw a lot of dead bodies, gore, etc., during my time in the military and the first time I saw another human being really mangled, I vomited all over the place. You can always spot the rookie by the vomiting or constant staring at the decedent. I've seen so much gore over the last twelve years as a peace officer that I can't even begin to count the numbers. I guess I've developed a sub-conscious way to separate myself from what I see. It's not so much the sight as it is the smell. I do have nightmares occasionally but they are usually war related instead of law enforcement related. It used to bother me quite a bit and I sometimes wonder why it doesn't anymore. Babies and children never really bothered me any more than adults did until I became a father. Now they bother me the most. I guess my sense of humor helps me deal with unpleasant things. I've never really sat down and put any thought into the things I see at work, they just kinda get blocked out by having hobbies and interests that are totally detached from law enforcement. I've probably been changed by what I've seen on some sort of fundamental level but it never affects my home life.
2007-08-13 05:47:23 · answer #2 · answered by Brian C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an ex-police officer, and you're right about it being hard to to handle dead bodies. But to be honest it does get eaiser with time. The first dead body I had to deal with was third week, on the job during my F.T.O training period, and it did make me nervous.
It my come as a taboo to most people, but how I learned not to get afraid of being around the dead bodies are three simple things
1. Be prepared for the smell: dead bodies after a while start to stink really bad, so just be ready for.
2. Be professional, not personal: the same way a clerks files papers at their officer job, you have to do the same with the dead body. Just put in your mind it's your job. (that helped me a lot)
3. Tell jokes: while with the body tell a few jokes, about the smell, what the person has on, or wait to see what others reaction will be if it really a bad one.
4. Get the job done: I hated having to deal with dead bodies, so I just went there, and got everything I needed as quick as possible, I would have to stay their too long. (however dead body found will take a few hours to complete).
The saddest dead bodies officers have to deal with are the babies, and little kids.
2007-08-12 14:00:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
For what you see you just compartmentalize it and tell yourself its like biology class or its only a movie.
For what you smell, either learn to breathe just through your mouth( but then flies can get in) wear an airpak, call the Fire dept. to do the removal, or carry a small bottle of Vicks and put some under your nose.
Don't eat any fancy dinners right away. Some nights you have dreams of the parade of some of the ones you've seen but this goes away after a while and you just kinda forget about it.Haven't had any dreams about it for a number of years and I've been retired four. Certainly makes you glad to get home to the family and you learn that anytime it could be you. Just don't want any fellow officers to have to deal with whats left of me .
2007-08-13 23:04:21 · answer #4 · answered by Ret. Sgt. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a cop, but all the police officers in my town haven't seen any gore in at least 30 years.
I dint think that should have prevented you from becoming a police officer if your really like that profession. You should still become one, but move to a small town where nothing happens, like mine!
2007-08-12 13:08:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
everyone has a hard time with what they see. if someone says they dont then they are lying. the trick in dealing with this crap is not to hang on to them. many people have a hard time seperating these things from their personal. many many officers are taking anti depressants.whe even this does not help they can be diagnosed with job related ptsd.that happened to me 2 years after i retired
2007-08-12 19:32:29 · answer #6 · answered by charlsyeh 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well now that you mention it.... I think being a police officer is harder than I thought...
(I'm not a police officer though)
2007-08-12 13:08:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is something that comes fro within. Some who have been in the military have already seen it. Nurses, EMTs see it too. It tears you up. My faith helps.
2007-08-12 13:13:50 · answer #8 · answered by lenshure 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hopefully they are prepared for that type of stuff in school.
2007-08-12 13:08:58 · answer #9 · answered by C'est Comme Un Rêve 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋