Apart from my duties as a chaplain for LASD, I also serve as a hospital chaplain. There, I frequently see patients and their families dealing with tough times — often the toughest of their lives. Good times do not last. Hard times are inevitable. This is Job’s famous lament: “Where is God in tough times?” […]
CUMULATIVE TRAUMA
It’s like a slow drip into a bucket that never gets emptied, until the bucket overflows. Cumulative trauma has also been referred to as cumulative post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). John Marx, founder of Copsalive.com, calls it Blue Trauma Syndrome. It consists of having difficult experiences over a long period of time that simply add up. […]
SPRING CLEANING FOR THE SOUL It is time for spring cleaning, and that means cleaning out the garage, the backyard and the locker at work. What a wonderful feeling it is to have a fresh start. However, tossing junk is much easier than clearing out our emotional clutter, which means getting rid of what holds […]
SURPRISING SIGNS THAT YOUR STRESS LEVEL IS TOO HIGH AND HOW IT COULD BE HURTING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
Whether you work patrol or custody, there’s no need for me to waste your time by telling you how stressful your job is and how it’s becoming even more stressful with each passing day. Most people know that toxic levels of stress are harmful to their mind, emotions and bodies. But, how many consider the […]
THE BOND OF LOVE
One of the most beautiful qualities and privileges police officers share is the bond of brotherly love. It is not written anywhere but it is sealed in our hearts. It is our culture. It is who we are. Last summer, I was called to the hospital because a veteran deputy had suddenly passed. His spouse […]
ALCOHOL AND STRESS
What is relaxation? It is having no aggravations, nothing to irk or bother you. Can alcohol remove aggravations from your life? It does not fix the annoyances but temporarily dulls the symptoms as you build a tolerance. In other words, the actual effect of alcohol decreases, and your need for it increases. Soon the aggravations […]
CUSTODY PERSONNEL NEED RESILIENCY NOW MORE THAN EVER
Working in a custody facility has always been demanding and dangerous work, with stressors and pressures coming from all sides (inmates, co-workers and supervisors). But working custody at LASD poses some unique challenges, because Twin Towers is our country’s largest mental health institution. Recent legally mandated reforms have expanded job duties while the Department continues […]