PoliceLink

Greetings,

Next Wednesday I have an interview with our Chief and a few staff.  I have presented an idea that I found no president or really any info for on the internet.

I'm 54 and run a successful business so I have control of my schedule. About 5 years ago I was ordained as a Foursquare Pastor and prior to that I was a licensed Clinical Psychologist.

These careers are both finished now having let both licenses lapse, however the training and experience remains.

My desire is to support full time officers and their families as a Reserve Officer in both a concrete e.g. physically hands on and psychologically, without a written record. At this point I have no reporting requirement nor need for records. I suspect that the thought of getting help for depression or suicidal ideations or whatever from an "official" provider is not particularly appealing as evidenced by the high number of stress related issues among officers.

Since this is new idea, I’m asking you guys what you think.

In addition, any ideas on how to set it up would be very helpful. The force here is small – about 80 people so everybody is eventually going to know my background and I’m concerned that just having me along will suggest that there are “problems”. I could say nothing to my peers but that’s deceitful and eventually will be discovered. General mandatory rides seem heavy handed; assigned individual rides would be threatening etc.

So there it is, I think the concept is good but the execution may be difficult, maybe even impossible.

I really hope you guys can help in this endeavor.

Best,

Ross

HOLD ON...let me get up on the box.....go ahead TAM.....preach it now....remember lunch is served immediately following communion....

Did I miss something here? This is "Ask a Cop" isn't it? And once again we have non-LEOs jumping in to respond to the questions.  When will people learn not to step over their boundaries here? If you are not a LEo, but want to offer your opinion, then please email the person posting the question.  If you respond in the thread then you are asking for the wrath of the real LEOs on the site.  This warning has been given time and time again by several of the Moderators, yet people insist on jumping into answer questions not directed at them......Geez.

Regarding the original question, if you want to be a Reserve Officer, fine, but since you are no longer a certified Psychologist the problems with that have already been pointed out. 

Thanks for the feedback.

Some of you have suggested that using the term Psychologist or any derivative of its name is illegal, that is true. However, in this situation I have never presented myself as a Psychologist; however I have the training, experience and degree to understand a bit of the dynamics that happen in stressful occupations. The license of a Foursquare minister is always tied to an assignment or Church, since I have no assignment presently I have no license.

It sounds like having my clergy license reinstated would be a good idea to provide some confidentiality; my hope was to just be one of the guys with background that could help in various situations. The concern raised here suggests that any Cop talking with another Cop privately could be used against one another, does that mean that you never speak of hardships or trials in the car or while fishing or at dinner with a peer?

I understand that it will take time to develop any sense of trust; do you think that going through the entire regular Academy would engender more trust then attending the more drawn out Reserve Academy?

It seems like approaching this religiously also poses trust issues, a religious perspective is not always held in high regard given today’s repeated failings of many institutions.

I’m interested in your perspective, not picking a fight. If what I’m looking at won’t work what will?

Thanks Again,

Ross

rossneder says ...

 

Thanks for the feedback.

Some of you have suggested that using the term Psychologist or any derivative of its name is illegal, that is true. However, in this situation I have never presented myself as a Psychologist; however I have the training, experience and degree to understand a bit of the dynamics that happen in stressful occupations. The license of a Foursquare minister is always tied to an assignment or Church, since I have no assignment presently I have no license.

It sounds like having my clergy license reinstated would be a good idea to provide some confidentiality; my hope was to just be one of the guys with background that could help in various situations. The concern raised here suggests that any Cop talking with another Cop privately could be used against one another, does that mean that you never speak of hardships or trials in the car or while fishing or at dinner with a peer?

I understand that it will take time to develop any sense of trust; do you think that going through the entire regular Academy would engender more trust then attending the more drawn out Reserve Academy?

It seems like approaching this religiously also poses trust issues, a religious perspective is not always held in high regard given today’s repeated failings of many institutions.

I’m interested in your perspective, not picking a fight. If what I’m looking at won’t work what will?

 

Thanks Again,

Ross

I'm not sure what you are looking for, what I am picking up is, that you are looking to provide a shoulder to cry on for police officer going through an emotional time and are hoping that the experience of pass psycological studies and previously a licensed clergy will help officers trust you and maybe let you in quicker than they would anyone else. That won't cut it for most officers I know including myself, and mandating they speak to you or anyone else is like leading the horse to water and trying to make him drink, the best bet you have at becoming a confidant to police officers is to become the best police officer around we tend to lean on each other when having what is considered a weak moment of self pity, otherwise we deal as best we can without need of a bug brother figure.

It's a loss cause my brother, as long as people feel they know" what it's like" being a cop for whatever reason they want to use, they will continue to disrespect all of us, I have heard like you all the excuses of why they feel they should be able to answer in the "ask a cop" thread, I'm a CO, Security guard, I was married to a cop once, My dad is a cop, my brother was a cop, I saw a cop once at a fair, I got a ticket once, I watch cops, I dressed like a cop once for halloween, what ever the reason, they all feel like they know enough without going through the academy or working the streets to answer a question posed to cops.

ODIN says ...

It's a loss cause my brother, as long as people feel they know" what it's like" being a cop for whatever reason they want to use, they will continue to disrespect all of us, I have heard like you all the excuses of why they feel they should be able to answer in the "ask a cop" thread, I'm a CO, Security guard, I was married to a cop once, My dad is a cop, my brother was a cop, I saw a cop once at a fair, I got a ticket once, I watch cops, I dressed like a cop once for halloween, what ever the reason, they all feel like they know enough without going through the academy or working the streets to answer a question posed to cops.

Retleo says...

Amen Brother, its like telling a four year old not to touch a hot stove.....ya know they just have to do it....and get burned...before they learn.