Spirituality. An Invisible Weapon for Wounded Warriors

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Helena Marshall
5 years ago
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Spirituality An Invisible Weapon for Wounded Warriors By SAMUEL L. FEEMSTER, M.Div., J.D. shutterstock.

crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.

carrying out these activities also should remain unseen?

officers and themselves, against the assaults of human predators wounds all those sworn to uphold the law.

worldwide, even when they cannot explain its features or precisely identify how it operates.

However, these experience-based behavioral responses and coping mechanisms are learned disciplines that officers employ

1 Spirituality An Invisible Weapon for Wounded Warriors By SAMUEL L. FEEMSTER, M.Div., J.D. shutterstock.com ccording to Sir Robert Peel, England s pioneer of modern policing, The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it. If evidence of their actions should not be visible, does it follow that the wounds all law enforcement officers incur carrying out these activities also should remain unseen? The ominous necessity of being armed and vigilant to protect the innocent and defenseless, not to mention their fellow officers and themselves, against the assaults of human predators wounds all those sworn to uphold the law. Fortunately, spirituality, a universal, human dimension, 1 is an invisible weapon used by law enforcement professionals worldwide, even when they cannot explain its features or precisely identify how it operates. 2 Sometimes, spirituality is misidentified as ethics, emotional intelligence, intuitive policing, or stress management. However, these experience-based behavioral responses and coping mechanisms are learned disciplines that officers employ in their fight to survive wounds inflicted upon them. Most law enforcement agencies have begun proactively addressing the realities of job-related stressors, crisis incidents, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and other potentially debilitating conditions and wounds January 2009 / 1

2 Special Agent Feemster serves in the Behavioral Science Unit at the FBI Academy. fl The ominous necessity of being armed and vigilant to protect the innocent and defenseless... against the assaults of human predators wounds all those sworn to uphold the law. fi fi fifi fi fi fi fi 2 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin

3 January 2009 / 3 shutterstock.com fifi fl fi will fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi intentional

4 fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi When senior ofcers embrace and model spirituality-oriented policing, the positive effect on their department and community proves incalculable. fl fi fi fi fi fifi fi fl fi fi fi 4 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin

Spirituality in Law Enforcement Practice Model Emotional

Spirituality Performance Longevity Stress Management

law enforcement practice, performance, vitality, and

This model connects spirituality with these four areas.

spirituality is the source of effectiveness for stress

longevity, performance, and practice of law enforcement by

the law throughout their period of vocational active duty.

5 Spirituality in Law Enforcement Practice Model Emotional Intelligence Practice Intuitive Policing Ethics Spirituality Performance Longevity Stress Management Vitality Spirituality is the human dimension that shapes law enforcement practice, performance, vitality, and longevity. This model connects spirituality with these four areas. Moving from left to right, the model posits that spirituality is the source of effectiveness for stress management, ethics, intuitive policing, and emotional intelligence. In short, it ampli es them, and they, in turn, feed back into spirituality in a healthy of cer. On the right side, spirituality affects the vitality, longevity, performance, and practice of law enforcement by enabling of cers to recharge themselves in the spirit of the law throughout their period of vocational active duty. A nurtured spirituality improves practice, performance, vitality, and longevity, which all feed back into spirituality to improve emotional intelligence, intuition, ethics, and stress management. fi fifi fi fi fi fl January 2009 / 5

6 fi fi fi fi fi fi fi Vitality is important because repeated exposures keep ofcers in constant start-up mode. fi fi fi fi fi 6 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin

7 fi fi fi fi fi fi fl stockxpert.com fi fi fi fi fifi fi fi January 2009 / 7

8 fi fi fi fi fi The spiritual well-being of ofcers should be a primary concern beginning at recruitment and continuing until after retirement. fi fi fi fi fi fi 8 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin

9 fi fi fifi fifi fifi Digital Vision fi fi fi fi fi fi January 2009 / 9

10 fl fi fi fi stockxpert.com fi fi fi 10 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin

11 fi fi fi flfi fi fi Spirituality refers to disciplines undertaken in the care and furtherance of the wholesome or holistic development of the spirit. fl fifi fi fi January 2009 / 11

Through the use of the stress management programs offered, the department projects the following benefits:

Through the use of the stress management programs offered, the department projects the following benefits: Kent PD Title #8.90 Peer Support Policy There is a need for employees to have support for both personal and professional crisis situations and general work stressors. Employees may be under personal stressors,