Page 34 - February 2016

Helping officers handle challenges of the job
Stress management class
n BY DAN CAMPANA
In his 16 years working with the Chicago Police Depart- ment, Dr. Robert Sobo has seen “significant” change in the willingness of officers to step forward and deal with emotional issues stemming from the job.
One way that’s taken place in Chicago during the past sev- eral years is through a two-day Stress Management class pre- sented monthly throughout 2016 by FOP
Lodge 7.
Topics include stress,
depression, anxiety, post- traumatic stress disorder, suicide and other ways police officers are emo- tionally impacted by
what they see every day. One hot topic, according to Sobo, is “vicarious trauma” which is the “result of an accumulation of being in a stressful environment.” Sobo references high call volume districts with more traumatic incidents as one exam- ple.
The class goal is to find the best ways to cope with the stress while facing it on a regular basis, but the first step is determin- ing the causes affecting officers and encouraging them to communicate with others about it to help process their emo- tions.
“It’s part identifying the stresses of the job ... and how to cope with it while being submerged” in the work, Sobo said of the class. “The effect of the job on them and their family is discussed.”
For years, the stigma of what it meant to be a police officer was focused on toughness by not acknowledging when something was wrong. The class, as well as other EAP pro- grams, aims to continue that positive momentum of change by providing help to those seeking it.
“It’s reframing what it means to be strong,” Sobo explained. “Our job is to constantly monitor the police department’s needs and implement programs so that police officers and their families get the services they need.”
Classes range from 25 to 30 officers for each two-day class held monthly at Hartgrove Hospital. Sobo said the attendance numbers have been consistent and, in another good sign, that’s often because an officer hears about it from a colleague who had a good experience.
Although the mission of the class hasn’t changed over the years, it holds a particular level of importance given the cur- rent context of the police profession.
“(The class) is all the more important today because polic- ing is such a difficult job right now,” Sobo offered.
Upcoming class dates include: Feb. 25-26; March 24-25; April 28-29; May 26-27; June 23-24; July 28-29; Aug. 25-26; Sept. 22-23; Oct. 27-28; and Dec. 1-2. No class is scheduled for November. Attendance is mandatory for both days of the class. Officers should contact the FOP to make arrangements to be excused from work on class days.
Sobo said the class is another example of the strong effort to take care of officer well-being that isn’t available every- where.
“I think the Chicago Police Department EAP provides com- prehensive, responsible, services for officers that don’t exist in most agencies,” Sobo said. d
FOP/Employee Assistance Program Stress Management Classes
Hartgrove Hospital - 5730 West Roosevelt Road (first floor Conference Room) 8:30 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m.
2016 schedule
Feb. 25 (DOG 4-5, 74-75-76, 65-66) and Feb. 26 (DOG 5-6, 75-76-77, 66-61) March 24 (DOG 7-1, 77-71-72, 63-64) and March 25 (DOG 1-2, 71-72-73, 64-65) April 28 (DOG 2-3, 72-73-74, 62-63) and April 29 (DOG 3-4, 73-74-75, 63-64) May 26 (DOG 5-6, 75-76-77, 66-61) and May 27 (DOG 6-7, 76-77-71, 61-62) June 23 (DOG 1-2, 71-72-73, 64-66) and June 24 (DOG 2-3, 72-73-74, 65-66) July 28 (DOG 3-4, 73-74-75, 63-64) and July 29 (DOG 4-5, 74-75-76, 64-65) Aug. 25 (DOG 6-7, 76-77-71, 61-62) and Aug. 26 (DOG 7-1, 77-71-72, 62-63) Sept. 22 (DOG 2-3, 72-73-74, 65-66) and Sept. 23 (DOG 3-4, 72-73-74, 66-61) Oct. 27 (DOG 4-5, 74-75-76, 64-65) and Oct. 28 (DOG 5-6, 75-76-77, 65-66)
No classes in November
Dec. 1 (DOG 6-7, 76-77-71, 63-64) and Dec. 2 (DOG 7-1, 77-71-72, 64-65)
Contact Marikay Evans at 312-733-7776 for the application and have your Commanding Officer sign the bottom before returning to the FOP, Unit 541, Attention: Marikay Evans, via FAX 312-733-1367 or interoffice mail.
34 CHICAGO LODGE 7 n FEBRUARY 2016