The Facts Are In and The Costs Are High….

•   According to the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Fund  in Washington , D.C., on average, a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty every 54 hours somewhere in America.

 Law Enforcement Officers face a 54% greater risk of suicide than the  general population.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

According to the FBI – LESDC Program, CNA, and First Help  reports show the following:      

                                                             2019 – 234                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2020 – 199                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2021 – 201                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2022 – 223                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2023 – 168                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2024 – 146                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2025 –

• Research by the University of Buffalo shows that approximately 35% of working law enforcement officers are chemically dependent on either alcohol. This abuse among officers is a form of self-medication. The police culture plays a big part in the addiction to alcohol sharing the feeling that you can’t trust a cop who doesn’t drink. Also officer tend to get injured on the job and are often prescribed pain medication by a medical doctor and before they realize it, they become addicted on the prescription.       

• In a recent study by Dr. John Violanti, it is reported that approximately 65% of law enforcement officers  show signs and symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and only 25% have been diagnosed with PTSD by a mental health professional.

• According to recent research by the National Center for Women and Policing, at least 40% of law enforcement families/relationships experience domestic  violence in contrast to 10% of families/relationships in the general population.

RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS MATTER                                                                                                                                                                             

The Police Stress Unit and Frontline Training Institute

The University of Central Florida – College of Medicine

The F I R E Program

Focused Inquiry and Research Experience 

In the 2013/2014 and 2015/2016 academic years, Thomas Gillan – Founder  and Director of The Police Stress Unit and Frontline Training Institute was appointed as a F I R E Mentor for two medical students at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. During the  2013/2014 academic year the F I R E Research focused on Human Trafficking Awareness Training for Emergency Room Personnel. Mr. Gillan and a medical student developed a survey that was issued to five emergency rooms in the Central Florida area with questions about their knowledge on  the subject of  Human Trafficking and if there was a need for a training session for the emergency room personnel. After the surveys were collected a two-hour and four-hour curriculum was developed and offered to hospital emergency room staff throughout the State of Florida.

During the 2015/2016 academic year the F I R E Research focused on Law Enforcement Stress, Trauma, PTSD, Addictions and Suicide. Mr. Gillan and a medical student developed a survey that was filled out by 1236 law enforcement personnel from police chiefs and sheriffs to patrol officers…from correctional officers to investigators. The survey asked questions about stress and trauma awareness training, ethics training, alcohol and prescription drug abuse, law enforcement officer suicide and asking for assistance through counseling, an Employee Assistance Program or peer support. After the  data was collected and reviewed we developed a new educational class called  “Your Life Matters Too… Officer Wellness, Safety and Resiliency”.                                                                                                                                  This class is being offered Nationwide by The Police Stress Unit and Frontline Training Institute.