A large number of the calls that Hartford Police Officers respond to day in and day out are domestic violence related. These calls definitely have to place pressure on the officers that respond to the calls and diffuse the situations.
Since police officers are human also and they don't have a switch to turn off their feelings once they leave work, it seems to be taking its toll on Hartford's officers.
In the past month at least three Hartford Police officers have been arrested on domestic violence charges resulting from incidents in their private lives while off duty. Officer Chris White was arrested last month after an altercation with his ex-wife and another male that White found in their home.
This past week Officer Austin and Officer Elbe were both arrested for domestic violence related incidents. According to police sources, Austin was arrested immediately after a domestic incident and Elbe was arrested by warrant after his incident.
I would think this would indicate the need for a better way to identify officer's who may be under pressure and address these issues before they become problematic.
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7 comments:
Cops are people too...with additional job pressures...The Chief should evaluate what in-house counseling programs they have to deal with personal issues and perhaps expand the program, or put into place a special program dealing with domestic violence.
It's a problem for police officers in many places, not just Hartford. These are people under enormous stress and whose job it is to be in control at all times. Then they come and often they are NOT able to be in control of situations and violence can result. HPD should look at what other cities have done to handle this.
Any word on when Eddie has to start his sentence?
The HPD EAP officer is a position that has been widely abused over the past few years. It is a joke. The chief picks somebody he likes and puts them there. Take the last two officers to hold that position. If you look at Officer Mathews (now retired) and Officer Grissette, you will see they both have worked a crazy amount of private jobs. In that position, the EAP officer can create their own hours. FACT: When Officer Matthews was the EAP coordinator, IAD told the chief that EAP was so disfunctional that if something is not done, an officer in need will eventually committ suicide. Nothing was done, and an officer committed suicide and Mattews retired. The EAP position is about an Officer getting a cushy assignment and working PJs. Their is rarely any EAP function at roll calls or training... FOI how many PJ's Matthews worked his last two years, and compare that to how many roll call training oportunities he held for the officers (0). I bet Grissette is working a PJ today...
I appreciate the sincerity of these comments and that this posting hasn't turned into "cop bashing".
I am in no way condoning domestic violence by or against anyone. The reality is though that in a Police Department that is understaffed and seems to have some difficulty recruiting good candidates, we can not afford to lose any officer because of showing human emotions during a stressful moment.
I think there are probably numerous reasons including what officers see everyday and must deal with that in the course of their shift would make many people physically ill. Another issue is the number of hours being worked by many officers to fill PJ's and open shifts.That, combined with the nature of the job and many officers not wanting to admit they are human and feeling pressure they might not be able to deal with all combines to create a problem. I can think of at least four officers that most police sources have told me were good officers, but they didn't deal with the pressures on them in a proper way. Officer White, Officer Austin Officer Elbe and in a little different situation, Officer Secore.
I would hope the Chief and others read the EAP comments and look at how effective that program is and make changes ASAP. As far as how other cities handle these issues, I would be interested in hearing more about that if anyone has information.
He allegedly assaulted his ex-wife and a man he found in bed with her.
Macci, who is also representing White, said White was simply defending himself and his family from what the officer thought was an intruder. When he realized the man was an invited guest, White retreated, Macci said.
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I read the description of the three episodes in the Courant today. I'm with you, don't want to be seen condoning violence, but the violence described doesn't honestly strike me (so to speak) as terribly serious. Nothing, it seems to me, that would indicate in itself an inability to do the cop job. But, I do love Atty. Macci's explanation of White's action; hadn't realized the guy in his wife's bed invited guest. Don't you just hate it when that happens?
Mr Brush...perhaps everything is ok since the wife filed with the town to become a "bed and breakfast" operation
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