CopShock: Second Edition
Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
by Allen R. Kates, MFAW, BCECR
Families' and Officers' Support
The police community is often referred to as a family. And the prime source of support for officers who are experiencing PTSD symptoms or having any crisis difficulty is the family—their spouses, friends, and fellow police officers.
Beside the Badge
(BTB)
A low-cost, bimonthly newsletter, BTB encourages
support and fellowship among officers, their families and friends. It’s packed
full of stories, columns, counseling information and even material for young
readers. This newsletter is hardcopy only and not a website.
Write: Beside
The Badge Newsletter, P.O. Box 304, Tecumseh, MI 49286-0304. Call toll-free:
888-536-3267.
Loveacop
Police spouses often feel they don’t
belong in either civilian or police societies. Isolated and alone, they need
somewhere to share their feelings. Lovacop provides a forum for spouses of
current, former and retired law enforcement officers to share secrets of coping
and to develop new friendships.
Go to: http://www.loveacop.org.
Police
Families
The purpose of the Police Families website is to
provide information and referral for spouses, children and parents of police
officers. The site features chatrooms, guest psychologists, games and activities
for children, and material for departments wishing to extend services to police
families.
Dr. Ellen Kirschman, author of I Love A Cop, What Police
Families Need To Know, and Dr. Lorraine Greene, Manager of Police Counseling for
the Nashville/Davidson County Metro-politan Police Department, created the
website in coordination with a national advisory group of police families, law
enforcement organizations and police psychologists.
Go to: http://www.policefamilies.com.
Police
Wives
PoliceWives.org is an online forum that offers support
and encouragement to the spouses of police officers.
Go to: http://www.policewives.org.
Wives Behind the Badge
(WBTB)
WBTB is a national organization dedicated to offering
support and resources to law enforcement wives, families and significant others
such as fiancés and life partners, as well as directly to police officers and
their departments. Their website offers forums,
a gift shop, and a program
to send condolence cards to the wives of fallen officers.
Go to: www.wivesbehindthebadge.org. Write:
WBTB, PO Box 5472, Orange, CA 92863.