Officers involved in a shooting, especially when there are casualties, react in accordance with their personality, health, past exposures to violence, culture and environment. Feelings and thoughts may range from rage, to burning anger, denial, confusion, fear, dread, second guessing their actions, depression, etc. All are normal except when carried on for a long period of time or if the degree of the feeling is excessive, or so demonstrative as to be seen as life threatening to themselves or others. Most officers deal with the death of an officer privately and are able to process the event and loss with minimal interference to their mental health, personal and work life. Organizationally it can create a sense of sadness that permeates throughout the organization interfering with normal communications, relationships and efficiency, and can lead to an increase in general employee stress, anxiety and overall employee depression. While these experiences are normal, a sudden and unexpected violent death is a time for acknowledging that both the affected agency and its employees can be expected to react emotionally as it is part of the human element. Expressing feelings after a death is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of a person's value for a unique life lost.

Officers involved in a shooting may experience some of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but not full blown PTSD. As an example, they may have intrusive thoughts about the event over and over, which can be disturbing. They may react suddenly to loud noises or smells that remind them of the event which brings on emotions related to the loss. They may be unable to deal with the normal stresses of the day and explode in anger. Previous traumatic events may be remembered adding to their emotional overload. They may withdraw or drink heavily to self medicate away their feelings. With time, many of these symptoms and behaviors fade as they adjust to the loss and/or seek help to deal with the loss. For others full blown PTSD may result. Officers not involved in the actual shooting but who knew the fallen officer, may experience vivid recalls from their own past traumas, exposing them to feelings and thoughts they thought long gone. Reaching out to a Justice Management Division Employee Assistance Program [(800) 626-0385; after hours page the counselor on duty at (877-924-0187)] counselor can sometimes assist an agent/officer to better deal with their concerns and issues.

It is also not unusual for family members, especially children of agents/officers, to fear for the safety of their parent/agent after hearing about the death of a peer or local law enforcement officer, especially if the loss was from the organization they identify with. Children may act out, withdraw, have academic problems in school, or show other signs of distress. Spouses may speak to their fear or demonstrate other symptoms as well. Relationships that were experiencing issues before a traumatic event, direct or indirect may experience additional relationship challenges. Speaking and addressing the fears evoked by a traumatic event is one way to allay the fears, both real and imagined, that loved ones feel. Counseling is also recommended.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that can trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults such as rape or mugging, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, shootings, or military combat. PTSD can be extremely disabling. People who witness traumatic events are among those at risk for developing PTSD. Families and loved ones of victims can also develop the disorder.

What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?

Many people with PTSD repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts, especially when they are exposed to events or objects reminiscent of the trauma. Anniversaries of the event can also trigger symptoms. People with PTSD also experience emotional numbness and sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and irritability or outbursts of anger. Feelings of intense guilt are also common. Most people with PTSD try to avoid any reminders or thoughts of the ordeal. PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms last more than 1 month.

How Common Is PTSD?

About 3.6 percent of U.S. adults ages 18 to 54 (5.2 million people) have PTSD during the course of a given year. About 30 percent of the men and women who have spent time in war zones experience PTSD. One million war veterans developed PTSD after serving in Vietnam. PTSD has also been detected among veterans of the Persian Gulf War, with some estimates running as high as 8 percent.

When Does PTSD First Occur?

PTSD can develop at any age, including in childhood. Symptoms typically begin within 3 months of a traumatic event, although occasionally they do not begin until years later. Once PTSD occurs, the severity and duration of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, while others suffer much longer.

What Treatments Are Available for PTSD?

Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, and exposure therapy, in which the patient gradually and repeatedly relives the frightening experience under controlled conditions to help him or her work through the trauma. Studies have also shown that medications help ease associated symptoms of depression and anxiety and help promote sleep. Scientists are attempting to determine which treatments work best for which type of trauma.

Some studies show that giving people an opportunity to talk about their experiences very soon after a catastrophic event may reduce some of the symptoms of PTSD. A study of 12,000 schoolchildren who lived through a hurricane in Hawaii found that those who got counseling early on were doing much better 2 years later than those who did not.

Do Other Illnesses Tend to Accompany PTSD?

Co-occurring depression, alcohol or other substance abuse, or another anxiety disorder are not uncommon. The likelihood of treatment success is increased when these other conditions are appropriately identified and treated as well.

Headaches, gastrointestinal complaints, immune system problems, dizziness, chest pain, or discomfort in other parts of the body are common. Often, doctors treat the symptoms without being aware that they stem from PTSD. NIMH encourages primary care providers to ask patients about experiences with violence, recent losses, and traumatic events, especially if symptoms keep recurring. When PTSD is diagnosed, referral to a mental health professional who has had experience treating people with the disorder is recommended.

Who Is Most Likely to Develop PTSD?

People who have suffered abuse as children or who have had other previous traumatic experiences are more likely to develop the disorder. Research is continuing to pinpoint other factors that may lead to PTSD.

It used to be believed that people who tend to be emotionally numb after a trauma were showing a healthy response, but now some researchers suspect that people who experience this emotional distancing may be more prone to PTSD.

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