Mitigating Institutional Betrayal Trauma for Police and Public Safety Professionals: The Importance of Peer Support, Effective Leadership, and Resiliency Cultivation

Monday, October 21, 2024

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET

Location: 258A

Submitter and Speaker(s)

Robert J. Cipriano, Jr., Psy.D., ABPP

Police Psychologist
American Board of Professional Psychology
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Speaker(s)

Nancy Bohl, Ph.D.

Police Psychologist
The Counseling Team International
San Bernardino, California, United States
Stephanie Barone McKenny

Police Psychologist
IACP PPSS Executive Board
Los Angeles, California, United States

Invisible injuries due to miscommunication efforts, not receiving sound rationale for employer-employee decision-making, and the inability for closure may affect others within the workplace environment and potentially invoke emotional pain, turmoil, and trauma specifically on police officers. Such injuries can also stunt the employee from growth and potentially fuel frustration that may lead to a trapping and cascading effect of anger, sadness, despair, depression, anxiety, shame, and betrayal. These experiences illustrated can also lead to challenges with employee retention rates without healthy attention and treatment. Changing perspective and improving resilience may be two areas for all personnel to consider utilizing a solution-focused approach to 21st century policing.