Gun given to disturbed policeman

THE EDITOR: The recent attempted murder and suicide by a long-standing member of the police force contains several disturbing aspects. Firstly, this officer and his partner had been known to have a stormy relationship for several years, with reports being made by both parties to their local police station. Secondly, the officer had apparently made it known to colleagues that he was fed up of the whole situation and he appeared depressed. Thirdly, the officer’s state of mind had apparently led him to abuse alcohol. Under these circumstances, a brother officer, disregarding a senior officer’s actions, allegedly saw fit to issue this man a firearm.

Did anyone, in this entire chain of circumstances, see fit to refer this officer for professional help? He certainly seemed to have made it clear that he was not sable to cope with his situation, if the statements in the media from his colleagues are correct. Even if he refused professional help, why was he considered fit to continue as a police officer? Why was he not relieved of duty until he was in a better condition to resume? I do not wish to say that this man was derelict in his duties in any way. His fellow officers may say that he performed just as well as ever. But the price that he paid to keep on going was clearly too great.

Our police officers live their lives under constant threat and tremendous stress. They need to be in top condition, physically, spiritually and mentally, in order to function as they should. Yet attention is paid only to their physical fitness, at best. Once again, mental health is completely ignored and that criminal inattention has cost an officer his life. Part of the difficulty is also our attitude to domestic violence. It is still seen today as ‘family business’. Someone else getting involved is seen as ‘interference’ rather than help. At best, well-meaning friends will ‘talk’ to the parties involved. In other words, everyone minimises the issue. If it were a medical issue, then there would be no question of a layman feeling competent to make an assessment and an intervention on his or her own responsibility. We must start to take domestic violence seriously. We must start being aware of when to refer appropriately for professional help. We must learn when help is really help and not interfering.

KAREN MOORE, PhD
PRO, TT Association of Psychologists