PTSD and LEO

[retdetsgt]

I don't think it's about raising pansies, it's a product of lawyers and the mental health community that seems to be desperate for people to treat. Last year I was reading an article by some psychologist that said severe PTSD can come from someone telling the patient about a traumatic incident. Give me a friggin' break..... But I think that's being accepted in the community. Again, if they say they can't treat sex offenders, look at all the business they'll lose. It's all about money, IMO. And VA doctors are no different from any others even though they're paid a salary.

Well, that and the news media. If you watch the news, you'd have to believe every Vietnam era veteran is running around wearing army field jackets and sitting at ramps with signs saying "Help a Vet".

There was a recent front page story here about some 30+ old alcoholic who was in a wheel chair getting released from jail and not getting his wheelchair back immediately. He was described over and over in the news as a "Navy war veteran". When he went to court the next day for drinking on the sidewalk, the judge asked him why he didn't go the VA for alcohol treatment. The "Vet" hedged and said he had a general discharge and wasn't eligible. The judge asked him when he was in Iraq and he gave dates before we were there. Turned out he lost his legs in a DUI crash too. I doubt the jerk ever served a day and if he did, he probably didn't make it out of basic. But that didn't stop the media.

It's not the generation, anytime you open a door and hold out a sign "Free Money", there are people who are going to take it.

[Joeyd6]

Sad but true RDS. It pisses me off because the folks who are truly in need of help usually get shorted somehow.

[jvale00]

Joeyd6 is pretty accurate. The VA primarily hires vets!!! And prides itself in being an employer who will give opportunities to vets with all types of disabilities, including those with service connected PTSD. We have a few officers here with it. I'm not sure exactly, but I believe upon hiring you will sit down with your psych doctor and they will discuss the type (or significance) of your PTSD and how it would relate to being in law enforcement. Especially in a campus setting or hospital environment. We do have a guy who is 30% PTSD and he's a VA cop who didn't make the probationary period for Arizona. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is no crystal ball here. Just because you have PTSD does not mean you are going to snap one day and attempt to see what flavor your duty weapon taistes like. It, in of itself, is not a scarlet letter. It's all relative to the individual, their temperment, and their on going counseling for the PTSD. If you hate constructive criticism, and feel the need to have authority and get uber pissed when someone disrespects you - then you may be better off being a fireman.