Nothing says welcome back to work like...

[JakeLock]

... performing CPR on an obviously dead man in an attempt to make the hysterical family feel a little better until the Meds get there and take over.

What a day...

[Curt581]

... performing CPR on an obviously dead man in an attempt to make the hysterical family feel a little better until the Meds get there and take over.

Aren't those fun?

It's even better when the paramedics get there and tell you, "You're doing a great job, keep going".

[JakeLock]

Our crews are hero's tho, they got there and took over immediately. They knew as well as I did that this guy was gone.

I feel bad for the family, he'd died in their driveway. This isn't my first on duty death, but I've never had one right out in the open like this. It kinda got me.

[CelicaGuy]

Sorry to hear about this situation, I hope you are finding healthy ways to cope with this tragic event (even if they are not your family its hard to deal with death period).

I say a prayer for you to speed up the copeing!

[JakeLock]

'Preciate it Cel. I'll be good, just a part of the job we all have to deal with.

[patchcop]

You will see so much dead bodies in your carrer. Don't think about them or you'll become serious psych problems (I see that often with young officers in my career of more than 28 years). Try to do anything that changed your mind after the case with the dead. Or do some sporting after duty (running in the woods helped me in earlier years).

[CelicaGuy]

I know that it is part of the job, but you still need healthy ways of dealing so that you don't have psych problems. The way I see most officers (the ones I have rode with) handle these cases is to laugh about them once they are in the office.

We had a suicide at work a couple months ago (college security). Myself and one of the other security officers were the first ones on scene. We did all we could but, she did not make it. When we got back to the office my partner looked at me and said "Did you see her blackberry (referring to her cell phone)? Do you think she would have minded me taking that? I mean she's not going to be using it anytime soon!" We both laughed about that comment, I guess that is just our way of dealing with what happened. I workout nightly after work (like a religion), so that is another way I keep my stress levels down.

[SnapShawt]

This is one of those things the general public doesn't get. We use a lot of "black humor" to deal with these things. If we're overheard diong it, then all hell breaks loose on how insensitive we are, etc. etc. It has nothing to do with sensitivity. They don't see us go home individually and deal with the crap we see day in and day out in our personal little hells from time to time, but we work it out and cope one way or the other. It affects us like that BECAUSE of sensitivity - we do care and we are human. But we have to find ways to cope that many don't understand, and that's okay.

I work out a lot to for stress relief. My main hobbies are sketching/painting, photography, and golf. Different strokes for different folks. That colorful humor is just another way to distance yourself from it like anything else, nothing wrong with it.

[nikon]

Fun - BTW - patch lies:D

[JakeLock]

Oh believe me guys, there was laughter. I am a twisted guy, in a good way. I know how to deal with the death, I just felt bad for the family. Someone dying inside a home is one thing, but in the middle of the driveway for the world to see has to be pretty tough on them.

[SSA1811]

JakeLock,

If your Department has a Counselor or Employee Assistance Program, take the time to just talk to him or her about what you feel, or what you do NOT feel about the incident. The other Forum members have offered you good advice but not the kind a professional could offer.

I have seen two people die literally at my feet, one while in the Army, the other as an LEO. A third died from a heart attack a few hours after I attempted to interview him. I may have made light of those incidents then, but many, many years later I am still occasionally haunted by the "What if ...." questions - What if I had done this differently, or what if I had done that differently?

Don't be macho on this. You didn't just see or witness this, you were more involved, and you saw the family there, so please talk it out with, or discuss it with a professional.

P.S. You did everything right, and should be commended for making that family know that LE is there to protect and serve.


.

[JakeLock]

SSA, thank you for your words, and I have actually spoken to our Critical Stress debriefer, the department has pretty much made it mandatory at this point, which is a good thing.

I guess the reason why I'm not really bothered by his death is because I knew there was nothing I could do. What did bother me is that he died out in the open. What the family felt seeing him lying in his underwear on their driveway must've been horrible.

My own father died in my arms, and believe me I am definately not macho when it comes to death, I learned the hard way to ask for help when I need it. I learned that pride is probably one of the dumbest things ever.

I'm very lucky with my department, we've had some very traumatic things happen to many of our members (on the job and in the military since we're about 80% former) and the communication lines are very, very open. We actually have a team that is nearly dedicated to just stress management.

I thank you all again for the kind words, it does mean alot to me. And believe or don't I do take everything said here to heart.

[BJJVad]

... performing CPR on an obviously dead man in an attempt to make the hysterical family feel a little better until the Meds get there and take over.

What a day...

Just think of it as a work out. The cracking ribs, are an added bonus. :D Awful aren't we.

[JakeLock]

Just think of it as a work out. The cracking ribs, are an added bonus. :D Awful aren't we.

That's not awful... that's hilarious... :D

[patchcop]

Fun - BTW - patch lies:D

No, I don't lie. I'm a cop, it is not allowed for me to lie. If you say I lie than you lie.:mad:
























j/k:p:D