How does this job affect their families
Balancing the law enforcement duties within
a marriage and a family is one of the most difficult challenges policemen deal
with. Littles, writes, “Being the wife of a police officer is not for the weak,
nor the self-centered, nor the needy, clingy, insecure, or high maintenance type
of woman. [Husbands and wives] sleep alone, so [other families] can sleep safe”.
The officer may be off duty, but if they get an emergency call or see someone
breaking the law they have the duty to answer, no matter if it comes during a
son’s basketball game or a family get together (Ellison 79). Police officers
work holidays and all hours of the day; it is a job that never ends. This is
where the work overlaps and can complicate family life. Littles writes about her
own personal story that every LEO, Law Enforcement Officer, wife can relate to.
She explains that there is not a normal eight hour shift in the profession.
Sometimes spouses will spend countless hours making a fancy meal for their loved
ones and either a shift runs late and the meal is cold when they arrive home or
they don’t notice the small details because of their lack of sleep. Spouses have
to be independent and realize that “[they] will put [their] children to bed most
nights alone, while explaining that Daddy [or Mommy] loves them, he [or she] is
just out making sure [everyone is] safe. [They] will sleep with one eye open,
both ears focused on the sound of the garage door and [their] cell phone on the
pillow”(Littles). Spouses marry an officer who may look good in uniform, but
also carry a lot of weight and stress along with their badge. Research says that
“as an occupational group, [police officers] have one of the highest divorce
rates in the country, and divorce seems to be especially prevalent among young
police officers” (Territo 202). The long hours, unsteady shifts, constant role
as a law enforcer, over protection, and inability to express their feelings are
just some of the reasons why the rate is unusually high (Alexander 239). The
officers’ need to exert control in their jobs can easily transfer over into his
or her home life, which puts their families under additional stress. There are
strategies to deal with this stress. Police departments have created a
brotherhood and family, so that they can debrief at the end of hard cases. This
helps officers reduce stress and eliminate taking their emotions and
frustrations home (Ellison 130).
a marriage and a family is one of the most difficult challenges policemen deal
with. Littles, writes, “Being the wife of a police officer is not for the weak,
nor the self-centered, nor the needy, clingy, insecure, or high maintenance type
of woman. [Husbands and wives] sleep alone, so [other families] can sleep safe”.
The officer may be off duty, but if they get an emergency call or see someone
breaking the law they have the duty to answer, no matter if it comes during a
son’s basketball game or a family get together (Ellison 79). Police officers
work holidays and all hours of the day; it is a job that never ends. This is
where the work overlaps and can complicate family life. Littles writes about her
own personal story that every LEO, Law Enforcement Officer, wife can relate to.
She explains that there is not a normal eight hour shift in the profession.
Sometimes spouses will spend countless hours making a fancy meal for their loved
ones and either a shift runs late and the meal is cold when they arrive home or
they don’t notice the small details because of their lack of sleep. Spouses have
to be independent and realize that “[they] will put [their] children to bed most
nights alone, while explaining that Daddy [or Mommy] loves them, he [or she] is
just out making sure [everyone is] safe. [They] will sleep with one eye open,
both ears focused on the sound of the garage door and [their] cell phone on the
pillow”(Littles). Spouses marry an officer who may look good in uniform, but
also carry a lot of weight and stress along with their badge. Research says that
“as an occupational group, [police officers] have one of the highest divorce
rates in the country, and divorce seems to be especially prevalent among young
police officers” (Territo 202). The long hours, unsteady shifts, constant role
as a law enforcer, over protection, and inability to express their feelings are
just some of the reasons why the rate is unusually high (Alexander 239). The
officers’ need to exert control in their jobs can easily transfer over into his
or her home life, which puts their families under additional stress. There are
strategies to deal with this stress. Police departments have created a
brotherhood and family, so that they can debrief at the end of hard cases. This
helps officers reduce stress and eliminate taking their emotions and
frustrations home (Ellison 130).