Dr. Laura L. V. King: McHenry County Conservation District, Chiego of Polic

"It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
-  Jiddu Krishnamurti

Did you know the mental health of police officers can be corrupted by policing?  Get ready for some Truth Bombs!  Chief of Police, Dr. Luara King, doesn’t hold any punches when it comes to talking about officer safety and wellness.  For her, it is personal.  Not just because she experienced firsthand the damage that stress can cause to the health of police officers but also because of the stress and impact it can have on families and relationships.  

Negative sentiment override - where all of the dark things in the world are witnessed daily by our police officers.  Sooner or later, it will take its toll without the right outlets.  The rates of depression and addiction, not just in society but in policing, are part of the unraveling we are witnessing.  

Emotional detachment is an effective coping mechanism in a police officer's toolbox, but you must leave that tool at work.  Chief King will tell you that when you bring that tool home with you, it just makes you an “asshole.”   While I chuckled over this comment, it is funny because it is true.  

These are all observations made by Chief King during our discussion, but the most profound thing she said was this;  This is personal to me because police work broke my dad. This was a very raw and candid admission.  She described how early childhood memories of her dad were happy times filled with fun vacations and activities they shared.  But, right before her eyes, that man quietly faded away.   As his career progressed, the shift work, the stress, the accumulation of the events of work gradually changed him to the point where he was no longer the same man.

When Laura followed in his footsteps, she was adamant she would not suffer the same fate as her father, but despite her efforts, it caught up with her.  

This episode is a must-listen for any officer or leader who wants to understand stress's cumulative effects on human physiology.  The power of understanding is that it opens up opportunities to make course corrections.  We don’t have to crash and burn before we realize something needs to change.  There are mechanisms available to us today that will provide guard rails.  It is time for us to educate ourselves and our partners, and Dr. Laura King, is a great place to start!

A self-motivated, highly dependable law enforcement executive with more than two decades of experience in police administration and management, Chief King continues to work for positive change, seeks the opportunity to serve and support law enforcement professionals as an executive-level coach. Her tremendous experience is helping to work with individuals in all stages of their profession and working with clients to build consensus, create action plans and drive outstanding results. 

You can watch this podcast on our YouTube channel by clicking here.