Customer Reviews

Emotional survival for law enforcement: A guide for officers and their families

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I am the wife of a police officer of over 4 years. This book is EXCELLENT. Any new or established officer will benefit greatly from this book. (whether male or female officer.)

After my husband (who is an officer) read it, he said that he sees many of these examples in his life and the lives of those with whom he works. Because of this book, he has been able to recognize his deficiencies and is working on improving them. It literally saved our marriage where counseling and other books (marriage ones) could not because the real issues were never discussed: His JOB and what affects hypervigilance has in our life. It is more than just being "overly" aware of your surroundings and it is VERY real for those who are police officers.

Anyone who is married (or involved) to an officer knows how stressful it is at times, for him, you and the kids, but there is no reason to be a victim of his job. This book gives practical instruction on how to overcome many of the common symptoms that affect an officer in his career--whether a rookie or a veteran. It is a quick read because it focuses on hypervigilance-the main thing that "changes" a person when they become a cop. Being bitter on the job is not inevitable! There is hope if the officer can recognize the problem.

Give this book to all of the officers you know, especially those who are married and NEW to LE work. It can save them years of heartache if they know what to look out for and what to expect.

This book handles the issue of how the need of being constantly aware of ones' surroundings can adversely affect the personal life of a police officer. While the book is aimed primarily for police officers, it can be of benefit for people in similar occupations. The information presented is not relevant for an armed citizen, however.

While this book is not te definitive book on the adverse effects of continuous hypervigilance, it explains the issue throughly and in logical manner. The author explains in a very illustrative manner how one thing leads to another: How police officer learns to like the "high" of police work, which leads to putting more emphasis on the cop role at the expence of civilian life, which in turn makes the individual more one sided, and therefore more vulnerable, and so on. At the end of the book, the author gives simple instructions on how to became an emotional survival.

The text is not too scientific, and the author uses conversational tone through the book. There are also lots of charts and drawings to illustrate the issues handled in the text. Some illustrations are used over and over, but every time there is something new added, to illustrate how things build on top of others. There is lot of humor in the text, and there are numerous case histories used throught the book to further illustrate the issues. And because the book is written in very plain language, it is fast to read.

This is a very valuable book for every law enforcement officer to read. If you are interested in officer survival, this book is essential reading.

After more then 20 years as a street cop it is hard to be surprised by a book about cops anymore. I've read many books on surviving on the job, surviving deadly force encounters, police training, etc... But I felt like Dr. Gilmartin's "Emotional Survival" was written for me personally! His insight and descriptions of the stages of a cop's life are right on the mark. I found myself and EVERY other cop that I have worked with for any length of time in this book. "Emotional Survival" has helped me and my family and will help you and yours too. As a police trainer and mentor I strongly this book be read by all police officers at the start of their careers and every few years thereafter.

Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement: A Guide for Officers and Their Families by Dr. Kevin M. Gilmartin is an excellent perspective into the lives of those who work in law enforcement. This book should be required reading for police officers and their spouses especially if they want the marriage to last longer than their law enforcement career.

Some of the potential problems that develop when working in law enforcement:

- Idealist recruits become cynical veterans
- The job consumes all your personal time which negatively impacts your family (leads to divorce)
- Your world view changes - i.e. all Boy Scout leaders are pedophiles, all citizens are Adam Henry's (police jargon to keep it clean)
- Increased rate of suicide
- Depression, isolation, and withdrawal from society; all your friends are cops
- Officers deny negative aspects to justify continuing with their career

Life is about balance and Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement will help officers realize the importance of this balance. On duty the officer is alive, alert, energetic, involved and humorous. But off duty they are tired, detached, isolated, and apathetic. The officer crashes upon coming home relegated to sitting on the recliner with a beer as he withdraws into himself to the exclusion of his family, loved ones and friends. It is important for all officers to know, early on, that overinvestment in their police career will eventually destroy their home life and family relationships. All the things and activities that you used to enjoy you no longer engage in.

Anyone who is married to an officer knows how stressful the job can be; not only to the officer but to the spouse and children as well. But there is no reason for you and the kids to be a victim of the job. This book gives practical instruction on how to overcome many of the common symptoms that affect an officer in his career. This book is a fast read focusing on hypervigilance which is the main culprit that changes a person when they enter the field of law enforcement. This does not have to be the case and this book can help. At the end of the book, the author gives simple instructions on how to became an emotional survivor.

Every officer and spouse should read this book and then talk about where they fit into this model and what needs to happen next. It can save your marriage and save a cop!

I have been a member of the California Highway Patrol for 25 years and I developed a presentation that I show to veteran CHP officers and all CHP Cadets during their training, and Dr. Gilmartin's information is one of the cornerstones of the presentation. The book has spread like a wildfire within the CHP, and is an EXCELLENT book for describing the personality shift that occurs when we chose a career in public safety. I tell the Cadets to get two copies in case they think they won't need to read it because IF they DON'T read it, then when their mate finally gives up and leaves with HALF of everything, they won't have to tear their only copy in two pieces. This is the best book I've ever read about understanding why we changed after becoming cops, and how to live a better life, and still enjoy the job, and more importantly, my family before it was too late.

P.S. My wife also LOVED reading the book and NOW she understands why I am the way I am....and that is Great when the other half REALLY understand. The only thing better than the book is seeing Dr. Gilmartin's presentation in person as he is a very busy man giving presentations all over the country at every level of public safety.
And to those that think I was paid to write this, you're wrong....but I understand your cynicism since I am from the same mold.

Exceptionally well written; Great insight to issues w/ law enforcement. Dr. Gilmartin is a clinical psychologist that has 20yrs experience in a Sheriff's department. So he knows from whence he speaks. "Real" language quotes, so not for the exceptionally sensitive.
When you understand the dramatic highs and lows of the officer's emotional life it helps you to "take the bull by the horns" and deal with it, if your heart is in it.

I heard of this book in Col. Grossman's "On Combat" which I was reading so I could support my military/law enforcement husband before he deploys. This book also helped me to understand what these guys go through, and I was comforted that there was a solution to all the stress and that we could be proactive about it. My husband has thought about taking it to work and leaving it out for the other guys to pick up.
I was surprised that this book is out of print and that it had to be ordered outside Amazon. This is an invaluable book, I highly recommend it for families to read together.

Very well done study of the subject. An important read for anyone in the business. Long overdue.

This book will change your off-duty life is a huge way. I am not a big touchie-feelie guy but this book has opened my eyes to several things that I need to change, now.

read it!!!!!!!!!

While I was hesitant to read this book when it was first recommended to my officer husband and myself, I'm so glad I finally did, only wish I'd read it sooner. This book should be required reading for anyone going through a law enforcement academy and their spouses, close family and friends. It explains some of the inevitable changes that the officer will face, along with solutions on how to combat those changes. And it's all done in a way that it's easy to understand and keeps you reading. I would highly recommend this book to anyone in law enforcement, married to an officer, has a son or daughter on the job.