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Death and Bodies

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Trauma and Resilience in Contemporary Australian Policing

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Abstract

Death is the constant companion of an operational police officer, whether it be attending uncomplicated sudden deaths in the community, suicides, fatal road crashes or violent homicides. This chapter explores the unusually violent and tragic deaths that test the coping strategies of officers, the impact of suicide within their ranks and how they cope with this challenge. There are significant international literature works around “confronting jobs” and the impact they have on the well-being of officers who attend them. The qualitative interviews at the centre of this research are an ideal opportunity for the officers to graphically describe the death-related situations that challenged them and on occasion required significant time and reflection to be effectively and permanently dealt with. Their accounts describe the nature of resilience with clarity, how they learn to distance themselves from tragedy and the resources common to their capacity to continue to cope. Suicide in a police organisation has a significant impact on colleagues left behind. Often the act leaves many questions in its wake and is a point of reflection for many in the job. This chapter examines the international literature and focusses on a study conducted by the Queensland Police Service referencing suicide over a 30-year period as well as the rich data from interviews with SAPOL officers and six psychiatrists and psychologists who treat and assess them. A common theme from the interviews is that of smell and its long-term impact on traumatic memory.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Near the centre of Adelaide in South Australia.

  2. 2.

    Final year of secondary school in South Australia.

  3. 3.

    See recommendations in my final section.

  4. 4.

    These are Aboriginal lands in the far North West corner of South Australia.

  5. 5.

    Beyond Blue is a national suicide prevention organisation that also focusses on “first responders” and trauma reactions.

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  1. Chandlers Hill, SA, Australia

    Andrew Paterson

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  1. Andrew Paterson
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Paterson, A. (2021). Death and Bodies. In: Trauma and Resilience in Contemporary Australian Policing. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4416-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4416-0_4

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  • Print ISBN: 978-981-16-4415-3

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