St. Louis police urged to take care of selves, too

ST. LOUIS -- Police are trained to deal with the emotional trauma suffered by crime victims. St. Louis officers are being reminded to take care of themselves, too.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that since January, Jessica Meyers of the Crime Victim Advocacy Center of St. Louis has trained about 1,000 city officers. Last week, top commanders heard her presentation.

Meyers cites national statistics, noting 126 officer suicides in 2012, according to policesuicidestudy.com. She said officers need to understand how much grief and trauma affect them.

Meyers said that since 2002, 16 current or retired St. Louis officers have taken their own lives. She urged police supervisors to "break down the mental health stigma."

Maj. Mike Caruso, a 36-year veteran who oversees three districts, said he appreciates the program.

"In the late 1970s, we had nothing like this around," he said. "When you would experience something traumatic, the old-time police officers would take you to the bar.

"Now we know that's not the answer and now we've got so many professional avenues ... as opposed to co-workers going to the tavern to get you a few beers to get through it."

Meyers' agency offers free counseling for crime victims -- and police. Though no officers have come forward since the presentations began, she believes the message is hitting home since some have approached her personally, or shared personal stories with her. Also, she said, victim referrals from police now arrive with a better understanding of what her agency can do.

The center refers clients to community resources and helps them work through the courts and victims' compensation organizations. It also provides legal representation for domestic abuse victims.

Meyers warned crime victims may exhibit traits that make officers suspicious.

"Expressions of grief and trauma look exactly the same," she said. And though police are there to help, they can represent a painful reminder for victims.

"You are walking, talking, breathing trigger-events for my clients," she said. "That's why they might avoid you."

Caruso said the training can be especially helpful for patrol officers.

"Street officers are often the first ones on the scene, when all the shock and trauma hits you in the face like a brick," he said. "If any of [the training] sticks, hopefully they'll know if what they're experiencing is a warning sign of something bigger."

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com