PTSD and Police Work

The events that police respond to are likely upsetting situations that may serve to trigger symptoms for those who have PTSD. This can be challenging, so it is helpful if police can recognize that PTSD may be impacting the way a person is responding to the situation. In most cases, the person with PTSD has an immediate goal to increase personal safety, a goal actually shared by police officers.

The ability to recognize PTSD can help you respond more effectively in cases where someone has PTSD¹. This section of the toolkit provides basic information about PTSD and unique experiences of Veterans who have PTSD to help you identify these factors in the field.