By Pam Fitzgerald, MSCP, MSCJA
Pam Fitzgerald received her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology and her
Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Chaminade University in
Honolulu.

Pam Fitzgerald, did research
on the Narcotic Vice Division of the Honolulu Police Department for five
years.  She developed a survey instrument that measured for stress and
 then administered it to three groups of officers between 1998 and 2001.

She will be pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology, and
intends to do a dissertation on the stress of undercover work. She is interested in
finding a department where she could conduct a study with a larger group of officers.
  Police stress and providing counseling to stressed officers
 is the focus of her research and long-term career goals.
She can be reached at  Pamela Fitzgerald .
 

This study focuses on undercover officers working in the Narcotics Vice Division at the Honolulu Police Department. Their close association with the criminal element, along with the continual exposure to drugs suggested that undercover police work might impact the behaviors, attitudes and beliefs of the officers that engage in this line of law enforcement. Research on police officers and the duties associated with being a law enforcement officer has demonstrated that high levels of stress and behavioral changes occur as a result of this occupation. Studies on undercover assignments have shown that officers working in this environment are continually subjected to dangerous working conditions (Ellison & Genz, 1983: p. 60). This paper examines an urban police department’s undercover officers’ perceptions regarding their experiencing fear, stress, and nervousness while engaging in operations necessary to performing the duties required in this line of police work. Patrol officers were also surveyed as the comparison group. CONTINUED

Due to it's length, the remainder of this manual has been published on an alternate web site where Stressline has almost unlimited capacity.

Also by Pam Fitzgerald: Crisis Manual:  Crisis Intervention Plan for Police Department and Undercover Law Enforcement Personnel.

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