Monday, July 26th, 2010 by Editor
As a Police Officer How Would You Handle PTSD, or a Disability, or Both?
Chris Dobratz has had to deal with both. In our CopsAlive interview with former Police Detective Sergeant Christian Dobratz, an 18 year veteran of law enforcement, who was forced to retire on a disability we discuss how he successfully navigated a severe case of PTSD and then went on to a forced disability retirement because of an old back injury. He is now an Assistant Professor of Law Enforcement, Department of Government at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
I met Chris when he traveled to my home state of Colorado to be part of a Stress Management for Law Enforcement Seminar that was being presented by CopsAlive Contributor Lisa Wimberger of Trance Personnel Consulting Group (TPCG).
Chris and a very diverse career with work at both the county sheriff level and within a municipal police department. In his career he worked as a deputy sheriff, a patrol officer, detective, worked on a drug task force, and medically retired as a police sergeant. During his career he battled a severe case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder… (PTSD) that was triggered by his investigation of a house fire where three young boys perished. This came only months after the birth of his first child. In our interview Chris talks very candidly about his experiences dealing with PTSD and how he successfully worked though treatment and went on to file charges in the deaths of the three boys. He also talks openly about dealing with an long time back injury that he received playing High School football and how he survived multiple surgeries during his career until a final surgery ended his career.
If you have ever considered how you would handle the severe stresses that lead to PTSD, or wonder if an unexpected injury might end your career, you need to listen to this interview.
You can listen to our 1 hour and 4 minute interview here:
Or you can download the 7 MB mp3 file by RIGHT CLICK HERE to download (that’s CONTROL CLICK if you use a Mac then SAVE LINK AS…) a copy of the mp3 file.
You can can email Chris Dobratz by CLICKING HERE
or check out his page on LinkedIn at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/christiandobratz
Books recommended by Chris Dobratz:
Gilmartin, Kevin M. Emotional Survival For Law Enforcement. Tucson: E-S Press, 2002.
Anderson, Wayne and David Swenson and Daniel Clay. Stress Management For Law Enforcement Officers. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc, 1995.
For more information and resources about PTSD and treatment for police officers see our recent article:
http://www.copsalive.com/copsalive-attends-police-wellness-summit/
CopsAlive.com was founded to provide information and strategies to help police officers successfully survive their careers. We help law enforcement officers and their agencies prepare for the risks that threaten their existence.
We do this by Helping Law Enforcement professionals plan for happy, healthy and successful lives on the job and beyond. We think the best strategy is for each officer to create a tactical plan for their own life and career.
The Law Enforcement Survival Institute (LESI) works with individuals and organizations to help them create and sustain success in their lives and careers as law enforcement professionals. It is the primary goal of The Law Enforcement Survival Institute to become the preeminent source for training, resources and information about how to create and sustain a happy, healthy and successful life and career while providing superior law enforcement service to your community.
6 Comments
March 25th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
I thank you for the article. I will listen to the interview ASAP. I have PTSD from my (3) deployments to Iraq. I have been a police officer for over 14 yrs and it looks like I am about to be fired because of the PTSD. I have no idea how I will support my family or what to do next. Either way i hope to learn something from the article. Thanks again and Semper FI.
March 26th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Hi Dan,
I’m so sorry to hear about what’s happening to you. Thank you for your service (times two). Chris Dobratz is a great guy and i know would be willing to talk to you if you need it. There is a link to his LinkedIn profile in the article. That article also mentions Lisa Wimberger who’s here in Denver with me and I know she would also be willing to help. You can reach her through her website.
You might also check out our article: http://www.copsalive.com/police-officers-need-to-learn-to-manage-stress-before-it-ruins-their-lives-and-careers/ which is a little closer to home as Chris Prochut worked for Bolingbrook PD in Illinois. His email link is also in the article and I’m sure he would also be willing to talk with you. You might also consider talking to the people at Safe Call Now at (206) 459-3020 (http://www.safecallnow.org/) especially if things start to close in on you. Good luck and Stay safe!
June 27th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
[...] As A Police Officer How Would You Handle PTSD or a Disability? http://www.copsalive.com/as-a-police-officer-how-would-you-handle-ptsd-or-a-disability-or-both/ [...]
November 16th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
I just retired as a 20 year veteran of the Taylor Police Department in Michigan. My last year was horrible. On July 23, 2010 one of our younger officers was shot and killed 6 times while investigating a supposed home invasion while his partner had to watch and then run after the animal who shot him and return fire (hitting the def 6 times as well…he survived). His trial just ended and he was found guilty of Murder 1 and a host of other crimes. Less than 6 weeks after this incident, on September 7, 2010 one of our Auxiliary/Reserve units was on the freeway checking on a confused motorist. One of those officers was murdered by a mad man who just bought his heroin and was returning from Detroit. The man intentionally struck the officer who was well on the shoulder of the freeway and drove way from the scene at a high rate of speed.
Now, I get there…chaos…blood…like many officers have said…we’re warriors, we do what we do! I attempted mouth-to-mouth on this officer for over 7 minutes (of course without a barrier). Now I can’t get that and many other horrific stories out of my mind!!
The limited help for PTSD Police Officers in this area is embarassing! Finally found treatment but went to the hospital twice (panic attacks) and was treated like a freak…
Please set up critical incident debriefing sessions with professionals and use them. Most fire departments have done it for years! Our after-care consisted of me seeing a psychologist four times…then I was back on the road. I spent my entire 20 years on the road.
Now this is my mess to clean up. No one at my department “knows” what I saw or went through.
I think pre-planning as you have suggested would have saved me a lot of grief!
November 19th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Hi Dana,
Thank you very much for your comment and I’m very sorry for what you have to endure. I have been hearing so many horror stories over the last few months about how officers suffering from PTSD are treated that I’m going to post an opinion article about it this week. I’m sorry for what you have endured and would welcome your comments and discussion on this weeks article. Take good care of yourself and keep the faith, Law Enforcement is still the most noble profession and you should always be proud of your service. Thank you for taking care of your peers and your community!
December 30th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
I am currently in the middle of a uphill medical retirement due to off duty back and neck injury. I was diagnosed with PTSD 3 weeks ago for incidents that have taken place during my 16 yr law enforcement career. My medical retirement was deferred by retirement board and I have to be evaluated by their ortho doctor now. I have to submit my PTSD diagnosis to the retirement board and my agency. My agency is still bitterly fighting a former fellow officers PTSD claims, even after having four seperate judgements ruling in favor for my colleague. My agency contiues to file appeals on the case and I fear the same type of retaliation towards me due to the fact that we are the only teo officers that have ever come forward. Please send me info on someone that can help me asap!!!! I NEED HELP ASAP!!!! I have asked for help for several years from my agency and they sent me to a three day class last year that trained me to be a debriefer but only debriefed me on one incident our of three pages worth that I had recollected at the beginning of the class. I seriously need help and would appreciate anything or info you can pass on to me. Thanks in advance.
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