First Responders Cope With Child Hostage Crisis
By: Jamiese Price
Updated: February 8, 2013
We often hear stories from soldiers and their struggles with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), but retired Dothan Police Chief John White said, local law enforcement may struggle with the same issue especially after the child hostage standoff in Dale County.
The officers on the scene were emotionally invested into the entire operation and White said counseling may be required for some of them. "We talk about post traumatic stress disorder with our soldiers, the same occurs with our law enforcement and that can happen if you're involved in an event like the one in Dale county. There's a little bit of trauma that occurs and it takes a little bit of your consciousness that you never get back," explained White.
Symptoms of PTSD include reliving the trauma over and over, bad dreams, and frightening thoughts. Experts estimate 15 percent of all police officers will experience PTSD symptoms during their time on the force.
