Police Political Groups
Getting officers help for combating PTSD often requires the influence and strength of political organizations. Police groups can negotiate, lobby and fight for better working conditions, training and trauma intervention programs.
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA)
FLEOA is the largest professional association in the U.S. representing federal law enforcement officers and criminal investigators from over 65 different agencies. Apart from legislative involvement, FLEOA provides legal advice and representation to its many members.
The FLEOA Foundation offers assistance to family members of officers who are killed, provides scholarships to help students interested in criminal justice and administers grants to select charities.
Go to: http://www.fleoa.org. Write: FLEOA, P.O. Box 326, Lewisberry, PA 17339. Phone: 717-938-2300.
Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
The FOP is the world’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers with more than 2,100 lodges and over 340,000 members. Besides legislative activities and numerous programs, it encourages the use of intervention methods for police officers who experience trauma.
The National FOP’s Critical Incident Committee promotes peer support, analyzes critical incident needs and offers training programs. It is engaged in pre-incident education to prepare law enforcement officers for the effects of trauma. Departments in several states have organized Critical Incident Stress Manage-ment (CISM) programs with the assistance of the FOP.
Go to: http://www.grandlodgefop.org. Write: Atnip-Orms Center, National Fraternal Order of Police, 701 Marriott Drive, Nashville, TN 37214. Phone: 615-399-0900.
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
The IACP is the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization of police executives with over 16,000 members in ninety-four countries. Among its many goals, this group is dedicated to improving the working conditions of the police profession. The IACP has conducted conferences and training about the effects of stress and trauma, and its policy center has developed related model policies to assist the law enforcement community.
With over a century of experience, the organization has credibility in all areas including government, the public and the media. As well as offices in the U.S., the IACP maintains inter-national offices in Europe, India and the Pacific/Asian region.
Go to: http://www.theiacp.org. Write: IACP, 515 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2357. Call toll-free: 800-843-4227. Phone: 703-836-6767.
International Union of Police Associations (IUPA)
IUPA has become one of the most influential voices for law enforcement in the political arena. The union lobbies in Washington on a wide range of issues, including police officer rights, survivor benefits, overtime pay and armor vest grants.
To combat the impact of trauma, the union retains a renowned police psychologist and expert in the field of police stress to conduct educational stress seminars for IUPA members and their families. The IUPA offers local unions research articles and publications with the latest findings in the area of police stress.
The IUPA has affiliates in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada.
Go to: http://www.iupa.org. Write: IUPA, 1549 Ringling Blvd., Suite 600, Sarasota, FL 34236. Phone: 941-487-2560.
National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO)
NAPO represents the interests of more than 2000 police unions and associations, over 238,000 sworn officers and thousands of retired cops. In 1991, NAPO established the Police Research and Education Project (PREP) to promote the well-being of police officers and their families.
Go to: http://www.napo.org. Write: NAPO, 317 South Patrick Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone: 703-549-0775.
The NSA is involved in many programs to enable sheriffs, their deputies, chiefs of police and others in criminal justice to perform their jobs in the best possible manner. It monitors legislation and provides training for its members.
Go to: http://www.sheriffs.org. Write: National Sheriffs’ Association, 1450 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3490. Call toll-free: 800-424-7827. Phone: 703-836-7827.
National Trooper’s Coalition (NTC)
One of the many goals of the NTC is to assist member state police associations in acquiring the best possible equipment, salaries, pension, fringe benefits and working conditions. The organization is very active in lobbying Washington and conducts seminars on important issues to state troopers.
Go to: http://www.ntctroopers.com. Write: NTC, 1308 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. Phone: 202-387-1682.