Health Risks of Off-Duty Police Officers
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Law enforcement is often seen as a high-risk profession, but a recent study has shown that the dangers extend beyond the job itself. A new analysis published in the Lancet Regional Health found that police officers face greater long-term health risks compared to the general population.
The research focused on the causes of death among 15,000 officers across the country, aiming to understand why they experience higher mortality rates. Stress emerged as a key factor in many of these cases.
“It’s an emotional roller coaster. One minute you’re trying to do a traffic stop and the next minute you’re running on a bank robbery or a gun call or domestic violence, so that ebb and flow is always up and down all day long,” said Eric Kocheran, a retired sergeant with the Ross County Sheriff’s Office.
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The study identified heart disease, cancer, suicide, and COVID-19 as the top causes of death among officers. Many of these conditions are closely tied to chronic stress.
“You take all this stuff home with you and you trap it inside you,” Kocheran said.
He told NBC4 that the job took a significant toll on his physical and mental health. Kocheran still deals with back, shoulder, and knee problems. He also has a higher risk of heart disease due to the stress and trauma from his work.
“I see the heart doctor regularly. I check my blood pressure regularly because a lot of that is where the mental health side that I’m fighting with keeps me up at night,” he said.
Brian Steel, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9, noted that efforts are being made to better support officers’ well-being.
“When I started 25 years ago, we didn’t talk about it as often as we do now. There was a lot of stigma back then, and now we can openly get out there and talk about it,” he said.
Steel highlighted that the organization opened a wellness center in 2022.
“There’s peer support. There’s counseling. If you have a problem with drinking, there is Alcoholics Anonymous counseling there. If you just want to go sit down with one of your peers and say, listen, I just want to decompress. I went on a hard run,” he said.
Steel emphasized that maintaining good health is important for everyone, but especially for police officers given their elevated risks.
“Get a good night’s sleep, make sure you’re working out, you’re going to the gym, you’re reading a book, you’re going to a mental health counselor if you need it,” he said.
Researchers stressed that the purpose of the study was not to discourage people from becoming police officers, but to help leaders create programs that better support officers’ health.
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