Secondary trauma program helps Kansas City police cope with emotional toll of job experiences [KansasCity.com]

Samantha Sangenito 6/22/154:00 AM

It took about a year for the nightmares — the same images coming over and over — to stop.

In them, Kansas City Police Officer Melanie A. Madonia rushed to help a 4-year-old girl who was lying face down after accidentally shooting herself in the head. But each time Madonia gently rolled the girl over, instead of seeing the girl’s face, Madonia saw her daughter’s face.

Madonia knew she needed help coping, but she never reached out. It’s not easy for a cop to do that.

Few realize the extent of what police officers and first responders see on the job every day — the lingering impact it can have, the trauma and stress it can breed, experts say.

Mangled bodies. Domestic violence. Neglected children living in homes with roaches on the walls and no food in the cupboard.

[For more of this story, written by Glenn E. Rice, go to http://www.kansascity.com/news...article24826237.html]

Attachments

Show

Add Comment

Comments (0)

<ul id="{%=id%}ButtonGroup" class="button-group h-popup-buttons even-button-group even-1">
    <li id="{%=id%}Okay_buttonContainer"><a id="{%=id%}Okay" href="javascript:void(0);" class="button success no-margin-bottom h-alert-modal-ok-button" role="button">OK</a><script type="text/javascript">
        (function() {
            function {%=id%}Okay_click(event, data) {
            {%=id%}Popup.hide();
        }
        
                $('#{%=id%}Okay').on('click', {%=id%}Okay_click);
        })();
    </script></li></ul><a href="javascript:void(0);" class="close-reveal-modal" aria-label="Close Modal">&#215;</a><div class="last-modal-focus focus-utility-element" tabindex="0"></div>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
        (function() {
            {%=id%}Popup = new SS.Popup.ModalPopup('{%=id%}');
        })();
    </script>

Skip to main content

Attachments

Add Comment

Membership Required

Remove From Your Block List

Manage Follow Preferences

Block

Please wait...