It’s a busy holiday season for police officers, and they must understand how to handle it to avoid falling victim to overload or stress. For many law enforcement officers, this time of year comes with some unique stressors that can make the job even more difficult than it usually is. It is especially true if a police officer must patrol holiday events, manage police professional liability, and deal with unruly civilians. Law enforcement professionals must learn how police officers can handle the increased work stress during the holidays.

Conduct a Police Professional Liability Check

Liabilities are often one of the most significant sources of stress for police officers. Police must address any factor that may compromise their safety or ability to perform their job. It means addressing common liabilities such as faulty gear, an ill-fitted uniform, or unreliable communication equipment. These issues could quickly cause a dangerous situation during the holiday season.

Maintain Constant Communication With Command

Police officers are often responsible for securing large crowds during holiday events. It means they must maintain a clear vantage point and continuously surveil participants, keeping an eye out for potential threats. If a police officer does indeed identify a threat, it’s imperative that they immediately communicate the threat to their chief. It will be impossible if they cannot communicate with command.

Keep a Distance From Civilians

Because of the constant possibility of a threat, police officers must also be careful to keep a safe distance from the civilians that they are serving. It’s not uncommon for kids and crowds to reach out to hug or engage with law enforcement to wish them happy holidays, but these interactions can distract from the job and become a liability. Police officers, thus, must be careful to keep a safe distance from civilians at all times.

Always Be Aware of your Surroundings

Law enforcement officers must be aware of their surroundings, but it’s even more critical during the holiday season. There are constant visual and environmental distractions that can cause an officer to lose sight of their surroundings. Police officers can prevent this by focusing on a specific element of their environment and moving away from areas with more distractions.

Invest in Policy Professional Liability Insurance

Law enforcement officers know nothing is more important than keeping their community safe. They must also get home to their families safely — especially during the holiday season. It can be challenging to navigate when the season’s distractions and stress emerge. Police officers can also stay safe and ensure that holiday events are safe by following the aforementioned tips. They can also minimize risks with a police professional liability insurance policy.

About PGUI

Professional Governmental Underwriters, Inc., is a full-service risk management company dedicated to assisting public, educational and non-profit entities in the management of their professional liability exposures including educators liability insurance. We are dedicated to providing state-of-the-art professional underwriting management and loss control advisory services on behalf of our designated carriers. For more information, call us toll-free at (800) 586-6502.