Rooted in Faith
It's part of us... even in the our constitution!
There is no denying that the career of law enforcement changes an officer, both internally and externally. Thankfully, in spite of all the negative effects serving in law enforcement entails, faith provides clarity and can help negate these negative impacts. There are various infamous stories of “good cops gone bad.” In fact, a US Department of Justice study on “Bad Cops” headed by James Fyfe and Robert Kane concluded that officers with prior bad behavior, criminal histories, prior disciplinary infractions/complaints from others, and officers with no education higher than high school diploma were the most likely to engage in career ending misconduct. Coming from a professional in the workplace, Mark Aysta said that “When you spend all day with bad guys, being authorized to commit crimes with them [working undercover], if you don’t have a strong moral compass, you can get used to that kind of lifestyle” (M. Aysta, personal communication, June 6, 2022). It is very important to know who you are and to not let the negative behavior of the people you are around affect how you act and what you believe. This stems from faith. Faith provides stability and a strong moral compass.
By nature, America is a faith based country. It states so, clearly, in our constitution that we are “one nation, under God.” There is no denying that faith plays an important role in the life of an American citizen, most especially a member of law enforcement. According to a study performed by Dr. Donald Meichenbaum entitled, “TRAUMA, SPIRITUALITY AND RECOVERY: TOWARD A SPIRITUALLY-INTEGRATED PSYCHOTHERAPY,” 80% pray when they struggle with a serious problem or crisis. In addition, a recent Gallup poll concluded that 81% of Americans believe in God/a higher power (Saad 2022). These statistics show that religion plays a vital role in the life of every person, whether they recognize it or not. People turn to prayer and lean on their faith, especially in times of tragedy such as natural disasters, mass shootings, or terrorist attacks. Each day, law enforcement officers deal with these types of tragedies. They must remain strong and stable in their profession while coping with the impacts in a healthy way. This is where prayer and faith life comes into play. A study done at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada showed that faith directly negates the negative impacts that come with law enforcement (Meichenbaum 2013). Data shows that religious coping lowers depression, alcohol consumption, somatic complaints, interpersonal problems, and mortality. Instead of succumbing to the negative emotions, subjects were found to have overall higher levels of life satisfaction, social support, and ability to cope with future tragedies. Oftentimes, people find comfort and healing in faith’s traditions, prayers, and sacraments. A 2007 study done by Watts, entitled, “Emotional Regulation and Religion,” showed that religious practices including prayer, meditation, mindfulness, and acceptance help people cope with traumatic events. Specifically in Catholicism, such practices can include: spending time in adoration, reception of Holy Communion, going to Confession, practicing penance, praying the rosary, performing community service, and more. Engaging with the community in the celebration of Mass or other religious services helps law enforcement have a support system that allows them to cope with their experiences in a healthy way. Sergeant Ryan Smith runs the Criminal Investigations Unit for Huntersville Police Department, and his faith community provides him both structure and consistency. He says, “I grew up Methodist and have been a lay speaker since I was in high school. Now I am a certified lay servant for the church which means I prepare messages for the Church. This is a great way for me to help others and kind of a way to cope with all the nasty things I deal with on the job” (R. Smith, personal communication, June 10, 2022). Author Harold S. Kushner puts it best in his novel When Bad Things Happen to Good People, saying, “I would say that God may not prevent the calamity, but He gives us strength and the perseverance to overcome it” (Kushner 141).
A big part of a person’s identity is his/her faith. It plays a pivotal role in what he/she does, what he/she believes, and how he/she treats those around them. In his book, Spiritual Survival for Law Enforcement, Cary A. Friedman breaks faith down into three main categories: faith in God, faith in humanity, and faith in oneself. Faith in God refers to the religious belief in God and His detailed creation of the world we live in. Faith in humanity refers to faith in mankind and the good of all people. Finally, faith in oneself refers to belief and trust in oneself and what you can do. If an officer is religious or has a faith life, they believe in God and usually practice their religion at a Church or establishment (Friedman 29). Attending weekly Masses or spending set time in Adoration implements faith and consistency. Some law enforcement workers practice faith and a spiritual life, while others do not. Some rely on their faith to get them through the job each day, while others are driven away from their faith by the cruel realities of the world itself. Although faith cannot negate every negative impact, it can help people overcome many (C. Doyle, personal communication, June 21, 2022).