“You want cops to come forward and seek help if they have a personal issue, but if you’re all of a sudden going to thrust some person into their home or call them into the office, they’re going to be resistant to that,” the source said. “It’s a ridiculous idea.”
Another police source scoffed at his personal life becoming part of his officer review and said the department would be better off trying to reduce cop stress.
“What they need to be is more concerned with the fact that the job itself is stressful,” the source said. “They need to rotate these cops around every once in a while. Offer these guys who have been working in these tough commands different precincts for a while.”
The NYPD said it is “committed to addressing the mental health stigma head-on.”
Police Commissioner James O’Neill has encouraged officers to come forward, saying in the report “asking for help is never a sign of weakness – in fact, it is a sign of great strength.”
The DOI report “took a thorough look at this very significant issue and its recommendations focus on the issues of availability and use of high-quality treatment, ensuring that seeking help does not have negative career consequences, and various ways to normalize the conversation around mental health and wellness in order to end any associated stigma,” a DOI spokeswoman said.