Vol. 7 No. 1 Cheyenne (Jarvis) Jones • 9 A study conducted by Love et. al. found that the act of returning to more traditional police work can aid an undercover officer through the reintegration process as returning to a known process can work to help distress (2008). However, there are others that conclude reintegration into the workforce should be a gradual process in order to prevent shock and/or a complete mental shutdown from the officer (Kowalczyk & Sharps, 2016). Regardless, reentry is necessary if an officer wishes to remain in the workforce, and an individualized approach to the process is likely to be the best response. This would allow the department and officer to work collaboratively to determine the best course of action for that individual, which prevents having a universal rule that cannot be universally applied. It can be frustrating from an administrative or leadership perspective to not have a clear solution to a problem such as reintegration. However, it is encouraging to see indications that while the reintegration process will almost certainly be challenging for an undercover officer, there are still ways to make the transitional period smoother. This can be through personalizing the officer’s reentry into the traditional workforce and having immediate access to mental health resources. Recover Strategies Farkas found that 42% of undercover officers within his sample reported problems following their transition out of an undercover operation. This also includes an increase in reported psychiatric symptoms (1986). While there is certainly evidence that suggests undercover officers face challenges following the end of an undercover operation, Kowalczyk and Sharps note that psychologists can serve a critical role in helping an undercover officer through the transition back into society and everyday life. Psychologists can reduce the return or development of negative psychological effects by providing positive aid early in the process. Kowalczyk and Sharps indicate that allowing the officers an adequate amount of time to decompress and readjust is a crucial aspect of a successful reintegration process. They also note that the earlier a psychologist is able to begin working with an undercover officer, the greater chance there is of decreasing negative psychological effects (2016). Naturally there are many strategies officers can employ themselves throughout the reintegration process to alleviate the effects of their undercover operations. However, unless given information regarding other effective recovery and reintegration practices, officers may revert to unhealthy practices such as drinking and/or the unsafe use of drugs (Farkas, 1986; Kowalczyk & Sharps, 2016). In another study, Sharps details the necessity for proper psychoeducation regarding coping mechanisms that can assist the officers throughout daily life and set them on a positive trajectory for recovery (Sharps, 2020). Primarily the officer must be able to seek the support of both colleagues and mental health professionals in order to ensure their transition goes as smoothly as possible (Macleod, 1995). However, the mental
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