Why the Law & Order Enforcement Personnel can’t dive into their own negative emotions?

“Police is roaming around. I think it is better if avoid going that ways or they will create a nuisance for us.” 

“Did you see the video of policemen making people do sit-ups on the road today as punishment for strolling during the lockdown? It’s hilarious! Our police personnel have got nothing better to do.”

“Dude, check that video of policemen hitting people with a stick for not following the coronavirus lockdown guidelines. It’s not done. We should make the video viral to put them in their places.”

In our everyday battle with coronavirus, we have forgotten that along with the healthcare workers, the Law & Order Enforcement Personnel deployed on the roads and in our cities are also the frontline warriors in this pandemic. They too are trying their best to prevent the spread of Covid19 by ensuring lockdown rules are followed and are working double shifts, taking time away from family, and exposing themselves to risk. And in spite of their hard work, they are simply forgotten. Conversations such as above have become nothing but a source of entertainment for people sitting at home. More often than not, instead of appreciation, their efforts, are rewarded with disdain, jeer, casual talk and sometimes even aggression and anger. 

Certain groups of disobeying and anxious citizens feel entitled to move around even when instructed otherwise. The policemen have to get hold of these disobeying individuals or mobs and ask them to return home to which the culprits react aggressively with rude connotations in defence because they think that the police is trying to control them. 

Well, in all fairness, it is time to wake up! 

The police are doing their job. While we are following isolation and social distancing, they are out on the roads, exposing themselves to contamination to keep you safe. They have been burdened with the most difficult of all the jobs- the task of ensuring we stay within our homes and follow guidelines of social distancing and wearing a mask etc. With a doctor, a person visits them when he is sick; but the policemen have to ensure they don’t get sick in the first place. The burden of explaining to a healthy person, who is not ready to follow government guidelines, possibly because he thinks he is safe or strolls around on a whim, falls on the policemen and the frontline law and order personnel. 

The government has given the public an option of acquiring a pass or permission if it is necessary to get out of the house. But more often than not, sometimes people are out on the road just because they want to or are bored of sitting inside the house. It takes the patrolman or the cops’ peace of mind when they have to deal with an individual’s whims and fancies and excuses. The trouble is they cannot even punish them randomly because it is not a crime to be outdoors but just an advisory. With so many restrictions and limitations on their actions, it is hard for the enforcement to keep their mind cool while dealing with the boorish offenders and contravening culprits supportively yet authoritatively.

The frontline workers can’t just shoo people off the roads or arrest them. Instead, they have to be supportive to the public, explain and ask them to stay indoors and maintain the demeanour of being polite. Easier said than done considering there are so many levels of human intelligence these officers have to deal with and adapt their answers to. Even if they have an order, while executing the order, they have to mindfully work on their personnel skills because they are dealing with individuals who come from different strata of society. 

For instance; the videos of police personnel who humorously handled the situation by asking people to do sit-ups if they flouted the lockdown can work with some but will not work with an elderly or a more sophisticated person or a lady. When someone from these groups is caught disobeying, the onus to stop them from flouting the rules without having to sound controlling falls on our policemen and patrol officers. 

And then living with the reputation of being corrupt, licentious, money mongers all while trying to keep you safe does not come easy! Balancing their reputation and making things right is a backbreaking task for them which leads to stressful situations. 

But while they are the first ones to stop the virus from spreading, they too need to have a clear mind devoid of excessive angry emotions. The frontline warriors need to remember that 

- Negative emotions get elevated easily. It is therefore imperative to focus on the job at hand and the strategy to deal with it rather than let emotions get the better of you.

- Try and cool yourself down whenever a difficult situation or a difficult person turns up. Deep breaths may help you think through it.

-Ask colleagues to step in for you when you think you are on the brink of a breakdown.

-Avoid falling into the trap of listening too much of news or reading or watching unverified videos. They will add to the anxiety and make you angrier at the person who has to be sent back home.

-maintain a rational and thinking mind.

 - Having a good conversation with the loved one or a friend during breaks. Laugh it out, keep the humour going. 

-Writing down the things that bother will help to deal with anger outbursts and distress.

- Creating a healthy schedule of the food cycle and keeping oneself hydrated helps in keeping a peaceful mind which further helps in fulfilling the job responsibilities. 

-No one rule fits all—be empathetic towards an errant person and sometimes just some politeness, a bit of supportive suggestions or humour can help you tide over the tough time.