Email this article “I’ve learnt from my experience and by my senior officers to face any challenge with a brave heart”: Lived experiences of Indian police community members during the pandemic
Abstract
This qualitative study attempted to assess Indian police officers’ lived experiences of the pandemic and lockdown in the country. Sixteen participants (6 female and 10 male police officials) were interviewed. Data from the interviews was analyzed using thematic analysis. It was reported that several changes had occurred in the nature of the responsibilities that police personnel were expected to execute since the outbreak. Prior to it, the primary focus of the participants had been on management of crime. However, after the lockdown, the focus shifted to COVID-19 related duties. Three major sources of concern among police personnel were threat of acquiring the virus, of passing it on to family members and the attacks on policemen as they discharged their duties. Another important challenge was the adverse effects of increased job timings. Lack of proper sleep schedules due to emergency night shifts, increased job demands and mental burden led to feelings of exhaustion and fatigue. Within this scenario, family support and faith in God were reported to play a significant role in coping. Interestingly some police personnel also saw their work as adding a sense of purpose to their lives as they were engaged in protecting other people from the pandemic.
References
Alves, G. (2020, September 25). Survey says 90% Indians aware, but only 44% wearing a mask: Discomfort key reason for non-compliance. The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/survey-says-90-indians-aware-but-only-44-wearing-a-mask-discomfort-key-reason-for-non-compliance/articleshow/78315069.cms?from=mdr
Anand, J. (2009). Psychological healing and faith in the doctrine of Karma. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 12(8), 817–832. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674670903020889
Bavadam, L. (2020, November 6). Maharashtra: Pandemic fatigue?. Frontline. https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/maharashtra-pandemic-fatigue/article32879511.ece
Bishopp, S.A., Worrall, J., & Piquero, N.L. (2016). General strain and police misconduct: The role of organizational influence. Policing: An International Journal, 39(4), 635–651. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-10-2015-0122
Bose, S. (2020). Cops make sanitizing vehicle, tunnels to stay safe. Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/75088509.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1992). Ecological systems theory. In R. Vasta (Ed.), Six theories of child development: Revised formulations and current issues (p. 187–249). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Clarke, V. & Braun, V. (2013). Teaching thematic analysis: Overcoming challenges and developing strategies for effective learning. The Psychologist, 26, 120-123.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Handbook of qualitative research. Sage Publications.
Deshmukh, Y. & Guru, S. (2020, May 4). COVID-19 Impact: How people’s view of police improved due to virus. The Quint. https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/coronavirus-police-survey-cvoter-covid19-popularity-opinion-poll
Forster, E., Hafiz, A. (2015). Paediatric death and dying: Exploring coping strategies of health professionals and perceptions of support provision. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 294–301. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2015.21.6.294.
Fox, J., Desai, M.M., Britten, K., Lucas, G., Luneau, R., & Rosenthal, M.S. (2012). Mental-health conditions, barriers to care, and productivity loss among officers in an urban police department. Connecticut Medicine, 76(9), 525–531.
Hochbaum, G., Rosenstock, I., & Kegels, S. (1952). Health belief model. Public Health Service.
India coronavirus: Doctors reattach policeman’s hand severed in lockdown attack. (2020, April 13). BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52267877
Jha, A., & Kawoosa, V.M. (2020, March 18). Why social distancing is tough to implement. Hindustan Times. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/why-social-distancing-is-tough-to-implement/story-iTp2VbV2GQxEvIeSwoOMCK.html
Kloos, B., Hill, J., Thomas, E., Case, A., Scott, V., & Wandersman, A. (2020). Community Psychology: Linking Individuals and Communities (Fourth ed.). American Psychological Association.
Kokane, P.P., Maurya, P., & Muhammad, T. (2020). Understanding the incidence of Covid-19 among the police force in Maharashtra through a mixed approach. MedRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.11.20125104.
Kula, S., & Guler A. (2014). Influence of supervisor support on job satisfaction levels: Evaluation of Turkish National Police (TNP) officers in the Istanbul police department. International Journal of Criminal Justice, 9, 208–223.
Lameck, W. (2011). Non financial motivation as a strategy for improving the performance of police force. International Journal of Management and Business Studies, 1(4), 1-5.
Mehta, A. (2019, October 23). Indian police work 14-Hr workdays, get few weekly offs. India Spend. https://www.indiaspend.com/indian-police-forces-work-14-hr-workdays-get-few-weekly-offs/#:~:text=Long%20working%20hours%20combined%20with,August%2027%2C%202019%2C%20said
Heartbreaking! Police officer on COVID-19 duty talks to his 2-year-old son through the window. (2020, April 26). Mumbai Mirror. https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/coronavirus/news/heartbreaking-police-officer-on-covid-19-duty-talks-to-his-2-year-old-son-through-the-window/articleshow/75390264.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Mitra, B. (2020, April 28). Proud yet worried, say the families of Covid warriors. Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/75416532.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Mohammed, A. (2020, April 13). Cops feed the poor, supply essentials to needy people amid lockdown. Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/75112646.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Moon, M.M., & Johnson, C.L. (2012). The influence of occupational strain on organizational commitment among police: A general strain theory approach. Journal of Criminal Justice, 40(3), 249–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2012.02.004.
Nguyen, L. H., Drew, D. A., Graham, M. S., Joshi, A. D., Guo, C. G., Ma, W., Mehta, R. S., Warner, E. T., Sikavi, D. R., Lo, C. H., Kwon, S., Song, M., Mucci, L. A., Stampfer, M. J., Willett, W. C., Eliassen, A. H., Hart, J. E., Chavarro, J. E., Rich-Edwards, J. W., . . . Zhang, F. (2020). Risk of COVID-19 among front-line health-care workers and the general community: a prospective cohort study. The Lancet Public Health, 5(9), e475–e483. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(20)30164-x
Nigam, C. (2020, April 19). Coronavirus in India: How cops are fighting Covid-19 surge in ranks. India Today. https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/coronavirus-in-india-how-cops-are-fighting-covid-19-surge-in-ranks-1668562-2020-04-19
Pandey, V. (2020, February 28). Delhi riots: 'Hero cop' who braved a mob to save lives. BBC News. Retrieved 1 June 2021 from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51670093
Police Reforms in India. (2017, June). PRS Legislative Research. https://www.prsindia.org/policy/discussion-papers/police-reforms-india.
Press Trust of India (2019, December 24). Delhi Police suspended 1,422 personnel, sacked 122 in over 3 years. Business Standard. https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/delhi-police-suspended-1-422-personnel-sacked-122-in-over-3-yrs-119122401247_1.html
Press Trust of India (2020, April 22). 34 Bhopal cops COVID-19 positive, official blames Jamaat event. The Economic Times. (2020). https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/34-bhopal-cops-covid-19-positive-official-blames-jamaat-event/articleshow/75320835.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Press Trust of India (2020, July 1). IMA launches Coronavirus helpline for Delhi police personnel and their families. News 18. https://www.news18.com/news/india/ima-launches-coronavirus-helpline-for-delhi-police-personnel-and-their-families-2696603.html
Press Trust of India (2020, June 19). Delhi Police DCP tests positive for COVID-19. The New Indian Express. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2020/jun/19/delhi-police-dcp-tests-positive-for-covid-19-2158760.html
Press Trust of India (2020, March 27). Indore cops asked to stay away from families to avoid spread of coronavirus. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 June 2021 from https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/mar/27/indore-cops-asked-to-stay-away-from-families-to-avoid-spread-of-coronavirus-2122370.html
Putnam, R. D. (1996). The strange disappearance of civic America. The American Prospect, 7. http://epn.org/ prospect/24/24putn.html
Putnam, R. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.
Rooney, L., & McNicholas, F. (2020). “Policing” a pandemic: Garda wellbeing and COVID-19. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 37(3), 192–197. https://doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2020.70.
Schachter, S. (1951). Deviation, rejection, and communication. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 46(2), 190–207. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0062326.
Seo, A. (2016, September 10). Community policing has made Bengaluru safer, and other cities can learn from it. Scroll. Retrieved 7 June 2021from https://scroll.in/article/815555/community-policing-has-made-bengaluru-safer-and-other-cities-can-learn-from-it
Shane, J.M. (2010). Organizational stressors and police performance. Journal of Criminal Justice, 38(4), 807–818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2010.05.008.
Shinn, M., & Toohey, S. M. (2003). Community contexts of human welfare. Annual Review of Psychology, 54(1), 427–459. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.54.101601.145052
Similowski, T., Moricot, C., Nion, N., Decavèle,M., Lavault, S., Guerder, A., Morélot-Panzini, C., & Serresse, L. (2020). Facemasks as a COVID-19 barrier: A window into the overlooked experience of chronic dyspnoea?. Lancet Respiratory Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30512-9.
Singh, V. (2020, April 22). Policemen in coronavirus fight have no insurance. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/policemen-in-coronavirus-fight-have-no-insurance/article31409779.ece
Slocum, L.A. (2010). General strain theory and the development of stressors and substance use over time: An empirical examination. Journal of Criminal Justice, 38(6), 1100–1112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2010.08.002.
Wu, P., Fang, Y., Guan, Z., Fan, B., Kong, J., Yao, Z., Liu, X., Fuller, C. J., Susser, E., Lu, J., & Hoven, C. W. (2009). The psychological impact of the SARS epidemic on hospital employees in China: exposure, risk perception, and altruistic acceptance of risk. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 54(5), 302–311. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370905400504
Yuan, L., Zhu, L., Chen, F.,Cheng, Q., Yang, Q., Zhou, Z.Z., Zhu, Y., Wu, Y., Zhou, Y., & Zha, X. (2020). A survey of psychological responses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic among Chinese police officers in Wuhu. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 13, 2689–2697. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S269886.
Full Text: PDF
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
