Breaking the Barriers: Changing the Way We Support the Physical and Mental Health of Police Officers

Unacceptably high rates of stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, and divorce have plagued the law enforcement profession for decades. Ask most police officers, firefighters, paramedics, prison guards, and anyone associated with police wellness and they will tell you “everything is fine.” Yet the rate of police suicide continues to climb because of the profession’s stigma against seeking help. Officers embrace their responsibility “to preserve and protect” by taking care of others … but who is taking care of them?

Through interviews with some of the most renowned professionals in their fields, author and speaker Dr. Ron Rufo, a highly decorated, 22-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, puts a spotlight on the importance of seeking mental health intervention before a minor issue becomes a major crisis.

In Breaking the Barrier, Rufo’s fourth book and his second on police wellness, he explains why emotional wellness is as essential as officers’ tactical training. He and dozens of supportive professionals—from the fields of psychology, sleep medicine, religion, leadership management, epidemiology and environmental health, holistic medicine, exercise physiology, and alternative medicine—offer strategies to achieve and maintain emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual wellness throughout an officer’s career.

Ron Rufo is on a crusade to rid the law enforcement profession of its constant and relentless shadow of despair. After describing the history of the police culture that contributes to today’s physical and mental health issues, he presents a cornucopia of tools for intervention and support to help all law enforcement officers achieve a work/life balance that will lead to a long, healthy, and well-deserved retirement.

Dr. Ron Rufo is a highly decorated Chicago Police officer with over 22 years of service. He is the recipient of a Lifesaving Award, two department commendations, and a Unit Meritorious Performance Award. He has 23 honorable mentions and more than 100 letters of appreciation as a Chicago Police officer. Dr. Rufo began his career in the 9th District, was assigned to the prestigious Ambassador Program, and was eventually assigned to the Preventive Programs unit, where he served as a crime prevention speaker for over 13 years. For most of his career, Dr. Rufo has been actively involved as a peer support team leader for the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) of the Chicago Police Department. He has had specialized training in police suicide prevention and is a member of the Critical Incident Team. Ron has been on numerous calls responding to police officers in crisis and has been involved in the aftermath of police suicide. He retired from the Chicago Police Department in July of 2015. Ron is currently a speaker for the Badge of Life, whose mission is to educate and train law enforcement about mental health and suicide prevention.