Date

11-11-2026

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)

Chair

Jarrod Sadulski

Keywords

Police, Mental Health, Well-Being, Leadership, Coping Strategies, Stressors, Law Enforcement

Disciplines

Leadership Studies

Abstract

Police stress-induced mental health issues are a byproduct of a series of traumatic experiences over a period of time and considered by scholars a major issue in law enforcement with serious, if not deadly, consequences. The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to investigate how leadership in policing fostered effective coping skills in their followers’ ability to deal with field operations, organizational, and personal off-duty stressors. Scholarly literature suggested there are still gaps between effective police coping skills, concerning stress-induced mental health, and renewed lifesaving resiliency. The research questions for the study are: RQ1. What coping means are effective police leaders using to manage police mental health issues, high stress, and traumatic events concerning police field operations? RQ2. In what manner does leadership in policing foster effective coping skills in their followers concerning organizational stressors? RQ3. How has leadership in policing addressed personal off-duty stressors (e.g., substance abuse, work-life balance, suicide, etc.) in their followers? The research design and methodology utilized a qualitative multiple-case study. The research sample and setting involved members of the Texas Fraternal Order of Police, graduates of the Caruth Police Institute, and honorably retired police officers regardless of their rank. The participants were interviewed with open-ended questions using a semi-structured procedure. Data analysis and collection for the research was processed using Dedoose® software. Through inductive reasoning, conclusions were drawn from distinguished themes and patterns. The study’s results, further research recommendations, policy implications, and conclusions are found in Chapter Five.

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