Alarming Police Life Expectancy Stats Revealed by Atlanta Police Union
Disturbing Statistics Seek to Draw Attention to Officers’ Life Quality
The Atlanta Police Union has raised concerns over the life expectancy of police officers in the city, which stands at an alarming 66 years average. The organization has urged city leaders, including the mayor and city council, to proactively address this disturbing reality by enhancing the pension benefits for the officers, arguing that this could also help the city bridge its target of having over 2,000 officers in service.
Shockingly Short Lifespan Amidst Stressful Working Conditions
For those who serve as police officers in Atlanta, the average life expectancy doesn’t extend beyond 66years. The shocking fact that an officer’s lifespan is cut short due to the stressful demands of the job has instigated calls for better salaries, as well as improved pension benefits, which can also serve to attract and retain dedicated officers.
As described by Atlanta Police Investigator Keleon Boatlay during a budget hearing, “No one calls the police because they are having a good day. No one calls to tell us they got engaged”. Typically, when police officers receive calls, it often involves responding to dire emergencies, violent situations, and death. The randomness of their assignments and the potential for immediate escalation take a toll on the officers’ well-being and lifespan.
Regular Trauma Experiences Leaves Mark on Officers
The Atlanta Police Union, in an attempt to illustrate the turbulent realties of their profession, employed an FBI statistic showing quite the disparity in traumatic incidents experienced by average citizens in a lifetime standing at two or three, whereas officers contend with an average of 178 traumatic incidents in their entire career. Vince Champion, Southeast IBPO Director, consistently highlights that dealing with this level of job-related stress significantly impacts the life expectancy of the officers.
Urgent Call for Reduced Years of Service
The Police Union has formally requested the mayor and council to reduce the service years required for full retirement to less than the standard 30 years. Investigators have pointed to the National Institute of Health’s conclusion that police officers have a life expectancy of 66 years, making the case for a reduced service time even more relevant. For new recruits who join the force in their late 20s or early 30s, the prospect of only a few years of retirement after a long service period can be incredibly daunting.
According to Champion, “They have about five years to enjoy retirement after giving most of their life to the city. Serving 30 years for the city is way too much.” Despite the gravity of the situation, there’s an aura of optimism amongst the police union. They expressed more “hope” than usual, thanks to the opening lines of communication they have with the current city administration, a promising first in their history.
