Author: Rabbi Cary A. Friedman

ISBN: 0-9761966-1-1

Rabbi Cary A. Friedman is a consultant on spirituality for the Behavioral Science Unit of the FBI and has high respect for the men and women who work in law enforcement.  Spiritual Survival for Law Enforcement demonstrates that respect and Rabbi Friedman’s compassion and concern for them.

Law enforcement officers are constantly at risk for physical, emotional and spiritual injury.  Physical injury can be sudden and catastrophic; emotional or spiritual injury often occurs over time, but can be just as catastrophic.  Unless they pay attention to emotional and spiritual health, law enforcement officers are at risk.  As Friedman says, they can become “dispirited” and “a danger to (themselves) and the people around (them).”

The importance of emotional health for police officers has been addressed elsewhere, and Rabbi Friedman keeps his focus on the spiritual aspect.  He differentiates between the two by saying that emotional health has to do with our internal experience, while spiritual health involves being connected to something outside ourselves, something higher than ourselves.

Friedman also differentiates between spirituality and religion.  Religion is a subset of spirituality.  Spirituality is the source of inspiration and transcendence.  One can be spiritual without being religious, or without even believing in God.  Friedman believes it’s that spiritual element that prompted you to become a law enforcement officer in the first place. 

Spiritual Survival for Law Enforcement is a practical guide for both law enforcement officers and law enforcement chaplains.  It isn’t however, a laundry list of things that will keep you spiritually healthy.  There are exercises to help re-establish and maintain one’s spiritual connections; the exercises will take deep introspection and hard work.   This book is intended to be read, mulled over, and read again.  A discussion group would find the book very helpful.

Law Enforcement is a risky career, and the people who do it are heroes.  Unfortunately, the hazards of law enforcement take a toll on far too many officers and the people around them.  Families and friends suffer, too, when a law enforcement officer is in the negative spiral of burnout.  Spiritual Survival for Law Enforcement is a valuable tool for preventing that spiral, and for guiding those who seek to help law enforcement personnel maintain spiritual health. 

The above review was contributed by: Penny Watkins, Free Lance Writer, Mother, Grandmother, and Cat Lady:  CLICK HERE  to read more of Penny's Reviews.