Friedman, Cary A. Spiritual Survival for Law Enforcement.

• Author: Batchelder, John Stuart
• Position: Book Review

Friedman, Cary A. Spiritual Survival for Law Enforcement. Linden, N J: Compass Books, 2005. 91 pp. Paper, $19.95.

Rabbi Cary A. Friedman presents a simple case for why law-enforcement officers need to cultivate and strengthen their spiritual awareness and religiosity (religion is treated here in a nondenominational context). The book is written almost as a manual that presents a step-by-step procedure for attaining that goal. It is well understood how important it is to have police officers who are emotionally stable, because--in so far as they are guardians of the public's trust--it would be impossible for society to function if they are unable to control their emotional responses to the stresses they encounter. Friedman's purpose is to demonstrate that maintaining one's spiritual health is as necessary and important to an officer's overall career as emotional health is to his/her daily job performance.

The author presents a brief refresher to basic theology in the introduction that is easy to understand, and not necessarily prejudicial to either Western or Eastern religious tradition, although it most certainly is not at odds with Judeo-Christian teachings. Next, the book's thesis is argued and continually reinforced throughout the text. That thesis states that it is absolutely necessary for officers to be aware of the connection between the execution of the officer's daily duties and the public's trust that good will triumph over evil. This elevates a police officer to the status of a symbolic figure who represents all that is noble in the human spirit. This expectation becomes a burden that can only be carried if the officer is sufficiently motivated to do so, and the motivation must be regularly nurtured, refreshed, and recharged. Friedman concludes with a series of exercises aimed at strengthening an officer's spirituality, building his/her character, and reinforcing coping skills.

Friedman builds a powerful argument for visualizing law-enforcement officers as priests of the secular religion (who enforce the constitutional law of the land) in the same way we view clergy as priests and ministers of ecclesiastical...