Shocking PTSD rates causing mass police exodus: union

The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in the WA police force is contributing to record numbers of officers quitting, the WA Police Union said on day one of its annual conference on Monday.

President Paul Gale opened the two-day event by saying the emotional and mental toll on officers was bigger than ever before, which had led to the union partnering with the PTSD Research Foundation of WA to develop a research study which seeks to establish the prevalence of the condition in this state.

Police Minister Paul Papalia, WA Police Union president Paul Gale and Wa Police Commissioner Col Blanch.

While the study is ongoing, other statistics show police officers are almost three times more likely to have PTSD than the general public, and are more likely to suffer from the condition than those in the armed forces.

“Our officers are regularly encountering high-stress incidents, traumatic events, and emotional challenges,” Gale said.

“It becomes crucial to recognise and address the toll these experiences can take on our mental wellbeing.”

Gale said record numbers of officers resigned from WA Police in 2022-23.

He said 417 officers resigned, and 99 officers retired in the 12 months to June 30.

“This resulted in the worst attrition rate for sworn officers since 1969-70,” he said.

“The rate of sworn officers to population in 2022-23 was also the lowest in 10 years. More importantly, this rate has generally been declining over the past 30 years.”

But Police Minister Paul Papalia, who attended alongside Police Commissioner Col Blanch, said recruitment was also “at record numbers”.

“There are 1600 Western Australians who have applied to join the Western Australian police force right now,” he said.

“There are 1480 UK, Irish and New Zealand officers who’ve applied, and we’re currently building up to about 440 at the Academy by January, and 1000 will be going through the academy over the next 12 months, growing the police force by 15 per cent above attrition.

“So the force will grow – that will help people’s conditions. The more officers out there the better.”

More than 70 motions were put forward to be discussed at the conference, including better pay, incentives, a bid to disaffiliate the WA Police Union from UnionsWA and a vote to put forward a police officer to be a candidate at the next state government election.

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