TROOPER SLEEP DEPRIVATION 1
CJUS 300
Dr. Cox
Memorandum
TROOPER SLEEP DEPRIVATION 2
To: Chief Kim Y. Royster
From:
Date: 12/8/22
Re: Incarcerating Juveniles in Adult Prison
Sleep deprivation can cause Police Troopers and Officers to develop sleep disorders such as sleep apnea,
insomnia, and shift work disorder. Studies have found that not sleeping for 17 hours or more compares to
excessive drinking and equate to a blood alcohol content of 0.05 percent, and 24 hours of no sleep has a
percentage of 0.10. Sleep deprivation poses a threat to the community or communities they serve because
there is potential for car crashes or on-the job accidents.
This issue should be of importance to the agency because the well-being of troopers must be a focal point
for success in job performance. The possibility of officers and troopers not being able to perform to their
best ability creates high risk for injuries, and accidents. Troopers need coordination, cognitive
concentration, reasoning, fast processing, awareness, and reaction time and lack of rest can inhibit these
things that are the functions of an officer on duty. The support from the union to provide the trooper with
a healthy amount of work, personal hours, and a safe environment plays a censorious role in the ability to
serve and protect the communities that need it.
The agency must consider the necessary implications that will limit this pattern of sleep deprivation
amongst troopers. Things to be considered would be the number of troopers per shift, hours worked,
policies within hours as well as how there can be a successful way for there to be a two-way street of
communication between the troopers and agency. While sleep deprivation poses a threat to the
community, it also directly affects the department because as incidents and injuries occur, lawsuits and
heat from higher departments will arise. Troopers that are excessively working long hours will be
permitted to take more sick leaves, have higher risks of vehicular accidents, inappropriate use of force,
higher likelihood to die on the line, and have a more difficult time dealing with community members and
law enforcement agencies. We lose humans due to negligence and reckless behavior constantly. Therefore,
the people who serve and protect our communities also need to be put in the best position to perform their
duties to the best of their capability.
The following white paper will expand upon the importance to act for this agency as well as the overall
significance of the issue. Three potential solutions along with a discussion of the benefits and pitfalls will
be presented: do nothing, full implementation, incremental approach. I thank you for your time in advance
in considering this proposal.
Introduction
TROOPER SLEEP DEPRIVATION 3
New York State should take sleep deprivation of troopers serious as the city flows with
traffic and in order to keep our cities safe, the agency and troopers need to be in the best
conditions to do their job. The affects of this development will directly impact the daily tasks
troopers endures. Statistics compare sleep deprivation to excessive drinking, so when you add
the stressors of the job along with not getting the proper rest the body needs, unfortunate events
will happen in the line of duty.
Problem
Troopers are adversely affected by sleep deprivation on and off duty. Sleep deprivation
develops when unique stressors of the job and shift in work occurs. As a result of putting all their
efforts into their duties like paperwork, managing traffic, responding to calls, enforcing road
rules, double or more shifts, etc. this will take course. Other factors within their personal lives
can also be a result from the sleep deprivation. Solutions can be introduced and suggested to
create the best scenario for troopers and the agency.
Significance
Sleep deprivation is a community problem because of the accidents and incidents that can
occur from the people in charge of protecting us if they are not at their optimal performance rate.
Not only can sleep deprivation cause health issues, but also the death of troopers or public
citizens. Without a healthy mind and body, troopers’ coordination, reaction time, awareness, and
reasoning are slowed. More than 40% of police officers reported having fallen asleep while
driving and 25% reported that happened more than once a month. (Axion Family Wellness-Sleep
Deprivation.pdf, Slide 1). If it is a crime to drive intoxicated, then a trooper driving without
significant hours of sleep is just as heinous as the reckless endangerment that comes with driving
under the influence. Researchers show that fatigued officers “use more sick leave, practice
TROOPER SLEEP DEPRIVATION 4
inappropriate uses of force, are involved in more vehicle accidents, have difficulty dealing with
community members, and have a higher likelihood of dying in the line of duty” (Impact of Sleep
Deprivation).
Solution
Full Implementation
Paying attention to the simplistic things like shifts, hours, number of staff would be the
best route for a full implementation plan. The agency should make it a point to focus on the
health of their troopers. If that means tracking their sleep with technology or having psychiatrists
to speak to for their mental aspect, it is crucial for themselves and the community. Hiring more
troopers if understaffed, planning out healthy shift hours, and maintaining a close eye on
overtime shifts/hours troopers request for is necessary.
Policy Implications
Although there is no specific policy or law regarding sleep deprivation in New York, it is
highly stressed to not drive distracted, or influenced which includes drowsiness. “The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that every year there are 10,000 drowsy driving
crashes reported to police costing $12.5 billion” (Drowsy Driving Awareness).
Budget Implications
The Uniform Force of the New York State Police is “made up of more than 3,500 men
and women. These sworn members are the Troopers you see responding to calls, patrolling,
roadways and helping the public wearing the iconic gray uniform and Stetson” (New York State
Police). The average starting salary for a state trooper in New York is $42,500 per year. State
trooper salaries after five and a half years is $85,292 and including holiday pay, uniform
allowance, night differential and overtime, earnings are potentially over $100,000 per year
TROOPER SLEEP DEPRIVATION 5
(Salary and Benefits). NYPD offers additional benefits like “27 Paid vacation days after 5 years
of service, Unlimited sick leave with full pay, Selection of medical benefit packages,
Prescription, dental, and vision coverage, Annuity fund, Deferred Compensation Plan, 401K and
I.R.A., Optional retirement at one half salary after 22 years of service, Annual $12,000 Variable
Supplement Fund (upon retirement), and Excellent promotional opportunities.” (Salary and
Benefits). The budget may not allow a full implementation plan at this time.
Public Support
The public may support this plan because they can understand how demanding it is to be
a trooper especially the mental, emotional, and physical things they endure on a day-to-day basis.
As a citizen, you want to feel protected and the only way this can be accomplished is if the
troopers are able to perform at their best state. The only way the public may not be in favor of the
plan is if the budget would require tax money from the public.
Incremental
Swapping troopers shifts out between the dayshift and nightshift weekly might help
alleviate the loss of sleep due to the duties that come within the job description. A schedule with
more durable or flexible hours might provide troopers with the opportunity to get rest but also be
effective during work shifts.
Policy Implications
There are no working policies in place for New York State on sleep deprivation so there
is no telling how policies would affect this plan.
Budget Implications
TROOPER SLEEP DEPRIVATION 6
The number of troopers on duty from a day-to-day basis to meet the expectations and
demands on the given day may be within the budget to support this plan but also depends on the
additional benefits stated above.
Public Support
The public may support the plan to always keep troopers healthy so that they can best
serve the community. It will not be determined how the public will support this plan especially if
taxes will be expected from them.
Do Nothing
This type of tactic would require for the troopers, agency, and community to continue as
it is. Unsafe and unhealthy conditions would continue which ultimately will cause an increase in
accidents, on the job injuries, and even death. All the effects of sleep deprivation on the body
would interfere with performing at a high level.
Policy Implications
Nothing would change within the agencies policies on how to handle sleep deprivation.
Budget Implications
The budget would remain as is which covers all on the job wrecks with police property
like patrol cars.
Public Support
The public may not pay attention to the direct effects of the troopers as it does not apply
to their direct situations and daily routines.
Christian Worldview
In relevance to how important sleep is for job performance; the Bible talks about how we
must treat our bodies as temples. In other words, respecting, caring, and keeping our bodies
TROOPER SLEEP DEPRIVATION 7
healthy in the wishes of God is significant. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states, “do you not know that
your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies”
(NIV). The Bible also mentions how we must view our bodies as a living sacrifice and to not
succumb to the expectations, or negative influences in pressures of society. Romans 12:1-2 says,
“therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a
living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform
to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be
able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (NIV) God asks
us to live for him as he sacrificed his only son to die on the cross for us and for our sins. This
ultimate sacrifice should be more than enough for Christians to fully die to self and live for him
every single day. Giving our entire being, heart, love, talents, energy, and strength to serve him
as well as others is truly the only fulfilling thing. Seeking pure joy, happiness, and success comes
only from him as he is the ultimate creator. The Bible also says that we need to value rest and to
keep our bodies and mental state healthy. Mark 6:31 says “then, because so many people were
coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘come with me by
yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’” (NIV). When God created all things, he sacrificed
and worked diligently to share his message and plans for us. “By the seventh day God finished
the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed
the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he
had done” (Genesis 2:2-3, NIV). God made man in his image therefore we must live out his
expectations and wishes. As Christians, we are taught the importance of caring, nurturing, and
keeping our bodies pure because it is a temple. Sinners ask for forgiveness from Jesus but asking
TROOPER SLEEP DEPRIVATION 8
this we are accepting the Holy Spirit into our hearts and with that, we must treat our bodies with
respect and maintain health.
Conclusion
Sleep deprivation is a controllable development due to the stress factors and environment
we see within the police agency. Troopers should be given the tools within basic training to best
prepare themselves for when things get out of control so that the sleep patterns, routines, and
workouts are a positive infliction in their lives rather than a negative one.
TROOPER SLEEP DEPRIVATION 9
References
Department of Health. Drowsy Driving Awareness. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2022, from
https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/driving_drowsy.htm
Distracted driving. Governor's Traffic Safety Committee. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2022,
from https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/distracted-driving-1
Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Police Performance. (2009, January 6). Retrieved from
https://www.nij.gov/topics/law-enforcement/officer-safety/stressfatigue/Pages/impact.aspx
PDF. (2018, February 1). https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/2018-09/Axon Family
Wellness-Sleep Deprivation.pdf
Salary and benefits. Police Officer Salary & Benefits - NYPD. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30,
2022, from https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/careers/police-officers/po-benefits.page
State Trooper salary in New York – $109,000. Mint. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2022, from
https://mint.intuit.com/salary/state-trooper/ny#:~:text=in%20New%20York%3F-,The
%20average%20salary%20for%20a%20state%20trooper%20in%20New%20York,bonuses
%2C%20tips%2C%20and%20more.
Supporting Officer Safety Through Family Wellness: The Effects of Sleep Deprivation. (2018,
February 1). Retrieved from https://www.theiacp.org/resources/document/supportingofficer-
safety-through-family-wellness-the-effects-of-sleep
Troopers. New York State Police. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2022, from
https://troopers.ny.gov/troopers#:~:text=The%20Uniform%20Force%20of%20the,iconic
%20gray%20uniform%20and%20Stetson.
TROOPER SLEEP DEPRIVATION 10
Research Paper Rubric Fall 2020
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CJUS 300 Rubric
Name: Shevaun Judon
Points
Earned
Points
Possible
States Problem Clearly “the problem is…, the issue is…” 5 5
The problem section provides sufficient background on the
topic, previews major points, and “problem” as a thesis. Must
show this is a significant issue to deal with.
18 20
The significance section expands upon the explanation of the
problem. Brings significant research to back the problem as an
issue. How persuasive? How Significant? What has been impact
in other areas? The questions are just a few potential questions
that could be included in the significance section.
18 20
Solution – outlines the benefits and consequences of “doing
nothing – or no change” as the solution. Should have
researched detail in this section.
14 15
Solution – outlines the benefits and consequences of “an
incremental approach” as the solution. Should have researched
detail in this section.
14 15
Solution - outlines the benefits and consequences of “the best
proposed policy/proposal” as the solution. Must show a well-
researched and comprehensive answer.
14 15
Major points are stated clearly; are supported by specific
details, examples, or analysis; and are organized logically.
Students must: have a minimum (remember minimum is
average a “C” or 10 points) of five to seven citations. This
section deals primarily with the quality of references.
13 15
Dedicated Christian Worldview section. Show the integration of
your subject matter, critical thinking, and Christian Worldview.
Not merely one sentence or one short paragraph. Must have a
section relating to how a Christian Worldview will impact each
of the proposed solution to the issue.
25 25
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Student has proper page count. Five pages (+/- ½ page) not
including title page or reference section. Improper page count
will be an overall decrease of the percentage of paper
complete, e.g. 4 pages of a 5 page requirement will have earned
grade reduced by 20% , 4/5 = 80%
Readability and Style
15 Points
Paragraph transitions are present, logical, and
maintain the flow throughout the paper. 55
The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment.
Third Person APA style. 910
Sentences are complete, clear, and concise. Sentences
are well constructed, with consistently strong, varied
sentences. 910
Mechanics
15 Points
The paper, including the title page, abstract, reference
page, tables, and appendixes, follows APA formatting
guidelines.
This paper requires a Title Page, Abstract, Memo,
Main Body, and Reference Section.
10 10
Citations of original works within the body of the
paper follow APA guidelines. 10 10
The paper is laid out with effective use of headings,
font styles, and white space. 55
Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation are
followed. Spelling is correct. 55
Completes Self Rubric (you must score yourself!)
10 10
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Late
(0)
Total Score
184 195
