chasfm11 wrote:“Obviously, it’s an unfortunate set of circumstances that transpired,” Adams said. “We feel that due to the fact that (Harless) has PTSD, that nobody realized it for eight-plus years, for it to come to light the way it did ... this is not a way we wanted this to play out. PTSD is obviously a disease.
One of the articles is interesting. In the above quote, it says that noone realized Harless had PTSD for eight years. It another point, it says that he was diagnosed with PTSD multiple times. I'm sure that the truth lies somewhere between those alternatives.
While I understand that PTSD, like many other mental illnesses, is difficult to diagnose and treat, someone who has it bad enough to have created the video taped situation needs to be in a different line of work. I"m glad that is the way that it worked out.
My Opinion, based on a few years of service in the job arena that most uses the PTSD tag line is, it is way over used, used as a excuse, rather than a possible reason when applicable, or when accused of wrong doing (it's not my fault, the PTSD made me do it). It is very much over diagnosed, which then only cheapens the diagnosis for those that are truly affected and crates distrust in all other cases.
As In: I have had several cases over the last 10 years that a Service member being considered for involuntarily separation from service for misconduct (theft, DUI, robbery, murder), chemical dependency, AWOL, ect , who go though the mandatory psyche eval, and are returned to the unit with a diagnosis of PTSD, yet those service members are enlistment, no prior service first term, never deployed.. Their personal actions, and the militaries consideration for separation is being countered with a diagnosis for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
As well as, what is used to help identify PTSD, is easily faked, or mis diagnosed.
Three areas looked at: intrusive memories, avoidance and numbing, and increased anxiety or emotional arousal (hyperarousal).
Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:
Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time
Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
Symptoms of avoidance and emotional numbing may include:
Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
Feeling emotionally numb
Avoiding activities you once enjoyed
Hopelessness about the future
Memory problems
Trouble concentrating
Difficulty maintaining close relationships
Symptoms of anxiety and increased emotional arousal may include:
Irritability or anger
Overwhelming guilt or shame
Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much
Trouble sleeping
Being easily startled or frightened
Hearing or seeing things that aren't there
Lastly, just because you feel, see or realize some , many, or all of those things above, it does not mean you HAVE PTSD.. Yet that is what is being handed out at most every Psyche eval.
Reality is, firefighter, policeman, Military, CHL possessor, many will not seek help, for to do so is an almost forgone conclusion that said person WILL be labeled as having PTSD,, a mental defect, disease, damage, or otherwise concern. Once that bell is sounded, it cannot be unrung. You are labeled as weak, unstable, incapable, less trustworthy.
If I were to be diagnosed with PTSD, a likely conclusion if I were to seek mental health care and honestly lay out the last 27 years.. .. What happens if I have a CC shoot.. You think for a moment, that “evidence” will not be used against me by the DA, or in a civil trial, the attorney for the “victim”?
PTSD is real.. and it is really an overused diagnosis and excuse for one’s personal actions
I'd be willing to bet that he isn't alone on this conduct either. His partner's willingness to tolerate the outbursts indicates that the opinion of the City Councilman is understood within the department. Like just about everywhere else, I'm sure that the department has a lot of good, dedicated officers. There will always be a few officers like this one who need to be kept in line. If the proper steps to do that are not taken in a timely manner, those with aberrant behavior are emboldened and just get worse. 
