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<p>The concept of moral injury (MI) appears broadly relevant for paramedics and firefighters, but little research has been conducted on MI within law enforcement personnel and public safety communicators (PSCs). The current study was designed as a preliminary effort to examine and understand the concept and experience of MI among law enforcement and PSCs located in Canada. Qualitative reflexive thematic analysis was used to explore the conception(s), experiences, and challenges faced by police, PSCs, and sheriffs, clarifying the impact of moral conflicts, ethical dilemmas, and potentially psychologically traumatic events on their mental well-being. We conducted one focus group (1 female; 4 males) and 14 individual interviews (4 females; 10 males). Several participants identified many morally challenging situations or potentially morally injurious events as frequently encountered when doing their work, such as witnessing acts of violence, coping with psychologically traumatic event sequelae, or navigating ethical dilemmas in decision-making. The results suggest a single meta-theme that MI is “all part of the job” and five supporting themes: <b>1</b>) the nature and the culture of the job; <b>2</b>) MI as unseen suffering; <b>3</b>) potential sources of MI; <b>4</b>) the consequences of unseen suffering; and, <b>5</b>) moral resilience. The results underscored the complexities and challenges associated with defining MI. These results help improve our understanding of MI experiences among police, PSCs, and sheriffs, providing insights for developing targeted interventions and support strategies to mitigate the effects of potentially traumatic and morally injurious events and promote resilience among all public safety personnel.</p>

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“It’s all Just Part of the Job”: an Exploration of Moral Injury in Police Officers, Sheriffs, and Public Safety Communicators in Canada

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月12日

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  • Lorraine Smith-MacDonald,
  • Gojjam Limenih,
  • Merna Seliman,
  • Sierra J. Crocker,
  • Temitope Osifeso,
  • Liana Lentz,
  • Suzette Brémault-Phillips,
  • Renée S. MacPhee,
  • Gregory S. Anderson,
  • David Malloy,
  • R. Nicholas Carleton

摘要

The concept of moral injury (MI) appears broadly relevant for paramedics and firefighters, but little research has been conducted on MI within law enforcement personnel and public safety communicators (PSCs). The current study was designed as a preliminary effort to examine and understand the concept and experience of MI among law enforcement and PSCs located in Canada. Qualitative reflexive thematic analysis was used to explore the conception(s), experiences, and challenges faced by police, PSCs, and sheriffs, clarifying the impact of moral conflicts, ethical dilemmas, and potentially psychologically traumatic events on their mental well-being. We conducted one focus group (1 female; 4 males) and 14 individual interviews (4 females; 10 males). Several participants identified many morally challenging situations or potentially morally injurious events as frequently encountered when doing their work, such as witnessing acts of violence, coping with psychologically traumatic event sequelae, or navigating ethical dilemmas in decision-making. The results suggest a single meta-theme that MI is “all part of the job” and five supporting themes: 1) the nature and the culture of the job; 2) MI as unseen suffering; 3) potential sources of MI; 4) the consequences of unseen suffering; and, 5) moral resilience. The results underscored the complexities and challenges associated with defining MI. These results help improve our understanding of MI experiences among police, PSCs, and sheriffs, providing insights for developing targeted interventions and support strategies to mitigate the effects of potentially traumatic and morally injurious events and promote resilience among all public safety personnel.