Résumé
"Today, we live in a world of increasing complaints against police behaviour. It is a world in which all police officers have come to understand the need for a better relationship with the communities they serve. Unfortunately we also live in a world where increasing numbers of police officers seem unable to cope and are seeking help for psychological problems. I know officers want to do a better job but I feel as though they are not equipped for the challenges of the more contemporary policing approach. I am reminded of the expression – if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. I began to wonder, would the concept of emotional labour do for other officers what it did for me? Could emotional labour be used as a tool to build a better relationship with community and to construct kinder, gentler, and healthier police identities? This paper explores that possibility and concludes that if properly understood and performed emotional labour will improve officer conduct and will reduce incidents of psychological strain."--Page 5.