Deadly Error #3: Sleepy or Asleep

This is one of the error that many refuse to acknowledge. It's also one that isn't directly related to on the job failures. You can do a quick Google search on working while sleepy and you'll find a host of results comparing sleepiness to being equal to being intoxicated. One study from the Occupational and Environmental Medicine in 2000 asserts that after as little as 17 to 19 hours without sleep, one could function as if one had a blood alcohol content of .05% or worse. The study found a person's response speed was 50% slower for some tests. As one would imagine, the effects became worse the longer one went without sleep. The study can be found here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1739867/

One article mentioned some major man-made disasters that were caused by sleepy workers.  The Exxon Valdez cost millions of dollars to fix, but the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear disasters caused whole sale areas of this earth to become uninhabitable.
http://theweek.com/articles/494669/going-work-sleepy-bad-showing-drunk

Even the MythBusters did an episode on the hazards of driving while tired:
http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/about-this-show/tired-vs-drunk-driving/

Applying this to police work the dangers can be readily evident.  There are many news stories of police officers crashing a cruiser when they fell asleep.  I submit there are other possible hazards.  Perhaps being to tired to miss a danger cue?  Maybe being a bit short-tempered with a citizen or coworker?

Police work is among the professions that is 24/7.  It is a requirement of the job.  Every officer must realize that night shifts are inevitable.  Adaptions must be made.  First, you have to sleep.  I have heard many say they can't sleep during the day.  My answer is how hard are you trying and how have you adapted your home for daytime sleep?  Personally, I think there are a few key things you have to have at home to sleep.  First, a dark room.  Room darkening blinds combined with room darkening shades or curtains can keep most rooms extremely dark.  Second, a ceiling fan.  This serves two functions.  Keeping you cool and some white noise to shut out the outside world.  Third, get a pre-sleep routine.  Shut off the TV and anything else with a screen.  Those devices only serve to stimulate your brain at the very time you need to begin some rest.  Reading has always relaxed me.

This is what I was able to do.  You must find your own way.  Rest is too important.  The ability to think clearly, be observant, be patient with people, and drive safely depends on it!