Sleep is an absolute necessity. Although the amount of sleep required for good health varies from one person to the next, there is no dispute that the lack of quality sleep takes a heavy toll on a person. Numerous studies have shown that inadequate sleep contributes to fatigue, stress, and a variety of health issues such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.1 Research also shows that many police officers suffer from inadequate sleep and problems associated with poor-quality sleep, such as fatigue and obesity. Therefore, it is important for police officers to be knowledgeable about the importance of sleep and aware of strategies for handling sleep problems.2
