What is a common consequence of police officer fatigue?

Fatigue significantly impacts a police officer's cognitive and physical capabilities. When officers are tired, their mental processing speed slows, and they may struggle to think clearly. This diminished alertness can lead to poor judgment, result in mistakes during critical situations, and challenge their ability to make sound decisions effectively. Decreased decision-making ability can manifest in various ways, such as failing to assess threats adequately, misjudging situations, or not responding appropriately to emergencies.

In the context of law enforcement, where officers frequently encounter high-pressure scenarios that require quick thinking and decisive action, fatigue can have serious consequences not just for the officers themselves, but for the safety of the public and their colleagues as well.