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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPS 2019-05-06 Item 2C - Discussion - Police Department Wellness and Resiliency ProgramCity of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor INFOR ATIONAL E ORANDU TO: Public Safety Committee FROM: Chief Of Police Bruce Linton BY: Deputy Chief Eric Dreyer CC: Mayor Ekberg DATE: May 2, 2019 SUBJECT: Tukwila Police Department Wellness and Resiliency Program ISSUE Comprehensive officer wellness goes beyond physical safety to include emotional and mental health in the workplace, in the field, and at home. It's imperative that community leaders and officers understand the challenges to law enforcement wellness and the best practices for addressing them. BACKGROUND Community wellness requires healthy officers. The Tukwila Police Department has implemented a number of internal mental health strategies to maintain a well workforce, including the use of a peer support team, crisis response strategies, a network of professional resources, among other elements. DISCUSSION Presentation on Officer Resiliency and the Police Department efforts in providing training and resources to officers to improve officer wellness. FINANCIAL IMPACT RECOMMENDATION Discussion Only. ATTACHMENTS Resiliency Presentation 1 3 14 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT Chief of Police Bruce Linton Presentation: Deputy Ch Officer Wellness & Resiliency Comprehensive officer wellness goes beyond physical safety to include emotional and mental health in the workplace, in the field, and at home. It's imperative that community leaders and officers understand the challenges to law enforcement wellness and the best practices for addressing them. "Officer wellness and resiliency are key to positive outcomes for agencies and communities." Thomas E. Coghlan, PsyD In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Law Enforcement across the nation will honor the week and day of memorial in remembrance of the many officers that have died in the line of duty. Law enforcement agencies are shaken to the core with the death of one of their own. The response is even more complex when that death comes at the officer's own hand. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has long recognized there is an urgent and ongoing need for leadership on the issue of employee suicide prevention and awareness. Therefore, under the direction of Chief Bruce Linton, the Tukwila Police Department is leading the region in providing training and resources to its officers related to Officer Wellness and Resiliency. Police Department Wellness and Resiliency Programs: • Peer Support Team and Counselors • Voluntary Officer Counseling Session with Law Enforcement Specialist • City Employee Assistance Program • Resiliency Pilot Training and Mobile App - mRES 2 16 Peer Support Team and Counselors In March, 2018 Chief Linton authorized the formation of the Tukwila Police Department's Peer Support Team. The Department's Peer Support Team (PST) consists of Department members that have been trained as peer counselors. Peer support counseling sessions are private and confidential, and protected under law (RCW 5.60.060). PST members have the same legal confidentiality privileges as a mental health care professional. An employee may contact a PST member at any time for individual counseling. The peer support team will also coordinate Critical Incident Stress Debriefings as necessary. Voluntary Officer Counseling Session with Law Enforcement Specialist The Department is creating a program where a Mental Health professional, who specializes in addressing the unique needs of law enforcement, will be made available to officers on a voluntary basis. The program is being explored to overcome any stigma that may be associated with seeking therapy or other counseling. City Employee Assistance Program City sponsored Employee Assistance Program through Wellspring EAP Family Services. Use is Confidential. 3 17 Resiliency Pilot Training and Mobile App - mRES With the assistance of the Peer Support Team, and in cooperation with resiliency experts from TIAG, the Police Department will be piloting a new mobile app (mRES) customized to the Tukwila Police Department's needs for providing resources that support Officer Wellness and Resiliency. Tukwila is the first police department to participate in the study and design of mRES. Our participation will lead to better wellness and resiliency for law enforcement across the nation. Training on the mobile app and the associated study are already underway. Once the study is complete, the data collected will be used to refine the mobile app and provide the resource to all Department Members. The mRES MOBILE APP - A customizable toolkit available 24/7 in responders' back pocket - Direct and confidential access to department peer support team - Self -regulation tools to improve the stress response - Goal -setting to build attainable Achievements - Easy access to department, local and national resources 3:281 . mRes If you want to live a long life, focus on making contributions Peer,..Support .":"'""-1.'•'••.•:',.:.•••••••:.:•-•,..:—. • I • • Soun QuotQuotes 18 4 The Tukwila Police Department's Wellness and Resiliency program is growing by leaps and bounds. As we move forward with being proactive to meet the needs of our Officers' health, the Chief has volunteered department members to work with a regional team of law enforcement subject matter experts in order to focus on officer wellbeing and share information on a grander scale. 5 19