valorhealthduringprotests.policefoundation.orgStaying Healthy in the Fray – An Officer Safety and Wellness Resource

Guidebook Home About NPF, BJA, and BJA VALOR Acknowledgements Contact NPF References The Current Environment COVID-19 Fractured Community-Police Relationships Public Safety Response to Civil Unrest Trauma and Stress What is Trauma? A Few Words About Stress The Anatomy and Management of Stress Frontline Officers General Self-Care Techniques Maintaining Strong Physical Health Good Nutrition in High Stress Police Situations Exercise Sleep Tactics for Sustained High Stress Police Operations Substance and Alcohol Abuse Maintaining Strong Mental Health Mid-Level Supervisors Executive and Senior Leadership Safety and Wellness Resources Menu Home About NPF, BJA, and BJA VALOR Acknowledgements Contact NPF References The Current Environment COVID-19 Fractured Community-Police Relationships Public Safety Response to Civil Unrest Trauma and Stress What is Trauma? A Few Words About Stress The Anatomy and Management of Stress Frontline Officers General Self-Care Techniques Maintaining Strong Physical Health Good Nutrition in High Stress Police Situations Exercise Sleep Tactics for Sustained High Stress Police Operations Substance and Alcohol Abuse Maintaining Strong Mental Health Mid-Level Supervisors Executive and Senior Leadership Safety and Wellness Resources Staying Healthy in the Fray An Officer Safety and Wellness Resource Guidebook July 2021 Protests, demonstrations, and civil unrest can be volatile and unpredictable situations that can last for hours, days, or weeks. All of this, in addition to the normal occupational stressors that come along with being a law enforcement professional, is causing stress and fatigue in our officers. Stress, exhaustion, and unpleasant feelings are all normal, and even expected. This guide is meant to provide considerations to help leaders, supervisors, and officers maintain their staff’s wellness – both physical and mental – as a focal point. REMEMBER, TAKE CARE OF INTRODUCTION The Impact of Crowd Management on Officers in the Context of Civil Unrest High-stress police operations such as crowd management during periods of civil unrest is mentally and physically demanding. Crowd management often challenges officers to push their bodies beyond normal limits, leading to poor performance, fatigue, insomnia, and injury. In the summer of 2020, many officers repeatedly worked shifts that, at times, exceeded 12 hours, for 10 to 12 days straight, leaving little time for appropriate nutrition, rest, exercise, recovery, or sleep. Large numbers of arrests, long periods on bicycles, standing or moving in formations, or responding to threats are physically and mentally demanding. Both physical and mental stressors are taking a toll on the women and men who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities. Healthy organizational cultures that recognize and prioritize officer safety and wellness as an integral part of policing protests can help foster better outcomes for all involved. OFFICER SAFETY AND WELLNESS TOPICS The National Police Foundation has developed this brief guide for law enforcement agencies on ways to recognize and protect the physical and mental wellbeing of officers during responses to intense and protracted protests and demonstrations. This guidebook offers educational information and practical considerations for sworn officers of all ranks, particularly frontline officers and mid-level supervisors, as well as their families, to better protect officers’ mental and physical wellbeing during times of heightened stress. The content in this guidebook has been curated and derived from a review of research from professional medical organizations and has been peer reviewed by licensed mental health clinicians and law enforcement practitioners. Click on an icon below for more information: The Current Environment Trauma and Stress Recommendations: Front Line Officers Recommendations: Mid-Level Supervisors Recommendations: Senior Leadership Safety and Wellness Resources FEATURED SAFETY AND WELLNESS RESOURCES International Association of Chiefs of Police Officer Safety and Wellness Resources Page Read More Institute for Intergovernmental Research Building Resilience for Officers Read More Polis Solutions, Inc. T3 – Tact, Tactics, and Trust™ Curriculum Read More UCF Restores Stress Management Resources Read More Virginia Center for Policing Innovation Measuring What Matters Web-Based e-Guide Read More This project was supported by cooperative agreement number 2016-VI-BX-K001 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. This report was prepared by the National Police Foundation (NPF). The National Police Foundation is the oldest nationally known, non-profit, non-partisan, and non-membership driven organization dedicated to advancing policing through innovation and science. The internet references cited in this publication were valid as of the date of publication. Given that URLs and websites are in constant flux, the NPF cannot vouch for their current validity. © 2021 National Police Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy...