Summary
"Officer Safety and Wellness (OSW) has become a prominent topic of discussion and research in the field of law enforcement (LE). The year 2016 saw a dramatic spike in ambush attacks on police officers. High rates of death due to lack of body armor and not wearing seat belts have persisted. And the seemingly impermeable stigma around mental health and wellness has prevented thousands of law enforcement officers (LEO) from accessing essential preventative care and rehabilitation. Also in 2016, the LEO suicide trend continued, with more officers dying by suicide than by gunfire and traffic accidents combined. As a result of these and many other disturbing statistics, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recognizes that a healthy future for the field demands discussion, change in both policy and practice, and—ultimately—improved OSW. The DOJ also recognizes that facilitating discussion around OSW that includes members of the LE community from leadership, field officers, family members, and community members is central to creating improvements and overcoming persistent barriers to OSW."--Page ix.
Contents
1. Letter from the Director of the COPS Office. -- 2. History of the Officer Safety and Wellness Group. -- 3. Overview of the April 2018 meeting on officer physical and mental health and safety. -- 4. Initial remarks. -- 5. Presentation of research findings. -- Line-of-duty deaths. -- Law enforcement officer mental health and suicide. -- Crisis hotlines and other innovative programs for law enforcement OSW. -- 6. Conclusion. -- 7. Bibliography. -- 8. About SAI. -- 9. About BJA. -- 10. About the COPS Office.