Officer Safety and Wellness
Support for officer safety and wellness is vital to the field and community, as well as the wellbeing of their colleagues, agencies, and families. The IACP believes in prioritizing officer safety every shift, every day. Explore the collection of IACP resources that support the safety, health, and wellness of every officer, and use these resources when developing comprehensive officer safety and wellness strategies. Learn about building resilience, injury prevention, peer support programs, physical fitness, proper nutrition, stress, mindfulness, suicide prevention, and more.
National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Toolkit
Officer Health and Wellness Agency Assessment Tool and Action Planning Roadmap
IACP Officer Safety and Wellness Symposium
Visit the OSW Symposium event page for the latest updates.
Did you miss the 2021 Officer Safety and Wellness Symposium? You can purchase individual workshops for $30 each, or the whole package ($150 for IACP members, $200 for non-members) which includes over 50 workshops. Click here to check out the content available on IACPlearn today!
Retirement
The transition into retirement comes with many changes and questions. Planning for retirement throughout an officer’s career can help navigate changes in finances, family wellness, and social identity.
Tools and Resources
Officer Mental Health and Resiliency
The stressors that police officers face can have serious implications for overall health and wellness. Supporting officer mental health is essential for the well-being of officers and their colleagues, agencies, and communities. The IACP offers resources and guidance for every officer on and off the job, and across every rank. Learn how to navigate adversity, thrive in the face of challenges, and maintain mental health in policing.
Tools and Resources
- Resilience Strategies for Your Role
- Providing Officers Support through Police Chaplains
- Mastering Work-Life Balance
- Preparing for the Unimaginable: How Chiefs Can Safeguard Officer Mental Health Before and After Mass Casualty Event
- Vicarious Trauma Toolkit
- Law Enforcement Resilience Training Program Overview
- Enhancing Officer Wellness and Resiliency in Policing
Videos and Virtual Events
- Grief & Loss in Law Enforcement: Helping Officers and Agencies Recover and Heal
- Thriving in the Face of Adversity
- Perspective Series: The Role of Resilience in Officer Safety and Wellness
- Mindfulness Strategies for Law Enforcement Webinar
- Mindfulness Strategies for Law Enforcement Webinar Part 2
- Mindfulness Strategies for Law Enforcement Webinar Part 3
- Mindfulness Strategies for Law Enforcement Webinar Part 4
- Trauma Webinar Series
Policy Papers
- Employee Mental Health and Wellness
- Post-Shooting Personnel Support
- Responding to Persons Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis
- Temporary Light Duty
(Note: access to most Model Policies is limited to IACP members only)
Current IACP Initiatives
For more information, please contact osw@theiacp.org.
Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention
Officers experience job-related stressors ranging from interpersonal conflicts to traumatic events. This cumulative exposure may affect officers’ mental and physical health, contributing to problems such as post-traumatic stress symptoms, substance misuse, depression, and suicidal ideation. One officer suicide is one too many.
The IACP has long been committed to preventing officer suicide and supports the culture change required to provide help to officers who may be struggling. Browse through available resources and tools to raise awareness of and prevent officer suicide.
If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 in the United States. Text 686868 in Canada.
- The International Association for Suicide Prevention
Tools and Resources
- The National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Toolkit is designed to support agencies and departments to address officer mental health and wellness concerns. This suicide prevention toolkit has all the information that agencies need to develop and implement a customized agency approach to prevent officer suicide and strengthen officer mental health.
- National Consortium on Preventing on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Toolkit Portuguese
- National Consortium on Preventing on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Toolkit Spanish
- National Consortium on Preventing on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Final Report Portuguese
- National Consortium on Preventing on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Final Report Spanish
- Messaging About Suicide Prevention in Law Enforcement
- Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention and Awareness
- NOSI Issue Brief
- Suicide Prevention Poster
- The Critical Components of Officer Mental Wellness and Resiliency Brochure
- IACP National Symposium on Law Enforcement Officer Suicide and Mental Health: Breaking the Silence Report
- The Signs Within: Suicide Prevention Education and Awareness
Videos and Virtual Events
- Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide: Strategies for Effective and Positive Messaging Webinar
- Comprehensive Strategies for Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Webinar
- BLUE Documentary
Policy Papers
(Note: access to most Model Policies is limited to IACP members only)
Current IACP Initiatives
- National Officer Safety Initiatives: The National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide
- View Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide: An Issue Brief, released in February 2020.
For more information, please contact osw@theiacp.org.
Physical Health
Officers can enhance their physical health through diet, exercise, and adequate sleep. Maintaining good physical health can reduce officers’ risk of developing hypertension, heart disease, cancer, degenerative joint diseases, and diabetes. Those who maintain a healthy weight, or an active lifestyle, can reduce their risk and severity of injury. The resources below will be helpful for an agency seeking to build out their physical health and nutrition education programs.
Tools and Resources
Nutrition
Proper nutrition is an important factor in the job performance of police officers. This Nutrition Infographic includes tips for making proper eating and nutrition a priority for officers and families and contains ideas on how to make eating and preparing food more family friendly.
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- Spanish Translation
- French Translation
- Portuguese Translation
- Arabic Translation
Eating Well On-The-Go Fact Sheet – This fact sheet provides officers with information to incorporate healthy eating decisions into their lifestyle, ultimately improving overall job performance and long-term health.
Eating Well on the Go: Agency Considerations – This considerations sheet provides information on how agencies can educate officers and support improvements to nutrition and well-being, highlighting the impact nutrition has on an officer’s performance, ranging from long-term effects to shift-by-shift consequences.
Eating Well on the Go: Healthy Eating and Sugar Consumption Wallet Card – This convenient wallet card provides a visual breakdown of healthy eating strategies and tips for officers to reference on the go.
Sleep
Sleep deprivation takes a toll on an officer’s wellbeing. This Sleep Infographic reviews the effects on the body and other dangers associated with sleep deprivation and offers helpful suggestions for families of law enforcement.
- English Translation
- Spanish Translation
- French Translation
- Portuguese Translation
- Arabic Translation
Physical Wellness
Fitness Considerations Guide – Fitness and wellness programs are an important part of reducing officer injuries on the job. This guide provides law enforcement agencies with tips and recommendations on how to start a fitness/wellness program within an agency.
Reducing Officer Injuries Resource Series
- Reducing Officer Injuries Final Report
- Executive Summary
- Fact Sheet: The Importance of Tracking Injuries
- Fact Sheet: The Importance of Fitness and Weight on Injuries
- Infographic
Medical Care
Doctor’s Visit Checklist- This checklist provides officers with recommended questions to discuss with their physician to ensure that they are healthy and prepared for their duties both on-shift and at home.
Officer Health Watch Wallet Card – This wallet card provides considerations and information for officers to check for common health issues and potential lifestyle changes to help prevent these issues.
Webinars
Policy Papers
(Note: access to most Model Policies is limited to IACP members only)
For more information, please contact osw@theiacp.org.
Tactical Safety
It is essential for police officer to be prepare with tactical skills, knowledge, and tools to protect and serve their communities to the best of their abilities. The IACP offers the following resources and considerations regarding the tactical safety of officer in the field.
Tools and Resources
- P.R.E.P for Duty Poster
- Law Enforcement Equipment Basics
- Reducing Officer Injuries Final Report
- Survivors’ Club Postcard
Videos and Virtual Events
- Webinar: Officer Safety Considerations for Domestic Violence Calls
- Traffic Safety: Is Today Your Day?
- 2019 Survivors' Club Honoree: Officer Jacob Carlson, Casper (WY) Police Department
- 2018 Survivors' Club Honoree: Officer Tyler Finch, Anderson (CA) Police Department
Policy Papers
- Arrests
- Body Armor
- Hostage Situations
- Investigation of Officer-Involved Shootings and Other Serious Incidents
- Post Shooting Personnel Support
- Response to Barricaded Individuals
- Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)
(Note: access to most Model Policies is limited to IACP members only)
Current IACP Initiatives
For more information, please contact osw@theiacp.org.
Family Wellness
Law enforcement officers are routinely exposed to stressful, demanding incidents that challenge them both physically and mentally. While an officer’s individual health and wellness is important, the lifestyle and culture of policing affects far more than just the officer. Spouses, partners, parents, children, and companions of law enforcement are an essential support system for their loved one when they return home after every shift. These families and friends also need support to respond to the unique challenges they and their officer face on and off the job.
Tools and Resources
- Empowering Policing Families with Social Media Safety
- Family Matters: Executive Guide for Developing Family-Friendly Law Enforcement Policies, Procedures, and Culture
- Emergency Preparedness Considerations Toolkit for Families and Agencies
- Resilience: Keys to Helping Law Enforcement Children Thrive
- Communication in Officer Families
- Law Enforcement Family Engagement Assessment Tool
- Creating an Online Support Group: Digitally Connecting Officer Families Fact Sheet
- Creating an Online Support Group: Digitally Connecting Officer Families Video
- How Law Enforcement Parents Can Talk to Their Children about Current Events Fact Sheet
- How Law Enforcement Parents Can Talk to Their Children about Current Events Video
- Supporting Officer Safety Through Family Wellness Infographic Series
- Employee and Family Wellness Guide
- How to Start a Law Enforcement Family Support Group: Insights and Considerations
Videos and Virtual Events
Policy Papers
(Note: access to most Model Policies is limited to IACP members only)
For more information, please contact osw@theiacp.org.
Officer Safety and Wellness Online Community
Connect with peers in the IACP Officer Safety and Wellness Online Community. This online forum connects you with other law enforcement leaders, wellness coordinators, and mental health service providers. You can pose questions and share resources, ideas, and successes to support comprehensive approaches to enhancing the safety, health, and wellness of officers. By joining the online community, you will also be the first to receive updates regarding our annual Officer Safety and Wellness Symposium.
You do not need to be an IACP member to join! The online community is open to all professionals who have a vested interest in officer wellness. Click here to join now!
