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The following messaging worksheet breaks down the topic of marijuana legalization and traffic safety and provides key talking points and facts to assist you in your daily communications about the subject. This worksheet is exclusively available to IACP members.

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• Supporting the Collection and Reporting of Data on THC Extraction Laboratories to the Drug Enforcement Administration (2014)
• Opposition to the Legalization of Marijuana by States for “Recreational” Purposes (2013)
• Combating the Dramatic Increase in Drug-Impaired Driving Offenses (2012)
• Support for Drug-Impaired Driving Legislation, Research, and Training (2011)
• Increased Use of Drug Recognition Experts (2008)
• A Renewed Effort to Eliminate Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driving (2006)

• Joint Law Enforcement Letter on Response to DOJ Marijuana Decision

• Measuring the Impact of Marijuana Legalization with the Washington Roadside Survey of Driver Drug and Alcohol Use
• Rising Concerns over Marijuana-Impaired Driving
• Marijuana and Driving
• IACP Efforts to Combat Legalization of Marijuana Continue
• Drug Legalization: Why It Wouldn't Work in the United States
• IACP Opposes California Marijuana Legalization Effort
• Proposition 19: California’s Marijuana Legalization Debate

The following messaging worksheet breaks down the topic of naloxone and provides key talking points and facts to assist you in your daily communications about the subject. This worksheet is exclusively available to IACP members. 

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Naxolone

This document is intended to explore the primary issues surrounding the use of naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, by patrol officers in cases of opioid overdose. This document examines the predominant issue areas with the intention of providing law enforcement executives with essential information to make informed decisions—whether that decision is to implement a naloxone program, modify an existing program, or reject or defer decision-making on this matter.

• Increasing Safety for Law Enforcement Personnel and First Responders in Response to the Dangers of Fentanyl (2016)
• Raising Awareness That Opioid Abuse May Lead to Heroin Addiction (2014)
• Raising Awareness of the Dangers of Fentanyl to Law Enforcement Personnel (2014)
• Bringing Awareness to Effective Tools Being Used to Combat Opiate Pain Reliever Overdose Deaths in the U.S. (2013)

• Congress Passes Opioid Bill (2016)
• Research in Brief: Effective Use of Naloxone in Response to Fentanyl (2015)
• Laced Heroin Overdoses

Addressing 21st Century Drug Issues: Law Enforcement’s Leadership Role (2016)
This report addresses the entire spectrum of current and emerging U.S. drug issues including illegal drug sources, at-risk populations, Naloxone Reversal programs, drugged driving, drug courts, drug treatment, and diversion. The report discusses selected drug issues concretely, such as those surrounding opioids, prescription drugs, heroin, methamphetamines, and marijuana, and concludes with an action agenda for law enforcement leaders, positioning them to take a lead role in addressing all drug issues from a systematic, community-based perspective.

Drugs of Abuse: Part 1 and Part 2 Training Key (2012) 
This is a two-part Training Key® that discusses the current state of the drug trade and provides detailed information regarding the most commonly encountered drugs of abuse.

The following messaging worksheet breaks down the topic of firearm background checks and provides key talking points and facts to assist you in your daily communications about the subject. This worksheet is exclusively available to IACP members.

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• Firearms 

• Support for Regulating Sales of Firearms at Gun Shows (2007)
• Support for Firearms Offender Registries (2007)
• Unlawful Possession of Firearms (1998)
• Support for Federal Bureau of Investigation Checks on Applicants for State Private Security Officer Licensing(1997)
• Brady Extension Act (1997)
• Requirements for Concealed carry Weapons Permits
• Prosecution of Brady Act Violations

• IACP Supports the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2016, S. 2544
• IACP Opposes Federal Pre-Emption of Individual States Carrying of Concealed Weapons Laws (S. 498/H.R. 402)
• The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence

• Stemming the Unacceptable Level of Gun Violence

• International Association of Chiefs of Police Firearms Position Paper 
• Crime Gun Violence Reduction
• Taking a Stand: Reducing Gun Violence in Our Communities

Firearms: Background Checks Messaging Sheet

Firearms  

Support for Regulating Sales of Firearms at Gun Shows (2007)

Support for Firearms Offender Registries (2007)

Unlawful Possession of Firearms (1998)

Support for Federal Bureau of Investigation Checks on Applicants for State Private Security Officer Licensing (1997)

Brady Extension Act (1997)

Requirements for Concealed carry Weapons Permits

Prosecution of Brady Act Violations

IACP Supports the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2016, S. 2544

IACP Opposes Federal Pre-Emption of Individual States Carrying of Concealed Weapons Laws (S. 498/H.R. 402)

International Association of Chiefs of Police Firearms Position Paper (2018)
The IACP has long advocated for the adoption of common sense policies that will assist in reducing gun violence. These proposals were drawn from the association resolutions and policy positions adopted by the IACP membership.

Reducing Gun Violence in Our Communities: A Leadership Guide for Law Enforcement on Effective Strategies and Programs(2011)
This guide provides information about notable programs and policing strategies that can be implemented by law enforcement agencies, regardless of size, in order to enhance the critical and life-saving mission of reducing gun violence. By highlighting innovative approaches developed by law enforcement departments and communities across the country, local leaders are encouraged to expand upon their current efforts in order to create a comprehensive program to enhance community and officer safety.

Taking a Stand: Reducing Gun Violence in Our Communities (2007)
This report focuses on recommendations on three main areas: keeping communities safe by improving public understanding about the risks of gun violence; preventing and solving gun crime by stopping the flow of illegal guns; and keeping police officers safe by improving training and support for officers in handling guns.

The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence 
The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence (the Partnership) is an alliance of the nation’s law enforcement leadership organizations concerned about the level of gun violence in the United States. The Partnership works to address the pervasive nature of gun violence and its impact on community and officer safety

The 2026 OSW Conference will be taking place March 6-8 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Visit the OSW Conference event page for the latest updates.

To overcome challenges officers face on a daily basis and to recover from a critical incident, officers need to develop resiliency within themselves. The IACP offers resources and guidance for every officer on and off the job, and across every rank. Learn how to navigate adversity and thrive in the face of challenges.

Tools and Resources

• Enhancing Officer Wellness and Resiliency in Policing
• Mastering Work-Life Balance
• Providing Officers Support through Police Chaplains
• Resilience: Keys to Helping Law Enforcement Children Thrive
• Resilience Strategies for Your Role
• The Critical Components of Officer Mental Wellness and Resiliency Brochure
• Justification Toolkit for Law Enforcement Resilience
• The Impact of Facility and Therapy Dogs on Resilience
• Families in Focus: How Agencies Can Support Personnel and Their Families

Videos and Virtual Events

• Perspective Series: The Role of Resilience in Officer Safety and Wellness
• Thriving in the Face of Adversity
• Trauma Webinar Series
  • Acute Trauma Webinar
  • Cumulative Trauma Webinar
• Integrating Resilience into Established Wellness Program
• VALOR Law Enforcement Resilience Training Program Short Overview

Current IACP Initiatives

• Law Enforcement Agency and Officer Resilience Training Program
• Vicarious Trauma Response Initiative

For more information, please contact [email protected].

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.

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

• National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide™: Visit this page for resources created by multidisciplinary experts with a common goal of preventing officer suicide. Convened by the IACP, the Consortium focuses on solutions to emerging challenges and successes in addressing mental health and preventing officer suicide.
• Officer Wellness Dashboard: This dashboard provides an organized, easy-to-use database highlighting legislation in each state for peer support confidentiality protections and mental health & post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in workers' compensation.
• Suicide Resource Webpage: The IACP and the National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide continue their commitment to reducing officer suicide deaths. This page provides information, resources, and contacts to help agencies with suicide prevention and provide support after a suicide death or attempt. If you need resources or information on preventing law enforcement suicide, supporting officer mental health, or responding after an officer suicide death occurs.
• The Signs Within: Suicide Prevention Education and Awareness

Policy Papers

• Employee Mental Health and Wellness

(Note: access to most Model Policies is limited to IACP members only) 

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Police 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 has effects far beyond the officer themselves. 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

For Agencies

• Creating an Online Support Group: Digitally Connecting Officer Families
• Emergency Preparedness Considerations Toolkit
  • For Agencies
• Executive Guide for Developing Family-Friendly Law Enforcement Policies, Procedures, and Culture
• How to Start a Law Enforcement Family Support Group: Insights and Considerations
• If You Build It, Will They Come? Creating Wellness Opportunities for Law Enforcement Families
• Law Enforcement Family Engagement Assessment Tool
• Metrics Matter: Program Tracking and Evaluation

For Officers and Families

• Emergency Preparedness Considerations Toolkit
  • For Families
• Employee and Family Wellness Guide
• How Law Enforcement Parents Can Talk to Their Children about Current Events
• Resilience: Keys to Helping Law Enforcement Children Thrive
• Social Media Safety for Law Enforcement Families
• Supporting Law Enforcement Families in Understanding Trauma
• Supporting Officer Safety Through Family Wellness Infographic Series
  • Communication in Officer Families
  • Discussing Your Job with Your Teen
  • Estate Planning
  • Financial Literacy
  • Helping Your Young Child Understand Your Job
  • Injury Reduction
  • Nutritional Needs
  • Sleep Deprivation

Videos and Virtual Events

• Family Wellness Speaker Series
• Supporting Officer Safety Through Family Wellness Video Series
  • Estate Planning
  • Families in Focus: Family Wellness for Law Enforcement Agencies
  • Financial Literacy
  • Sleep Deprivation
  • Helping Your Young Child Understand Your Job
  • Injury Reduction
• Law Enforcement Family Wellness During COVID-19 Webinar
• Family Wellness Podcast Series
  • Family Support: How it Can Impact Recruiting, Retention, and Resilience
  • Can You Really Leave Your Uniform at Work? Strategies to Cope with Work-Family Spillover
  • Reciprocal Family Wellness: Agencies, Families, and Officers Benefit from Support Programming

Policy Papers

• Employee Mental Health and Wellness
• Family and Medical Leave
  • Policy
  • Paper

(Note: access to most Model Policies is limited to IACP members only)

Current IACP Initiatives

• Police Family Support Training and Technical Assistance Program

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Prioritizing officer mental health is essential for the well-being of officers and their colleagues, agencies, and communities. The IACP has developed resources promoting an environment that encourages law enforcement personnel to seek help, supporting officers in feeling and performing their best.

Tools and Resources: Guidance for Officers

• Identifying and Managing Anxiety in Law Enforcement Officers
• Identifying Grief and Loss in Law Enforcement
• Mindfulness Toolkit
• Preventing Problematic Alcohol Use among Police
• Overcoming Cumulative Stress and Burnout
• Vicarious Trauma Toolkit

Tools and Resources: Guidance for Agency Leaders

• Addressing Law Enforcement Mental Health
• Agency Assessment Tool and Action Planning Roadmap
• Identifying Grief and Loss in Law Enforcement
• Mass Violence Incident Quick Reference Guide
• Preparing for the Unimaginable: How Chiefs Can Safeguard Officer Mental Health Before and After Mass Casualty Event
• Preventing Problematic Alcohol Use among Police
• Overcoming Cumulative Stress and Burnout
• Implementing Peer Support Services in Small and Rural Law Enforcement Agencies
• What Does Wellness Look Like? Academy Curriculum Flyer 

Videos and Virtual Events

• Grief & Loss in Law Enforcement: Helping Officers and Agencies Recover and Heal
• Individual Strategies to Address Officer Stress and Burnout
• Mindfulness Strategies for Law Enforcement Webinar
  • Mindfulness Strategies for Law Enforcement Webinar Part 1
  • Mindfulness Strategies for Law Enforcement Webinar Part 2
  • Mindfulness Strategies for Law Enforcement Webinar Part 3
  • Mindfulness Strategies for Law Enforcement Webinar Part 4
• Organizational Strategies to Address Officer Stress and Burnout Video
• Understanding Grief Strategies for Coping with Tough Losses

Policy Papers

• Employee Mental Health and Wellness
• Post-Shooting Personnel Support
  • Policy
  • Paper
• Responding to Persons Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis
• Temporary Light Duty
  • Policy
  • Paper

(Note: access to most Model Policies is limited to IACP members only)

It is essential for police officers to be prepared with the knowledge and tools to protect and serve their communities to the best of their abilities. The IACP offers the following resources and considerations regarding officer safety in the field.

Tools and Resources

• Law Enforcement Equipment Basics
• Mass Violence Incident Quick Reference Guide
• P.R.E.P for Duty Poster
• Reducing Officer Injuries Final Report
• Traffic Safety
  • Distracted Driving Toolkit
  • Safer Roads, Stronger Communities
  • Safe, Quick Clearance Toolkit
  • Additional resources can be found on the IACP Traffic Safety webpage

Videos and Virtual Events

• Traffic Safety: Is Today Your Day?
• Traffic Safety Initiatives Video Series
• Webinar: Officer Safety Considerations for Domestic Violence Calls

Policy Papers

• Arrests
• Body Armor
• Hostage Situations
• Investigation of Officer-Involved Shootings
  • Policy
  • Paper
• Post-Shooting Personnel Support
  • Policy
  • Paper
• Response to Barricaded Individuals
• Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)

(Note: access to most Model Policies is limited to IACP members only) 

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

• Nutrition Infographic
• Eating Well On-The-Go Fact Sheet
• Eating Well on the Go: Agency Considerations
• Eating Well on the Go: Healthy Eating and Sugar Consumption Wallet Card
• This or That: Choosing Healthy Meal Components

Sleep

• Sleep Infographic

Physical Wellness

• Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI) Infographic
• Fitness Considerations Guide
• Reducing Officer Injuries Resource Series
  • Reducing Officer Injuries Final Report
  • Infographic
  • Executive Summary
  • Fact Sheet: The Importance of Tracking Injuries
  • Fact Sheet: The Importance of Fitness and Weight on Injuries

Medical Care

• Doctor’s Visit Checklist
• Officer Health Watch Wallet Card
• Prescription Drug Use Among Police

Videos and Virtual Events

• Practical Law Enforcement Fitness & Nutrition Solutions for Powerful Results

Policy Papers

• Line of Duty Serious Injury
• Temporary Light Duty

(Note: access to most Model Policies is limited to IACP members only)

For more information, please contact [email protected].

The transition into retirement comes with many adjustments and questions. Planning for retirement throughout an officer’s career can help navigate changes in finances, family wellness, and social identity.

Tools and Resources

• Law Enforcement Retirement Toolkit
• Supporting Officers after the Badge
  • Considerations for Officer Retirement
  • The Impact of Retirement on Law Enforcement Families

Join the IACP Officer Safety and Wellness Section. Members of the section will have access to the expertise of safety and wellness professionals from around the world, as well as exclusive content produced by the section. Members will also be able to join the Officer Safety and Wellness IACPengage online community where fellow section members share best practices, engage in collective problem-solving, and network.

Learn more about the section and membership opportunities here.

• Officer-Involved Shootings Investigative Protocols: A Guide for Law Enforcement Leaders

• Emerging Use of Force Issues: Balancing Public and Officer Safety

• Citizen Advisory Boards in Contemporary Practice: A Practical Approach in Policing 
• Inviting the Community into the Police Strategic Planning Process 

• Law Enforcement Policy Center
• Training Key: Policy and Oversight
• Testimony of IACP - Policy and Oversight

Police officers consistently encounter the criminal and non-criminal impacts of drug use and mental illness: disruptive behavior, overdoses, homelessness. Providing treatment and behavioral health services is not part of the traditional core mission of law enforcement, but some law enforcement agencies across the nation are launching innovative PAD programs that rely on partnerships with community-based organizations to create pathways to behavioral health, housing, and other social supports, so that individuals can get the services they need. These programs are experiencing promising results: crime reduction, improved community-police relations, reduction of the treatment burden on the justice system, restored lives and families, and jurisdictional cost savings.

This webinar:

• Webinar Provides a national overview of PAD
• Describes the five primary models currently in practice
• Covers the eight questions to be asked prior to starting your jurisdiction’s PAD initiative
• Shares key tips for establishing and maintaining partnerships between law enforcement and behavioral health and social service providers
• Introduces the Police, Treatment & Community Collaborative, a newly established national coalition of law enforcement and behavioral health practitioners and researchers tasked with advancing PAD goals, successes, and research

Panelists:

• Jac Charlier, National Director for Justice Initiatives, Center for Health and Justice at TASC, Chicago, IL
• Gregory A. Frost, President, Civil Citation Network, Tallahassee, FL

Handouts:

Panelist Bios
PowerPoint Slides (PDF)
Webinar and Q&A Transcript

The nation’s opioid epidemic and a growing recognition of the impact of mental health issues are causing a shift in the way law enforcement responds to individuals suffering from addiction and mental illness.  While it is not part of the core mission of law enforcement to provide treatment and behavioral health services, many are finding that by partnering with organizations that are equipped to meet these challenges, substantial strides can be made to address substance use and mental health issues within their communities.

This webinar provides information on how law enforcement can build relationships with behavioral health organizations to address community drug problems as well as treatment alternatives for mentally ill individuals.

Presenters will discuss:

• How the opioid crisis and overdose deaths led to current partnerships and Cape Cod’s Overdose Intervention Program (OIP);
• Why the OIP has grown in the greater community and how it elevated community policing; and
• Lessons learned about the benefits of working together in the community, including:
  • a reduction in the number of overdose-related deaths,
  • changing attitudes about the stigma attached to addiction, and
  • the improvement of relations between law enforcement and the community

Panelists:

• Jac Charlier, National Director for Justice Initiatives, Center for Health and Justice at TASC, Chicago, IL
• Gregory A. Frost, President, Civil Citation Network, Tallahassee, FL

Handouts:

Panelist Bios
PowerPoint Slides (PDF)
Webinar and Q&A Transcript

Since announcing their Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in 2015, including a community-wide adoption of Housing First, Milwaukee County is on the verge of being the largest county in the nation to hit functional zero for chronic homelessness later this year.  Part of the success is due to an innovative partnership with local law enforcement, including the Milwaukee Police Department.  By implementing new pre- and post-booking strategies, to include a focus on permanent housing instead of arrests for homeless individuals, Milwaukee County has seen a dramatic reduction in criminal justice activity for the homeless population.

Facilitated by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, this webinar will provide attendees with an overview of the Housing First approach to providing housing and support services to homeless individuals, including individuals with mental illness and behavioral health issues who are involved or at risk of involvement with the justice system.  Presenters will explain the importance of providing stable housing and services as a platform from which people can pursue personal goals, such as seeking and participating in the treatment and social services provided in tandem with pre-arrest diversion programs.

Attendees will learn about Milwaukee’s successful Housing First program, including how housing navigators and law enforcement have worked together to reduce arrests, and how to access housing resources locally through the homeless services system.

Panelists:

• Kim Keaton, Director of Data and Analytics, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Washington, DC
• Cassandra Libal, Lieutenant, Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee, WI
• James Mathy, Housing Administrator, Milwaukee County Housing Division, Milwaukee, WI

Handouts:

Panelist Bios

PowerPoint Slides (PDF)

• Home
• Health and Nutrition
• Injury Reduction
• Mental Wellness
• Suicide Prevention
• Tactical Safety
• Survivor's Club
• Violence Against the Police
• Line of Duty Deaths

• Officer Safety Articles in Police Chief  
• Institute for Community-Police Relations
• Pre-Trial Release
• Use of Force Resources
• Gun Violence Reduction/PSN
• LE Family Resources
• SafeShield Committee
• Traffic Officer Safety Subcommittee
• Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC)