Resources
IACP's resources are aimed at helping law enforcement executives do their jobs better and cover a variety of topics, including professional development, leadership, management, and supervision, as well as hot topics such as ethics.
Resources
Law Enforcement Officer Sickness with COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can be severe and lifethreatening in some individuals. It is easily spread from person to person. The guidance below outlines information useful to law enforcement in the event officers contract COVID-19.
ACT
If an officer:
- Experiences COVID-19 symptoms, such as cough, fever, or muscle aches and pains, he/she should report this immediately to his/her supervisor or the designated agency contact.
- Displays COVID-19 symptoms, including cough, fever, or muscle aches and pains, he/she should be removed from the workplace immediately.
- Believes they have been exposed to COVID-19 and develops symptoms, such as a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, he/she should refrain from returning to work and contact their healthcare provider for medical advice.
TEST
Agencies should work closely with the local health department and healthcare facilities to:
- Establish a process for COVID-19 testing of law enforcement personnel.
- Communicate to agency personnel how to get tested for COVID-19. n Advocate for priority access to testing for law enforcement personnel.
ISOLATE
- Individuals with confirmed COVID-19 should follow the guidance of healthcare providers and their local public health agency.
- If confirmed positive for the COVID-19 virus, or if testing is not available, an officer should take the following steps:2
- Notify supervisor or the designated agency contact.
- Stay at home except to get emergency medical care.
- Separate from other people at home, including pets (also known as “home isolation”).
- Contact healthcare provider and call ahead before visiting a healthcare provider.
- Wear a facemask, if available, when you are around other people (including before you enter a healthcare provider’s office).
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Clean your hands with soap often (at least 20 seconds).
- Avoid sharing personal household items.
- Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day.
- Monitor symptoms daily.
RETURN TO WORK
The decision to discontinue “home isolation” and return to work should be made in consultation with agency leadership, healthcare providers, and state and local public health departments.3 CDC provides the following guidance on discontinuing home isolation:
Individuals who have stayed home (home isolated) can stop home isolation under the following conditions:
- If you will not have a test to determine if you are still contagious, you can leave home after these three things have happened:
- You have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers) AND
- Other symptoms have improved (for example, your cough or shortness of breath have improved) AND
- At least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared
- If you will be tested to determine if you are still contagious, you can leave home after these three things have happened:
- You no longer have a fever (without the use of medicine that reduces fevers) AND
- Other symptoms have improved (for example, your cough or shortness of breath have improved) AND
- You received two negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart. Your doctor will follow CDC guidelines.
Individuals with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who have not had any symptoms may discontinue home isolation when at least 7 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test and they have had no subsequent illness.
COMMUNICATE
- Encourage officers to document and communicate information related to contraction of COVID-19 to his/her immediate supervisor. This information may include the suspected date and location of exposure as well as individuals with whom they have been in close contact with since the potential exposure. Documentation is extremely important for the officer and the agency.
- Communicate with agency personnel when an officer contracts COVID-19. This will allow the agency to determine if any other personnel have had close contact with officer who tested positive for COVID-19.
- Promote wellness checks in order to address any needs of officers and family members, to include peer support and family support. See COVID-19: Health and Safety for Law Enforcement Families.
CONSIDER
- Removing barriers to enable staff to come forward to report medical conditions that may put them at higher risk for severe illness if infected with the virus.
- Shifting these individuals with a higher-risk for severe illness to work activities with less likelihood for exposure to the virus.
- Monitoring officers’ temperatures or other health screening mechanisms before the start of each shift, if resources allow. A temperature of 100.4 degrees is the suggested threshold for what constitutes a fever symptomatic of a reportable illness.
To access tools and resources to assist in informing your agency response to COVID-19, visit the CRI-TAC COVID-19 Library of Resources, a compilation of resources by the field of law enforcement, for the field of law enforcement.
When to Seek Medical Attention
When to Seek Medical Attention Seek emergency medical attention immediately for any of the following warning signs include*:
- Trouble breathing n Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips or face
*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Call 911 in a medical emergency and notify the operator that there is a possibility of COVID-19 illness. If possible, put on a facemask before medical help arrives.
Law Enforcement Officer Exposure to COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can be severe and life-threatening in some individuals. It is easily spread from person to person. The guidance below outlines information for law enforcement in assessing exposure risk to COVID-1.
Exposure Risk Levels with Considerations for
Agency Actions:1-3
As defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure risk is grouped into categories ranging from high to none. The information below provides guidance for agencies to identify exposure risk and outlines purposeful action for agencies to consider following personnel exposure to COVID-19.
CDC High Risk Exposure
- Living in the same household as, being an intimate partner of, or providing care in a non-healthcare setting (such as a home) for a person with symptomatic laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection without using recommended precautions.
- Direct exchange of secretions to mucus membranes from laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection {e.g. cough into face with no protective personal equipment (PPE)}.
Considerations for Agency Actions in Response to
High Risk Exposure:
- To ensure continuity of operations of essential functions, CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers such as law enforcement personnel may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.
- Officers who have had an exposure to COVID-19 but remain asymptomatic should adhere to the following practices prior to and during their work shift:
- Pre-Screen: Employers should measure the individual’s temperature and assess symptoms prior to the start of their shift.
- Regular Monitoring: Individuals should self-monitor in accordance with their employer’s occupational health policy.
- Wear a Mask: Individuals should wear a face mask at all times while in the workplace for 14 days following the last exposure.
- Social Distance: The individual should maintain six feet and practice social distancing as work duties permit.
- Disinfect: The individual should routinely clean and disinfect all areas, including shared equipment.
- In the event the officer becomes sick during the day, and develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should be sent home immediately and follow guidance for Law Enforcement Sickness with COVID-19. Information on any individual they had contact with during the time they had symptoms, and two days prior, should also be identified and considered exposed.
CDC Medium Risk Exposure
- Close contact with a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.
- Being seated in a department vehicle with a partner who is symptomatic and has a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection.
Considerations for Agency Actions in Response to Medium Risk Exposure: Follow Considerations for Agency Actions in Response to High Risk Exposure outlined above.5
CDC Low Risk Exposure
- Being in the same indoor environment (e.g., a detail room, a hospital waiting room) as a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time but not meeting the definition of close contact. See below for definition of close contact.
Considerations for Agency Actions in Response to
Low Risk Exposure:
- The CDC recommends that individuals with low risk exposure do not require restrictions from work.
- These individuals should check their temperature twice daily and remain alert for respiratory symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
- In the event the individual develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should immediately self-isolate and follow guidance in the tool titled Law Enforcement Officer Sickness with COVID-19.
CDC No Identifiable Risk Exposure
- Interactions with a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection that do not meet any of the high-, medium- or low-risk conditions above, such as walking by the person or being briefly in the same room.
Considerations for Agency Actions in Response to
No Identifiable Risk Exposure:
- The CDC recommends that individuals with no identifiable risk do not require restrictions from work.
Definition of Close Contact
- Prolonged contact within 6 feet with a confirmed COVID-19 person.
- Prolonged contact within 6 feet with a symptomatic person (presenting with fever and respiratory complaints) who has traveled to an affected region within the last 14 days.
Considerations:
- There is no consensus on the definition of “prolonged contact” across public health agencies. What is known is that prolonged contact depends on not just distance and duration but also how much personal protective equipment the officer is wearing (if any), how contagious the infected person is, and how susceptible to infection the individual may be.
COMMUNICATE
- Law enforcement executives should communicate on a regular basis about developments in response to COVID-19. This includes changes in department policy or procedure in responding to calls for service, medical-aid calls, calls to a hospital or medical facility, traffic enforcement, and more.
- Law enforcement agencies should ensure that changes in policy or procedure are clearly communicated to, and in collaboration with, community stakeholders. Community stakeholders should include public safety groups such as employee representative groups, department of corrections, surrounding law enforcement organizations, judicial offices, other first responder jurisdictions, Fire, EMS, etc., as well as community groups, neighborhood watches, faith-based groups, etc.
- Law enforcement agencies should work with their human resources department to identify a mechanism for tracking the number of law enforcement personnel out of work resulting from the potential contraction of COVID-19.
- Supervisors should provide clear guidance to personnel regarding protocol for sick leave usage in the event an officer becomes ill and unable to work.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
- Monitor and follow all guidance provided by the CDC and your local and state/provincial public health agencies.
- Expand law enforcement response to include telephone reporting and provide guidance for officers to complete a telephone report. Telephone reports are intended and should be employed for offenses that do not require a police response due to violence, life-safety concerns, crimes-in-progress, or the need to collect evidence.
- Restrict or eliminate public access to police facilities in order to minimize exposure of police personnel to COVID-19.
- Implement virtual or remote roll calls and shift changes to avoid clustering of people, if possible. Utilize outdoor/open air meetings when weather permits.
- Provide proper training for use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for respiratory protection, if available. Encourage agency personnel to practice regular hand-washing and maintaining a distance of at least six feet to provide protection from transmission of COVID-19
- Allow adequate time for officers to decontaminate after public contact.
- Clean and disinfect equipment, common areas, and transport vehicles frequently.
- Consider postponement or alternative methods to hold meetings with community groups.
- Allow non-traditional work-from-home for less-essential staff.
- Explore alternative housing options for law enforcement personnel on a case-by-case basis to limit potential exposure of COVID-19 to at-risk family members.
- Consider easy wash and wear uniforms for uniformed officers and relaxed casual wash and wear clothing for detectives and others who normally wear more formal clothing.
DISINFECT
- Officers should avoid direct contact with individuals who may have COVID-19 until they have the appropriate PPE. Maintaining a distance of at least six feet may provide protection from transmission of COVID-19.
- Officers should understand and practice with PPE so that they can rapidly and safely apply and carefully remove PPE without cross-contamination.
- In the event an officer becomes exposed to an ill suspect or member of the public with a fever and respiratory illness, the officer should:
- Wear a face mask at all times while in the workplace for 14 days after last exposure.
- Clean and disinfect his/her duty belt and gear with a household cleaning spray or wipe prior to reuse.
- Follow standard operating procedures for the containment and disposal of used PPE.
- Follow standard operating procedures for containing and laundering clothes. This includes avoiding shaking the clothes.
- Follow guidance for high-risk and medium-risk exposure.
To access tools and resources to assist in informing your agency response to COVID-19, visit the CRI-TAC COVID-19 Library of Resources, a compilation of resources by the field of law enforcement, for the field of law enforcement.
Considerations for Law Enforcement Encountering COVID-19-Related Deaths
As concerns of COVID-19 continue to spread throughout local communities, law enforcement agencies should prepare officers for the unfortunate situation of encountering a COVID-19- related unattended death. Where feasible, officers should not be responsible for touching or removal of a dead body where COVID-19 is suspected. Rather, EMS personnel, funeral directors, and medical examiners should be involved. The following considerations are specific to COVID-19 deaths where law enforcement is responding without the assistance of a medical examiner.
Coordinate
Law enforcement agencies should proactively:
- Communicate protocols about exposure risk to personnel.
- Implement screening questions for calls for service related to deaths for COVID-19 to determine risk for officers in advance.
- Ensure proper infectious disease reporting. Communicate the risk of exposure with public health departments, hospitals, coroners, medical examiners, funeral directors, and anyone else involved in transportation of a deceased infected individual to minimize risk of exposure.
- Communicate the circumstances of the death to those involved in transportation of a deceased infected individual to allow for appropriate allocation of resources (i.e. PPE, staff support, etc.).
Protect
Law enforcement agencies should be sure to provide
training to all personnel on proper application and
removal of PPE as well as proper hand-washing
techniques. Follow your agency policy or Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. Officers who encounter or come into contact with a deceased individual suspected of having COVID-19 should:
- Avoid disturbing the body. Based on what is now believed, the virus is transmitted through the air or when touching contaminated surfaces. Because the body is not producing air exchange or actively coughing, the need to use some PPE items may be less urgent. However, risk remains until the last gust of air has been expelled from the body (which may be post-mortem).
- Officers should use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if available, in accordance with agency policy. PPE might include:
- Respirator (such as an N-95 or higher) or other appropriate mask
- Non-latex gloves
- Protective glasses or goggles
- Impermeable suit or gown
- Rubber boots
- Use caution when removing PPE and follow standard operating procedures for PPE disposal. See Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.
- Use extra precaution when entering homes or businesses.
- Follow guidance in document titled Law Enforcement Officer Exposure to COVID-19.
Communicating with Families
Suspected COVID-19 deaths may result from symptoms
of the virus or complications related to underlying
health conditions. As such, the cause of death should
be considered “suspected” until confirmed by a Medical
Examiner, which may take some time. Family members
at the scene of the death will likely have questions and
experience a range of emotions. Officers should:
- Use calm, clear, and direct language when speaking with the deceased’s loved ones.
- Presume all inhabitants within living space to be carriers regardless of absent symptoms.
- Maintain six feet of separation during interviews.
- Consider conducting interviews of family or housemates outside with good air exchange.
- Ask screening questions of anyone present in the living space to promote the safety of the officers.
- Encourage the family to safely de-contaminate the home and any surfaces that the deceased individual may have been in contact with.
- Be sure to suggest using a cleaning agent listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and/or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to destroy the virus.
- Suggest the family consider wearing PPE during cleaning or contracting a professional cleaning company to reduce their own risk of exposure to the virus.
- Encourage the family to follow CDC guidelines for self-quarantine, if applicable.
Media Relations
If media representatives reach out to the police agency
after learning of a possible COVID-19 related death,
the policy agency should refer the media official to the
appropriate public health department. If the appropriate
public health department requests it, agencies may
choose to hold a briefing or press conference in conjunction with medical officials and other public health
officials to alert the community of a COVID-19-related
death. In any instance, it is important to respect the
deceased individual’s privacy and personal information, as well as any wishes for privacy by the family.
Resources Specific to COVID-19 Deaths
To access tools and resources to assist in informing
your agency response to COVID-19, visit the CRI-TAC
COVID-19 Library of Resources, a compilation of
resources by the field of law enforcement, for the field
of law enforcement.
EXPIRED Fentanyl and Officer Safety
Fentanyl and Officer Safety
Submitted by: IACP Board of Directors
WHEREAS, fentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance as set forth in the Controlled Substances Act; and
WHEREAS, fentanyl and fentanyl analogs approximately 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine and roughly 40 to 50 times more potent than pharmaceutical grade (100% pure) heroin and exposure to even minimal amounts (approximately 2 milligrams) of Fentanyl can endanger the health and safety of law enforcement officers and their K-9 companions as well as other first responders; and,
WHEREAS, fentanyl and fentanyl analogs are sometimes mixed with other prescription medicines as well as with illicit white powder narcotics, typically heroin but also cocaine to increase their euphoric affects; and
WHEREAS, fentanyl and fentanyl analogs are also being pressed into pill form to resemble other pharmaceutical pills such as oxycodone, Xanax, Norco, and other similar pills. It is visually indistinguishable from other white powder; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement has confirmed that fentanyl and fentanyl analogs have been found in counterfeit prescription opioid medications and anti-anxiety medicines with deadly results; and
WHEREAS, the abuse of prescription opioid drugs and heroin addiction have had a devastating effect on communities across the globe; and
WHEREAS, the IACP is concerned about the safety of public health workers, first responders, and law enforcement personnel who may unwittingly come into contact with illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogs; and
WHEREAS, the IACP is concerned about the overburdening of law enforcement resources already stretched thin by the most significant prescription drug abuse epidemic in our nation's history; and
WHEREAS, the IACP is concerned about the diversion of investigatory and prosecutorial law enforcement resources required to investigate and prosecute even more toxic fentanyl exposure cases; and
RESOLVED, that the IACP calls on all nations to enact provisions designed to stop the spread the production, trafficking, sale and distribution of illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogs and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP strongly supports proposals that enhance law enforcement’s ability to combat opioid diversion, trafficking and abuse and provide the resources necessary to protect the health and safety of law enforcement and other public safety personnel as they work to protect their communities from the dangers of fentanyl and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution supports, affirms and aligns, and supersedes prior IACP resolutions on the Dangers of Counterfeit and Diverted Fentanyl to Law Enforcement Personnel, the resulting increased safety requirements and the demand on law enforcement resources, including NDDC.22.T16, 1 NDDC.015.T14, NDDC.013.t2017, NDDC.017.T14 and NDDC.20.T16
10 Leadership Strategies for Navigating COVID-19
The unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic require strong leadership skills. Leadership is the ability to use your character and competence to influence others. Nothing exposes our values and character traits like adversity. The IACP has curated ten leadership strategies to assist law enforcement leaders in navigating this crisis.
For more information, contact [email protected].
Law Enforcement Response to Domestic and Sexual Violence and COVID-19
On April 23, 2020, the IACP hosted a Virtual Roundtable on COVID-19 and Law Enforcement Response to Domestic and Sexual Violence. Below is a list of resources around the COVID-19 pandemic and violence against women, many of which were referenced during the roundtable. Watch the recording of the Virtual Roundtable here.
Websites, Libraries, and Lists:
- Law Enforcement Information and Resources on Covid-19 (International Association of Chiefs of Police)
- IACP Online Library of Resources: Police Response to Violence Against Women (International Association of Chiefs of Police)
- Report Review Checklists for the Response to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Stalking, Strangulation, and Protection Order Enforcement) can be found here.
- Information on Covid-19 for Survivors, Communities, and DV/SA Programs (Futures Without Violence)
- Resources on the Response to Covid-19 (National Network to End Domestic Violence)
- COVID-19 Resources for Domestic Violence Organizations (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
- COVID-19 Resources (International Association of Forensic Nurse)
- Covid-19 Resources for Legal Services and Victims’ Rights (National Crime Victim Law Institute)
- Using Technology to Communicate with Survivors During a Public Health Crisis (Safety Net)
- The American Bar Association Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force (American Bar Association)
- COVID-19 Resources & Information (International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators)
- Coronavirus and The Courts (National Center for State Courts)
Resources and Publications:
- Coercive Control during COVID-19: New Tactics: (Battered Women's Justice Project; short video explaining how abusers may use the COVID-19 pandemic as a tool of control)
- Power and Control Wheel: COVID-19 (Battered Women’s Justice Project)
- Sexual Violence Considerations Amid Covid-19 for Law Enforcement (Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force)
- Frequently Asked Questions Involving Courts and COVID-19 (National Network to End Domestic Violence)
- Safety Planning During COVID-19: Tips from Survivors for Survivors (Sanctuary for Families)
- Justice in the Time of COVID-19: Strategic Responses Webinar Recording (AEquitas)
- King County COVID-19 Remote Protection Order Filing (King Country, WA)
- Do Not Use DIY/At-Home Sexual Assault Kits: Video Statement and More (International Association of Forensic Nurses)
- Oregon S.A.F.E. Exams and At-Home Kits (English) (Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force)
- Oregon S.A.F.E. Exams and At-Home Kits (English) (Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force)
- Title IX and COVID-19 (International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators)
- Nampa Ready (English)
- Nampa Ready (Spanish)
- Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC)
- Stalking Harassment Assessment Risk Profile
- Enhancing Police Responses to Children Exposed to Violence: A Toolkit for Law Enforcement (IACP, Yale University, and DOJ) provides practical tools and resources to assist law enforcement agencies in building or enhancing effective operational responses to children exposed to violence (with or without a mental health partner) and includes a Protocol for Responding to the Needs of Children at Scenes of Domestic Violence.
- NOBLE Social Media Video on Police Response to Domestic Violence (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives)
- Risk Assessments (Battered Women's Justice Project)
- Lethality Assessments (National Sexual Violence Resource Center)
- COVID-19 & Vicarious Trauma (Resilience Works)
COVID-19 Policy Creation
When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, law enforcement agencies continued to respond to communities on the front lines, despite the operational challenges the pandemic posed. Police agencies looked to IACP for guidance, and IACP quickly compiled policy considerations for law enforcement response to COVID-19. The resulting document can be found here.
Learn more about how this process came together in the video below.
Operational Workload Assessments
Law enforcement agencies face a constantly evolving demand for police services. Calls for service (CFS) shift in nature, volume, and location. Development or redevelopment within a jurisdiction impacts the population within an agency’s jurisdiction as well as the number of people traveling to and from other locations. Expectations on the types of services law enforcement should be providing also continues to change.
Workload assessments can provide agencies with valuable data-based insight into how their existing resources are being utilized and whether they can be redeployed to reach agency goals for officer availability or if additional officers are needed.
Promotional Testing - Selecting the Reading List
The promotional reading list is the list of sources, internal and external, that candidates study to be successful on the written exam. The selection of the materials on that list is integral to the promotional testing process; therefore, the agency should be fully involved early in the process.
This video will act as a primer for three critical aspects to take into consideration.
If you are ready to start the reading list selection process in your agency download the Reading List Selection Worksheet to help you in that process.
For additional questions regarding reading lists or promotional processes, visit the Professional Services website or contact Professional Services at [email protected].
Line-of-Duty Serious Injury
The impact of an officer’s line-of-duty injury may continue long beyond the initial event and hospitalization. Systematic policies and procedures can help law enforcement agencies respond to line-of-duty injuries in a prompt, organized manner and remain sensitive to the profound human emotions injured officers must confront after such traumatic injuries. These documents are designed to assist agencies in developing policies and procedures to support officers after a serious injury, as well as the officer’s family and agency personnel who may also be affected.
IACP Monthly Webinar Series: Removal of Weapons and Firearms from the Hands of DV Offenders
Chief Deputy John Guard from the Pitt Count, NC, Sheriff’s Office, discusses what law enforcement needs to know about the removal of weapons and firearms from the hands of perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence.
IACP Monthly Webinar Series: Witness Intimidation
Lt. Mark Wynn (Ret.) leads a discussion on what law enforcement needs to know about witness intimidation when working on crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault, strangulation, and stalking.
