their presence , to provide unfettered access to their loved ones to discuss the pitfalls of a career in policing requires a great deal of trust . This type of trust comes from a sincere conviction that can only be earned through an unblemished record mutual respect and camaraderie developed over time . The cadre for the academy attended departmental trainings and patrol team briefings and personally explained the intent and content of the academy and responded to any questions or concerns that officers had . From a department of 83 sworn peace officers , the academy ultimately was able to enroll 33 wives , husbands , girlfriends , fiancés and boyfriends .
The academy itself was divided into seven weekly two-hour sessions . The substance of each session was mostly independent ; thus , attendance at each session was recommended , but missing one session was not detrimental to the entire experience . Several members of the Police Officers Association even volunteered to watch attendees ’ small children during the trainings . The sessions covered the following topics :
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Self-defense and defensive tactics . This session facilitated a discussion of defensive tactics and the training that is done by the department , as well as a hands-on self-defense class for attendees . After six weeks , this was a fun way to end the academy and build camaraderie .
The final session of the academy was a range day , where attendees had the opportunity to shoot firearms and see the special tools and weapons that the S . W . A . T . team utilizes . The day wrapped up with a luncheon .
The ultimate goal of the Spouses Academy was to improve the culture of the department . An emphasis on officer wellness starts on day one and should continue through the duration of an officer ’ s career and retirement . Improving the performance of our officers in both their professional performance and their personal lives sometimes requires an unconventional approach . The implementation of a Spouses Academy is an effective means to influence and directly deliver the family members of our officers the knowledge , skills and abilities to support our officers though a healthy career in law enforcement . ■
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An introduction and overview of the police department . This session includes career paths , shift schedules , salary and benefit information , CALPERS retirements , the role of the union , etc . A simple visual explanation of the different teams and putting faces to names was very beneficial for the attendees .
Department Clinician Elizabeth Dansie provided two hours of insight drawn from her thirty years of experience providing counseling to emergency services personnel and their family members . This is the first time many spouses had ever been exposed to the reality of the challenges encountered by peace officers .
Critical incidents and their aftermath . Four of our officers who were involved in officer involved shootings and / or a line of duty death spoke to the group about their short term and long-term effects from the incidents . These were not tactical debriefings , but rather focused on how these incidents shaped their lives and the effect it had on their relationships with friends and family .
Use of force . An explanation of why and when force is used and the dynamics of decision making was discussed . The attendees had the opportunity to experience our use of force simulator , which gave a true sense of the dynamics of decision making on using lethal and non-lethal force .
Special Investigative Units . This session was more substantive , focusing on narcotics , human trafficking and gangs , with rich case studies and examples .
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