SAN DIEGO POLICE WELLNESS UNIT OVERVIEW
DAY ZERO TO RETIREMENT AND BEYOND
By Assistant Chief Sandy Albreksten
The SDPD Wellness Unit was established as a result of
high-profile officer misconduct . Numerous employees were making poor decisions leading to arrests , policy violations , extremely poor behavior on duty , and alcohol abuse issues . Although the San Diego Police Department has long offered peer support , access to police psychologists , and police chaplains , these services were being underutilized .
A strategy was created to organize all of the SDPD wellness-related resources under one umbrella . Thus , the San Diego Police Department established the Wellness Unit in 2011 . This newly formed unit was designated an office area with easy access for all employees and four full-time officers and sergeants were assigned to the unit . The Wellness Unit was established with the goal of coordinating the delivery of the various decentralized services to assist employees in managing their emotional and physical wellbeing . The mission of the San Diego Police Department Wellness Unit is “ reducing or removing interferences to employee wellness , whether personally or professionally induced , by providing help , resources , training and intervention .”
For the Wellness Unit to be successful , it was critical that it receive support from the top down , starting with the Chief of Police down through the command staff . The officers needed leadership by example , and support for this program to grow and thrive .
The San Diego Police Department Wellness Unit ’ s responsibilities include identifying resources for employees , assisting employees in crisis , providing training , educational seminars , and workshops . The unit also manages all department “ help services ,” including the Peer Support Program , Police Chaplain Program , Alcohol / Substance Abuse Program , and psychological services . These programs and services are available to all sworn and civilian employees , as well as their family members .
While senior officers receive yearly in-service training on wellness and resource availability , the Wellness Unit recognized in order to carry out a culture of wellness , emphasis needed to be placed on reaching the newest generation of officers . To achieve this goal , the Wellness Unit is included as part of the pre-orientation process for our new officers . Prior to beginning the academy , Wellness Unit members give a formal presentation
to our new officers , that provides an overview of the unit itself and the array of services and support that it provides . In addition , during the academy , the Wellness Unit conducts Emotional Survival training based on the work of Dr . Kevin Gilmartin . Immediately after graduation from the academy , our officers , along with their families , participate in the Psychological Preparedness Training for New Officers presented during a Family Wellness Day . During field training , our officers meet as a group with the Wellness Unit and a police psychologist to discuss the stressors of field training and how to manage their own identified stress triggers . Our new officers meet with the Wellness Unit one last time after completing field training for two days of training on effective interactions .
Mindfulness based training has recently been introduced to employees of the police department , both civilian and sworn . During these sessions , employees are led by a trained clinician through techniques and best practices of self-meditation . The goal is to teach employees how to self-guide through meditation during stressful and tense situations . Research has proven that mindfulness enhances the health and well-being of individuals , as well as organizational culture . It also improves an officer ’ s ability to step into peak performance at a moment ’ s notice .
The San Diego Police Department
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