Summary
Though most agencies have trained and equipped their officers for immediate response to mass casualties, few have prepared their personnel for the psychological fallout. Tragic events can have a profound effect on first responders, who may suffer emotional distress that lingers long afterward. To help the Newtown (Connecticut) Police Department cope with the murder of 26 people, including 20 children, at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the COPS Office reached out to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to provide guidance. This unique guide, which is the result of NAMI’s work with Newtown’s police chief, Michael Kehoe, offers expert advice and practical tips for helping officers to heal emotionally, managing the public, dealing with the media, building relationships with other first-responder agencies, and much more. Making this guide especially helpful are the personal contributions of four police chiefs and numerous officers who have lived through incidents such as these and have shared their experiences.
Contents
Part One. Why Mental Wellness Matters to You and Your Agency. --
1. Understanding Trauma and Resiliency. --
Stories from the field. --
Police officers aren’t immune to trauma. --
The immediate impact of traumatic events. --
The long-term impact of trauma. --
Unresolved trauma is an officer safety issue. --
Psychological resilience. --
Do we need to change law enforcement culture to promote resilience? --
Part Two. Preparing for a Mass Casualty Event. --
2. Recommendations for Enhancing Resilience in Your Agency Today. --
Take a personal interest in officer wellness. --
Form a work group to recommend officer wellness programs and education. --
Support the creation of an officer peer support program. --
Find the right mental health service providers to support your officers. --
Review your psychological services policies and procedures. --
3. Planning the Incident Response for a Mass Casualty Event. --
Assign a mental health incident commander. --
Build close partnerships with first responder agencies and other leaders in your community. --
Make a regional or statewide plan. --
Why you need a media strategy. --
4. Building Your Media Team and Strategy for a Mass Casualty Event. --
How to plan an effective media strategy: Be prepared. Be proactive. Own your narrative. --
What to include in your media plan. --
Part Three. Managing a Mass Casualty Event and Its Aftermath. --
5. Immediate Incident Response. --
Managing challenges for your agency and your community. --
Managing challenges and stressors for officers. --
Managing leadership challenges. --
Immediate incident response checklists. --
6. The First Weeks: From Chaos to a New Normal. --
Managing challenges for your agency and your community. --
Managing challenges and stressors for officers. --
Managing leadership challenges. --
7. The First Months. --
Managing challenges for your agency and your community. --
Managing challenges and stressors for officers. --
Managing leadership challenges. --
Tips for helping officers to heal. --
8. The Long Haul. --
Managing challenges for your agency and your community. --
Managing challenges and stressors for officers. --
Managing leadership challenges.