Officer Involved Shootings
The workshop and course outlined are designed to provide comprehensive peer support training for individuals involved in law enforcement. It aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle various stressors unique to their profession, ranging from high-stress events like officer-involved shootings to the everyday stresses of law enforcement and drug enforcement work. The course also covers recognizing and responding to mental health issues, suicide prevention, and supporting families of law enforcement officers.
Key components and objectives of the course:
Introduction to Peer Support (2 hours): This section covers the unique stresses of law enforcement jobs, the importance of peer support, and the basics of establishing a peer support team.
High Stress Events and Officer-Involved Shootings (6 hours): Detailed exploration of reactions to high stress events, including officer-involved shootings, and strategies for dealing with these reactions.
General Stress in Law/Drug Enforcement (2 hours): Focuses on identifying stress and techniques for managing and reducing it.
Self Introduction and Sharing by Students (4 hours): Allows students to share their experiences related to stress, high stress events, and how they impact their families and work.
Fit for Duty (2 hours): Addresses how to recognize mental disorders and the need for evaluations by behavioral health professionals.
Defusing (3 hours): Teaches techniques for responding to the immediate aftermath of high stress events to prevent long-term psychological harm.
Coaching Sessions/1 on 1's (4 hours): Involves practical exercises where students conduct one-on-one sessions to apply what they've learned about managing stress and supporting colleagues.
Suicide Recognition and Prevention (2 hours): Educates on recognizing signs of suicidal ideation among officers and intervention strategies.
Line of Duty Deaths (2 hours): Offers guidance on supporting officers and families following a line of duty death, including dealing with grief and logistical considerations.
Family Survival (2 hours): Focuses on the unique challenges faced by law enforcement families and strategies for strengthening relationships and preventing divorce.
The course concludes with a post-test, critiques, and surveys to assess the participants' learning and feedback on the course content. The classroom setup is designed to be conducive to learning, with necessary facilities and resources like audio/visual support and materials for note-taking and interactive learning. Overall, the course aims to enhance the resilience, well-being, and supportive capabilities of law enforcement officers by providing them with the tools and knowledge to effectively manage stress and support their peers.