National Officer Safety Initiative

BJA’s National Officer Safety Initiatives Program addresses a priority of the DOJ and through this award program will fund innovative approaches to augment law enforcement safety in three key areas: law enforcement suicide, traffic safety, and a national public awareness and education campaign. The following activities will be accomplished under these awards: 1) the consortium to prevent law enforcement suicide will examine the threats and issues surrounding law enforcement suicide and design recommendations and solutions to address them; 2) the law enforcement traffic safety program will develop a TTA program to address various issues related to law enforcement traffic safety and the causes of law enforcement injuries and deaths; and 3) the Supporting the Blue public awareness campaign will develop and implement a national campaign using all forms of media to educate the public about law enforcement and promote support and positive messaging about our nation’s officers.

The purpose of Category 1 is to convene a national consortium of experts and stakeholder organizations and associations in the field of officer safety and wellness with a particular focus on law enforcement suicide. The objectives of the consortium will be to closely examine (at a national level) the threats and issues surrounding law enforcement suicide and provide recommendations and solutions to address those issues. This will include examining the need for policy and protocol changes, including succinct and timely information by peers in the aftermath of an officer suicide; current mythologies and stigmas surrounding the topic of law enforcement suicide; and the challenges and impediments to improving and advancing awareness, the national conversation, and services available to law enforcement and their families (including education and support to families).

CA/NCF

BJA’s National Officer Safety Initiatives Program funds innovative approaches to augment law enforcement safety, to include the National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide. Under this FY20 supplemental award, the recipient will continue to convene a national consortium of experts and stakeholder organizations and associations in the field of officer safety and wellness with a particular focus on law enforcement suicide. The objectives of the consortium are to closely examine (at a national level) the threats and issues surrounding law enforcement suicide and provide recommendations and solutions to address those issues. This includes continuing to examine the need for policy and protocol changes, including succinct and timely information by peers in the aftermath of an officer suicide; current mythologies and stigmas surrounding the topic of law enforcement suicide; and the challenges and impediments to improving and advancing awareness, the national conversation, and services available to law enforcement and their families (including education and support to families). NCA/NCF

While the culture of the profession is shifting, law enforcement personnel remain at a higher risk of suicide and suicidal behaviors than the general public. Law enforcement mental health symptoms often go unreported due to the cultural stigma regarding mental health treatment and concern about duty status changes and career implications. The National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide is a vital resource to help the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and other federal partners monitor trends and identify emerging law enforcement mental health needs and issues. Convened by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in partnership with the Education Development Center and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the Consortium brings vast expertise and a multidisciplinary lens to raise awareness of and prevent suicide among police officers. Virtual and in-person Consortium meetings will facilitate collaboration across organizations, problem-solve critical issues, assist in marketing BJA suicide prevention resources, and provide a law enforcement perspective on implementation challenges and innovative strategies for prevention, intervention, and postvention. As new data and evidence on law enforcement suicide risk, protective factors, and promising organizational stress mitigation strategies become available, the Consortium’s reach to researchers, practitioners, and the profession will allow the IACP and BJA to assist agencies with translating and implementing these evidence-based suicide prevention practices and identify gaps for further research. Based on the findings of the Consortium, IACP and EDC will develop videos, podcasts, posters, and other tools to respond to the urgent needs of law enforcement suicide awareness and prevention. The IACP and the Consortium will conduct a review of national practices to develop a promising practice guide addressing the emerging issue of periodic or annual mental health check requirements. The IACP will also convene a focus group on clinical oversight of peer support programs to develop resources to support agencies in improving options for mental health assessment and treatment. The IACP is well-positioned to conduct outreach presentations of previous and future findings and deliverables, given our extensive reach into the field and established dedication to officer safety and wellness and officer suicide prevention. The Consortium will continue to raise awareness of law enforcement suicide and officer wellness and increase the profession’s access to national promising practices.