The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) recognizes the important and often-times dangerous work that our nation's law enforcement officers do on a daily basis. The policing profession is unique in many ways, expecting officers to be multi-disciplined Jack- and Jill-of-all-trades during all types of situations including volatile, physically dangerous, and traumatic events. It is a complex profession requiring officers who are highly-trained in order to effectively and safely deal with and solve, often-times, very kinetic and complicated calls. They perform these duties with the goal of keeping our communities and community members safe while also protecting their and their fellow officers’ safety.
BJA’s law enforcement officer safety and wellness portfolio’s goal and mission is to provide our nation’s law enforcement agencies and officers with unsurpassed, current, and innovative officer safety and wellness resources, training, and technical assistance. Our officer safety and wellness portfolio is designed to be the most robust and comprehensive collection of programs that have as their sole mission to support our law enforcement and increase law enforcement safety and wellness.
Officer Robert Wilson III Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement Officers and Ensuring Officer Resilience and Survivability (VALOR) Initiative
The VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Initiative improves the immediate and long-term safety, wellness, and resilience of our nation’s law enforcement officers through a multifaceted approach that includes delivering innovative no-cost professional education (training), conducting research, developing and providing resources, and establishing partnerships that benefit law enforcement officers. The Initiative strategically brings together 13 distinct programs to address all facets of officer safety and wellness.
2021 Law Enforcement Safety and Wellness Resources Surge
Law enforcement officers across the nation face unprecedented times. While the leading causes of line-of-duty deaths remain, other threats arise which this generation of law enforcement officers have not seen before.
2020 brought with it unexpected challenges that affected each and every one of us. Routines and daily life were dramatically changed as we began facing a global pandemic and health crisis. This added new dangers and considerations for our law enforcement officers; increasing the strain and stress that comes with the profession. Challenges once again multiplied as several social movements and unrest brought about demands to defund police and officers were now met with public animosity.
Responding to these challenges is of the utmost importance and a priority for BJA. In 2020, BJA launched a proactive initiative to create collections of critical and impactful resources designed to address the most crucial and current challenges officers are facing. These include:
- Mitigating the impact of stress on officers and their families.
- Preventing suicide among law enforcement officers.
- Increasing officer safety by defusing difficult situations.
- Promoting public confidence in policing and, in doing so, honoring those who serve.
These resources, which include videos, podcasts, posters, agency guides, and more, are available at no cost for officers and agencies. New surge resources will be added regularly.
