Police Officers as Tactical Athletes: Optimizing Performance and Recovery
This session will explore innovative physical therapy techniques, recovery strategies, and conditioning practices tailored to the unique demands of police work. Panelists will introduce attendees to innovative physical therapy techniques, recovery strategies, and conditioning practices tailored to the unique physical and psychological demands of police work. This session will provide practical tools for injury prevention, recovery, and holistic wellness, ensuring officers perform at their best and recover effectively. Case studies and evidence-based approaches will highlight the benefits of integrating performance-based wellness programs in police departments. Attendees will learn to reframe police officers as tactical athletes, emphasizing the importance of peak physical and mental health for their success and public safety.

Wellness needs of policing professionals have been addressed in many ways, but there are still critical areas for improvement, including family well-being. This workshop will focus on how agencies can involve families as part of their wellness programming. Speakers will share strategies that have been successful for their agency in engaging with families and some barriers that they had to overcome. Discussion will include strategies for when, how, and in what settings to involve families, and how to stay connected with families in between events.

• Describe the agency's role in developing a family wellness program.
• Identify what resources are best suited and necessary for families.
• Learn and share promising practices when beginning a family wellness program.

As the number of states and agencies conducting periodic mental wellness visits increases, the need for an understanding of how to integrate suicide prevention efforts has never been greater. In this workshop, suicide prevention experts will share information about why screening for suicide risk is vital during these visits and offer strategies for how to do so appropriately. Additionally, panelists will discuss strategies for integrating proactive prevention measures. Participants will also learn how to utilize a crisis response plan to equip all officers with a plan for dealing with a crisis before it occurs.

• Learn about best practices regarding suicide prevention and intervention psychoeducation
• Understand when and how the topic of suicide may be discussed in mental wellness visits
• Practice integrating screening for suicide risk and developing crisis response plans

On November 21, 2021, a driver plowed his SUV into the annual Christmas parade in Waukesha, WI, killing six people and injuring 62 others. The parade's theme was "Comfort and Joy." Seventeen children were among the wounded and four of the dead were members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies. In this workshop, panelists will discuss the psychological effects of the tragedy on first responders, including those at the command staff level. They will also share their multi-agency approach to providing support in the following months, as Waukesha grappled with the aftermath of the tragedy. This collaborative effort involved mental health professionals and law enforcement at the state, local, and Federal levels working hand in hand to promote healing and resilience.

Wellness programming is becoming more and more commonplace in police agencies; however, are agencies including the whole family in these efforts? Civilian staff and family members of agency personnel are often overlooked or not included. Bloomington, Indiana, Police Department has evolved current wellness programming and will share how civilian staff and family members are served. Presenters will also highlight how these individuals are utilized to expand programming, such as being part of the peer support team, providing clinical oversight to programming, hosting family holiday events, features in a monthly newsletter, etc. The presenters will also discuss the importance of messaging to ensure all personnel feel included.

• Upon completion, attendees will be able to list at least 3 ways to include civilians and family members into current wellness programming.
• Upon completion, attendees will be able to create messaging that feels inclusive to all agency personnel.
• Upon completion, attendees will be able to list at least 3 reasons why including civilians and family members in programming is important.

Agencies across the United States are struggling to recruit and retain officers and are dealing with staffing shortages. To address this challenge, agencies can incorporate family wellness programs to support personnel. Family wellness has been identified as a key component in retaining officers. When agencies recruit officers, they also recruit their families. Participants will learn about promising practices to promote family wellness and how this plays a role in the recruitment and retention of personnel.

• Describe the importance of family wellness.
• Discuss how taking care of officer's families can increase retention within an agency.
• Identify strategies agencies could use to engage officer's families in the department and with recruitment.

Officers encounter complex, high-stress, and traumatic situations that can impact their health and wellness. To navigate these difficulties, resilience skills are often implemented. However, there is another journey that can be traveled by officers. Post-traumatic growth allows officers to not only survive the demands of their profession but to thrive, transforming their challenges into opportunities for personal and professional development. In this workshop, we will outline the main elements of post traumatic growth. Mental health professionals will discuss practical strategies that can support individuals in their journey towards posttraumatic growth while policing personnel share their professional and personal experiences in efforts to encourage others along the journey.

• Define posttraumatic growth
• Explain the journey to posttraumatic growth
• Identify benefits of posttraumatic growth

A shift has occurred in the law enforcement profession when it comes to notions of mental health and wellbeing -- and many positives have resulted. However, one downside of the focus on PTSD and mental health has been a belief that those in law enforcement are destined to be diminished and diagnosed as they navigate their careers. It is critical that we balance this narrative and provide pathways to growth and thriving. This presentation will share how the results of a pioneering effort at Tucson Police Department to precisely do that, and how it has changed lives, the culture, and the community.

• Come away with a deeper understanding of what it means to be resilient and how you can thrive in the aftermath of trauma.
• Understand the importance of turning your struggle into strength - leave feeling empowered to provide continued service to yourself, your family, and your community.
• Understand the newly launched partnership and learn the steps to schedule training for your agency or region

Opening ceremonies will be followed by a panel presentation: Acquired Brain Injuries: A Holistic Focus on Officer Wellness and Community Interactions. This session explores the impact of acquired brain injuries (ABIs) on police personnel and the communities they serve. Panelists will emphasize the multifaceted responsibility of addressing ABIs within the profession. Attendees will gain insights into how ABIs occur in the policing profession, their often-overlooked symptoms, and strategies for prevention, early detection, and comprehensive support. Additionally, the session will examine the unique challenges officers impacted by ABIs may face when interacting with community members.