David Teodosio at Police Chief Magazine

Sustaining a Successful Wellness Program

While it has been well-established that support for officer safety and organizational wellness is crucial for the well-being of officers and their colleagues, agencies, families, and communities, ente...

Legal

Elderly person at table using laptop, yellow tulips in vase foreground, second person gesturing mid-discussion, both faces blurred for privacy.

The Perils of Neglecting Estate Planning

Policing is a dangerous profession.1 The mortality rate among officers is far higher than the U.S. population average, both on the job as well as outside of work and after retirement. In part, this is...

Legislative Update

IACP’s National Police Week Legislative Update

May 15, 2025: As we came together this week to honor the service and sacrifice of policing professionals during National Police Week, Congress advanced several legislative initiatives. House Actio...

Mental Health

A person is sitting on a white couch with a golden retriever lying beside them. The person is wearing a black hoodie, gray sweatpants, and reflective sunglasses. The golden retriever appears relaxed with its head resting on the person's lap. There is another armchair to the left of the couch, and in the background, there are dark-colored cabinets with labels including one that reads "JUNK DRAWER." A blue blanket or sheet is partially visible at the bottom of the image.

Fight or Flight in Overdrive

Across the landscape of police wellness, there is a critical missing piece when it comes to supporting those who serve and protect. The missing piece is this: Just as multiple head injuries cre...

Mental Health

A person stands alone in the middle of a dimly lit street at night. The scene is illuminated by several streetlights, casting an orange glow through the fog. The person is silhouetted against the light, making it difficult to discern any facial features or specific details about their appearance. Trees and buildings line both sides of the street, and a pedestrian crossing is visible beneath the person's feet. The atmosphere appears eerie and quiet, with no other people or vehicles in sight.

The Science, Honor, and Dignity of Stories

There is a saying that “stories are science,” and this notion holds particular significance when conducting psychological autopsies to investigate police officer suicides among active and retired ...

Legislative Update

IACP’s May Legislative Update

May 2, 2025: In Washington, where policy priorities may shift but the mission of policing remains constant, we are proud to introduce IACP’s Policy Priorities. This roadmap will guide IACP’s a...

Officer Safety & Wellness

Two men are exercising outdoors on a rooftop parking lot. The man on the left, with his face obscured, is wearing a black T-shirt and blue shorts. He is holding a kettlebell in both hands. The man on the right, facing away from the camera, is wearing sunglasses, a navy blue T-shirt with "FCPD" and "Strength & Conditioning" written on the back, and dark athletic shorts. He is also holding a kettlebell in both hands. In the background, there are three orange traffic cones placed along the edge of the rooftop, and some buildings are visible in the distance under a clear sky during sunset or sunrise.

The Intersection of Physical Fitness and Use of Force

Physical fitness often comes into play during use-of-force incidents within policing; thus, a lack of physical fitness can increase an agency’s liability and the potential for officer injuries. Phys...

Tech Talk

Tech Talk: Five Key Things to Know About Using AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming procedures and activities across numerous industries, including policing. Various algorithmic processes power AI systems, including machine learning, natur...