The safety and wellness of police officers are critical components of a properly functioning agency. While historically undervalued due to perceived cultural norms, insufficient resources, or lack of awareness, the profession continues to make an important shift toward prioritizing comprehensive officer health.
The complexity of these issues necessitates innovative and far-reaching strategies at multiple levels. My home state of Colorado is contributing to this dialog through a number of initiatives.
A number of Colorado police agencies began early assessments of officers’ fitness and nutrition to address preventable cardiac and metabolic disease, which had impacted members longevity and quality of life. In addition, the Colorado legislature funded behavioral health resources to help agencies provide counseling and mental health wellness checks.
