Editor’s note: How does your agency measure up when it comes to wellness? Lexipol’s Wellness solutions help agencies deliver anonymous, 24/7 support, enhance peer support team readiness, and build a culture of wellness. Contact Lexipol at 844-312-9500 to learn more or request a demo.
Fort Worth Police Department’s new “We Back the Blue” recruitment video features the city’s top leaders — the chief, city manager and mayor — delivering a united message of support for police officers. In this Wellness Brief, Emily Hitchings and Greg Friese examine what that message means for both current officers and future recruits.
“I think the pendulum is finally coming back,” Hitchings said. “We went through this really rough, turbulent period and I applaud the people that stayed in it … I would love to see more [videos] from across the country and from the chiefs and the mayors themselves.”
Friese asked what “support” should mean from a wellness perspective. Hitchings advised that recruits — and especially lateral transfers — look closely at what departments offer before signing on.
“They should look at agencies to see what their wellness support options are before they sign on the dotted line,” Hitchings said, urging candidates to ask about counseling, peer support, chaplaincy programs and access to “culturally competent clinicians.”
Beyond mental health, Hitchings and Friese pointed to progressive benefits like paid FMLA, internal PT clinics, and even nutrition or sleep counseling.
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"(The video) made me want to sign up again, if I’m honest.”
About The Brief: Wellness Edition
The Brief: Wellness Edition video series explores the wellness implications of current events for public safety professionals. Each episode brings a timely conversation that connects unfolding events to the day-to-day realities of first responders.
