City Council Meeting Date: May 21, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Mark Elliott, Police Chief
Title
Request for Police Department Budget Amendment of $18,200 for police wellness program.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council amend the 2024 police budget to use Public Safety Aid funds to cover the cost of the Sigma Wellness program.
Summary Report:
The Northfield Police Department has adjusted operations over the past 5 years in order to align with the recommendations of several well-respected research reports that focused on modern police reform strategies to ensure trust and legitimacy in operations and policy. Among the resources relied upon are the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing report (2015) and the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice (2020). In both of these reports, as well as several others, wellness of police officers are priority concerns. Police Chief Mark Elliott frequently uses the phrase "Well officers take care of the community well." This statement means officers that are in good physical and mental condition, are better equipped to manage the stress and demands on the officer to handle calls according to law, policy and community expectations.
The Northfield Police Department has embraced officer wellness in the strategy, policy, operations, and planning functions. Mental health check ins annually, as well as therapeutic support, peer support officers, critical incident debriefs, a fitness center, the city supported wellness program with wellness activities and wellness dollars for physical fitness activities such as gym memberships, classes, and fitness gear, all help officers stay well.
The request before you is to add cardiac screening and support of risk reduction through nutrition and exercise coaching through Sigma Wellness. Police officers have a shorter lifespan than the general public as supported by multiple studies. Cardiac e...
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