UC Santa Cruz Police Department Policies related to this pillar:

341: Standards of Conduct

708: Personal Protective Equipment

1008:Anti-Retaliation

1012: Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace

1014: Sick Leave

1016: Communicable Diseases

1018: Smoking and Tobacco Use

1032: Fitness for Duty

1042: On-Duty Injuries

1059: Illness and Injury Prevention

6.1 RECOMMENDATION: The U.S. Department of Justice should enhance and further promote its multifaceted officer safety and wellness initiative. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this U.S. Department of Justice recommendation item. 

6.1.1 ACTION ITEM: Congress should establish and fund a national “Blue Alert” warning system. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this Federal Government action item and is included within UCSCPD Policy 335.  The California Highway Patrol manages California’s Blue Alert system.  The U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) unit is integrating statewide systems into one nationwide Blue Alert system. 

6.1.2 ACTION ITEM: The U.S. Department of Justice, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, should establish a task force to study mental health issues unique to officers and recommend tailored treatments. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommendation item.

6.1.3 ACTION ITEM: The Federal Government should support the continuing research into the efficacy of an annual mental health check for officers, as well as fitness, resilience, and nutrition. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this Federal Government action item.

6.1.4. ACTION ITEM: Pension plans should recognize fitness for duty examinations as definitive evidence of valid duty or non-duty related disability. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  We use Fitness for Duty Examinations when there is a qualifying event. We work with the University of California Human Resources and Worker’s Compensation Units to review applications and events.  

6.1.5 ACTION ITEM: Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) should be provided to survivors of officers killed while working, regardless of whether the officer used safety equipment (seatbelt or anti-ballistic vest) or if officer death was the result of suicide attributed to a current diagnosis of duty-related mental illness, including but not limited to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  In October 2019, State of California Governor Newsom approved post-traumatic stress as a presumptive, on-duty related injury and disability for first responders.

6.2 RECOMMENDATION: Law Enforcement agencies should promote safety and wellness at every level of the organization.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this recommendation item. Our officers are sworn to protect life, are trained in first aid, stop the bleed and tactical medicine, carry Narcan, individual First Aid/Trauma  Kits, and Automated External Defibrillators either on their person or in the vehicles.

We offer several programs to promote officer wellness through physical, social, and mental health support.  The UC Santa Cruz Police Department partners with law enforcement Police Chaplains and psychologists to provide our members with assistance.  UC Wellness program assists members when applicable. Our department engages with Environmental Health and Safety (WHS), Workers Compensation, and peer support to provide officer wellness programs. Our policies reinforce other protective practices.

6.2.1. ACTION ITEM: Though the Federal Government can support many of the programs and best practices identified by the U.S. Department of Justice initiative described in recommendation 6.1, ultimate responsibility lies with each department.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this Federal Government action item. We have accepted our responsibility as listed in the officer safety and wellness programs mentioned in 6.1 and 6.2.

6.3 RECOMMENDATION: The U.S. Department of Justice should encourage and assist departments in the implementation of scientifically supported shift lengths by law enforcement.

 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this U.S. Department of Justice recommendation item. Our department will review any suggestions and scientifically supported studies regarding shift lengths for law enforcement officers and discuss with our members through the various associations and bargaining units.

6.3.1 ACTION ITEM: The U.S. Department of Justice should fund additional research into the efficacy of limiting the total number of hours an officer should work within a 24–48 hour period, including special findings on the maximum number of hours an officer should work in a high risk or high stress environment (e.g., public demonstrations or emergency situations). 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this U.S. Department of Justice action item. Our department welcomes additional research into the efficacy of limiting the total number of hours an officer should work within a 24–48 hour period, including notable findings on the maximum number of hours an officer should work in a high risk or high-stress environment (e.g., public demonstrations or emergency situations). We have policies and procedures outlining the maximum number of hours an officer can work. 

6.4 RECOMMENDATION: Every Law Enforcement officer should be provided with individual tactical first aid kits and training as well as anti‐ballistic vests.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this recommendation item.  We participate in the DOJ Vest program that purchases a bullet-proof vest for each officer hired. UC Santa Cruz Police Department Policy 1024 outlines officer requirements and responsibilities related to their ballistic vest.

6.4.1 ACTION ITEM: Congress should authorize funding for the distribution of law enforcement individual tactical first-aid kits.

 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this action item.  Our officers are sworn to protect life, are trained in first aid, stop the bleed and tactical medicine, carry NARCAN®, individual First Aid/Trauma  Kits, and Automated External Defibrillators either on their person or in the vehicles.

6.4.2 ACTION ITEM: Congress should reauthorize and expand the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BPV) program.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this Federal Government item.  We participate in the DOJ Vest program that purchases a bullet-proof vest for each officer hired.

6.5 RECOMMENDATION: The U.S. Department of Justice should expand efforts to collect and analyze data not only on officer deaths but also on injuries and “near misses.” 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this U.S. Department of Justice recommendation item.

6.6 RECOMMENDATION: Law Enforcement agencies should adopt policies that require officers to wear seat belts and bullet‐proof vests and provide training to raise awareness of the consequences of failure to do so.

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this recommendation item.  Our policy 1022 requires officers to wear seatbelts and bullet‐proof vests.  We provide information, training, and resources regarding the Below 100 Program to support awareness of the consequences of failing to wear seat belts and bullet-proof vests. Policy 1024 outlines officer requirements and responsibilities related to their ballistic vest

6.7 RECOMMENDATION: Congress should develop and enact peer review error management legislation. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this Federal Government recommendation item.

6.8 RECOMMENDATION: The U.S. Department of Transportation should provide technical assistance opportunities for departments to explore the use of vehicles equipped with vehicle collision prevention “smart car” technology that will reduce the number of accidents. 

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department supports this U.S. Department of Transportation recommendation item.