Examples of ways Great Barrington demonstrates Officer Wellness and Safety
- The GBPD has created a Wellness Program for officers and other members of the department.
- The Wellness Program also offers an opportunity for staff to meet with a mental health professional at no charge for a private assessment/checkup.
- Nutrition advice is provided to officers through the Wellness Program.
- Officers are trained each year on current defensive tactics standards and procedures, as well as officer safety.
- Officers are required to wear body armor and wear seat belts.
- Each squad car is equipped with a “go bag” that has extra medical supplies in case of a critical incident.
- Each officer is required to carry QuikClot and a tourniquet on their person. Officers are trained annually on the use of tourniquets.
- The GBPD has developed a Wellness Program Policy that outlines the opportunities and resources made available to participating employees.
- All new officers receive training on wellness/fitness and suicide prevention and all officers receive various forms of training for wellness/fitness and suicide prevention on an annual basis per the Wellness Program Policy.
- The Chief of Police and Exec. Admin. Assistant have attended OSHA training.
- Information regarding COVID-19 has been issued, updated and made available to all staff.
- The GBPD has a comfort dog that can be used as support for the officers.
