2022-12-13 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Police Commission Special Meeting Minutes December 13, 2022 Page 22 physical fitness test or something to that effect to stimulate some ideas for physical readiness. Mental wellness for our officers and all department personnel is very important and it's something she would definitely look into. Commissioner Sur asked if there is a requirement for you guys to keep in good shape. Sherry Bird stated they do not have an established physical fitness test that they have to take every year. They have to go to the county physician and make sure that they meet physical conditions in that respect. As far as a physical fitness test they have to take outside of getting hired by the police department going through recruit class, no. ➢ Benjamin Moszkowicz stated under his administration he would create a wellness unit, which could be staffed by civilians, on a contract basis. It's important that we establish a wellness unit whose focus solely is on health and wellness; mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally of department employees and their family members. He has seen signs of depression and anxiety in department members and family members of department employees for the last 20 years. The department has gotten a lot better at identifying and providing supervisors with training. This isn't a one-size-fits- all, magic bullet fix, it doesn't exist. There's such a wide path and a variety of situations and conditions. In addition to expanding peer support and finding more volunteer chaplains and using technology, he thinks developing a wellness unit that is specifically responsible for that helps it not slide off someone's priority list. He further shared that the Honolulu Police Department has a marriage and family counselor who works for the department. That thought process of finding other resources that are out there, bringing them in, and having them be department funded. Commissioner Toci asked if officers have they been dinged for seeking therapy or counseling. Benjamin Moszkowicz stated no, but there are certain lines, and if they are crossed where an employee tells the therapist that they are imminently going to hurt themselves or someone else then there are red flags of professional care standards that have to happen. For people who seek counseling from the counselor who don't cross that line, there's no record. She encourages you to use a fake name when you go to her. It's built to keep the employer out of the business of the employees, but at the same providing employees with a resource that they need for help, direction, and treatment. One of the things that he learned from attending the FBI academy recently is that there is a whole variety of physical fitness standards and requirements that are out there. He thinks the time has come for this and all departments in the state to establish some sort of standard. It's going to require