New Haven, CT (WFSB) — The New Haven Police Department is making significant strides in prioritizing mental health and officer wellness by appointing its first mental health and wellness coordinator.
New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson acknowledged the high levels of stress and trauma that come with police work, citing experiences with deaths, incidents involving young children, and troubled families.
“I’m a 27-year veteran of two police departments. The old way was to shake it off, have a drink. And that doesn’t work, we know that,” Jacobson stated.
To address these challenges, Jacobson collaborated with Lt. Michael Fumiatti to create the new position. Fumiatti, a former district manager and the head of the department’s crisis negotiation and intervention team, will now focus on his fellow officers’ well-being.
“As our numbers of officers diminish, officers are frequently going to more and more traumatic incidents. Are we making sure they’re getting the right resources and help they need to process the really traumatic things they see and experience?” Lt. Fumiatti asked.
In his new role, Fumiatti will monitor the types of incidents officers respond to, facilitate debriefings, offer peer support, provide comfort dogs, bring in speakers, and create opportunities for officers to decompress.
The coordinator position aims to address not only officer wellness but also to leverage community resources to assist those in New Haven struggling with substance abuse, mental health issues, and homelessness.
“The old adage, hurt people hurt people, right? I think about that. Coming to work after a critical incident, not being talked to, being disgruntled, and then going to the next call and yelling at someone when I shouldn’t have—that’s all connected. If we take care of our officers, we give the community a better product, a better service. We’re better for the community,” Jacobson explained.
This initiative also aligns with the police department’s focus on crisis response within the community, supported by their new emergency housing program.
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