WILMINGTON — The Wilmington Police Department is preparing to launch an officer health and wellness program thanks to a $30,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation.
Several recent studies and surveys have found that police officers suffer from depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder at significantly higher rates that the general population, and that police officers attempt to take their own lives at several times the rate of the general population.
Law enforcement can be a stressful and physically taxing career. Responding to emergencies, experiencing trauma, and working irregular hours can all take a toll on the mental health of officers, while interacting with combative individuals can cause physical injury.
Wilmington Police will now join a growing number of law enforcement agencies nationwide that have implemented programs to support the health and wellness of those who go out of their way to protect others.
The Cummings Foundation, based in Woburn, is providing a $30,000 grant to support the program’s creation. The Cummings Foundation is already providing Wilmington Police with a $300,000, 10-year grant that funds community programs such as National Night Out, Wilmington Police Explorers, and the RAD Women’s Self-Defense Program.
The new grant came about as a result of conversations about challenges in law enforcement. Recently, Cummings Foundation volunteers Cynthia Markey and Will McElhiney met with Chief Brian Pupa and Lt. Matthew Stavro to review use of community program grant funds. The conversations that resulted led the volunteers to recommend that The Cummings Foundation provide an additional grant to establish a health and wellness program.
“Our officers are out in the community every day helping others through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. To continue serving at the highest level, it is critically important that we also prioritize their own health and wellness,” said Chief Pupa. “We are truly grateful to the Cummings Foundation for their continued partnership, and for helping us build a wellness program that will support the physical and mental well-being of the men and women of the Wilmington Police Department for years to come.”
“Studies show that while the average person encounters 2 to 4 traumatic events in a lifetime, police officers experience between 400 to 800 traumatic events over the course of a career. The cumulative effects of that trauma are very real and can have a lasting impact on officers and their families,” said Lt. Stavro. “I am proud to be part of a department that is committed to addressing officer wellness head-on, and ensuring our officers have the support and resources they need. We are extremely grateful to the Cummings Foundation for recognizing the importance of this issue and for their continued investment in the Wilmington Police Department and our community.”
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