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Date: 03/27/97 Revision: 01/20/23 Reviewed: 01/11/24 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCED URE Number: GEN 213.02 Page: 1 of 3 SUBJECT: CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT I. PURPOSE : The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to define guidelines regarding Critical Incident Stress Management . II. SCOPE : This procedure shall apply to all Sheriff's Office personnel . * III. DISCUSSION : Sheriff’s Office employees are sometimes in volved in traumatic or highly stressful events and may ex perience so me form of post -incident stress -relate d symptoms. Most employees suffer no long-term ill effects; however, some experien ce continuing or delayed stress -related reactions to those incident s. Without professional intervention, those employees may continue to experience detrimental effects and may show declining work performance, deterioration of family relationships, and/or increased health problems. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is a therapeutic and educational intervention process designed to minimize the impact of c ritical incidents on Sheriff’s Office employees . It involves peer group support during, immediately after, and in the days following a critical incident. The CISM program is designed to complement the agency's existing stress management programs that include stress awareness classes and consultation with a psychological professional. It is available to both sworn and non -sworn employees. IV. DEFINITIONS : * A. CISM Team - A multi -disciplinary team com posed of trained mental health professionals and peer debriefers from various assignments at the Sheriff’s Office . B. Critical Incident - A situation faced by Sheriff’s Office employees that may cause unusually st rong emotional reactions and have the potential to interfere with the ability to function either at an incident scene or at a lat er time. Note: What is a critical incident for one person may not be for another. * C. Debriefing - An organized group discus sion with directly involved Sheriff’s Office employees who have experienced a critical incident. The discussion of the event is designed to mitigate the potential for long -term stressful reactions. Participants talk about their actions, thoughts, and rea ctions to the stressful event. The debriefing is led by the CISM Team. A debriefing is not a critique of agency operations , and performance issues shall not be discussed. D. Defusing - A "mini -debriefing" that is not as detailed, lengthy , or structured as a full debriefing and is performed immediately after a n incident is over. It allows for peer support, information, and ventilation of feelings. In many cases, defusing may eliminate the need for a debriefing. E. Demobilization - Demobiliza tion servic es are used at large scale, lengthy , and highly intense events, such as airpl ane crashes, long -term civil disturbances, natural disasters, etc. GEN 213.02 01/20/23 Page 2 of 3 F. Peers - Volunteers who have been trained to provide support to Sheriff’s Office employees after a critical incident. Volunteers have experienced the same pre ssures and job experiences as those they seek to help. G. Peer -to-Peer Debriefing - An individual debriefing and educational session performed at the incident scene, immediately pursuant to a critical inc ident. The peer -to-peer debriefing allows for imme diate intervention to begin on behalf of the affected personnel. Nothing precludes a peer -to-peer debriefing in the days following a critical incident , should that be necessary. H. Stress Reaction Sympto ms - Physical and emotional symptoms that originate with a specific critical incident may include nightmares, flashbacks, fatigue, nausea, concentration and memory problems, anxiety, depression, intestinal problems, etc. V. PROCEDURE : A. It shall be the policy of the Sheriff's Office to initiate CISM when an incident is identified as a critical stress -related incident. Such incidents include, but are not limited to: 1. Death or serious injury to a Sheriff's Office deputy or employee. 2. Death or serious injury to a citizen resulting from law enforcement or de tention operations. 3. Death or serious injury to an emergency service worker when Sheriff's Office personnel are involved. 4. Any incident that is charged with profound or overwhelming emotion to de puties and employees involved, such as incidents of extreme danger, incidents involving severe injuries or fatalities, incidents that att ract unusually intense media coverage, etc. * B. Supervisors perceiving a need for CISM services shall notify the CISM Team Leader to request team activation. The CISM Team may be contacte d through the Hillsborough County Emergency Dispatch or directly at 813-318-5349 . Any deputy or employee who has difficulty dealing with an incident or is aware of another such employ ee, may request CISM services through a supervisor. C. The CISM Team Leader may arrange a defusing or debriefing, depending on the specific circumstances. 1. If immediate response is needed, the Shift/Bureau Commander shall arrange for the affected emplo yee(s) to meet with the