Policy Text
Page 1 of 4 11/05 (REV 3/19)
Traumatic Incident Follow-Up
The purpose of this General Order is to establish policies and procedures to be
implemented following potentially traumatic enforcement situati ons.
I. General
A crisis/trauma situation is def ined as any situation potential ly resulting in a negative
post-traumatic stress response. I n practice, traumatic enforce ment actions such as
officer-involved shootings, maj or accidents, or any on-duty ser ious injury, have an
inherent potential for psychological shock to participants and witnesses. Prompt
evaluation and assistance followi ng such an incident serves the best interests of the
involved employee and Departmen t by ensuring the employee has a dequately
recovered before being expos ed to another such incident.
II. Policy
A. Officers directly involved in injury shootings shall be plac ed on
administrative leave following the incident. The officer shall participate in
a post-incident debriefing sessi on with a profe ssional counselo r selected
and paid for by this Department bef ore being returned to duty.
B. In the interest of employees’ welfare, officers directly inv olved in an injury
shooting incident shall partici pate in an additional post-inci dent debriefing
session with a professional c ounselor selected and paid for by this
Department six (6) months afte r the initial session. The addi tional session
will be scheduled with the couns elor, and officers will be not ified when to
attend. Officers scheduled to attend a second debriefing sess ion during
on-duty time will not be requir ed to utilize accumulated leave balance time.
Attendance during other than on-dut y time will be compensated in a
manner consistent with estab lished policy, as applicable.
C. Officers involved in any other crisis/trauma situation may b e placed on
administrative leave as above, but will, in any case, be direct ed to
participate in a post-incident debriefing session as soon as po ssible
following the incident.
D. Non-sworn employees directly involved in a crisis/trauma sit uation may
participate in a post-inciden t debriefing session with a prof essional
counselor selected and paid fo r by this Department before ret urned to
duty.
Page 2 of 4 11/05 (REV 3/19)
III. Procedures A. Division commanders shall i dentify any crisis/trauma incide nt and take the
following actions: 1. Place officers involved in injury shootings on administrat ive leave
a s appropriate.
2. Schedule and verify attendance of officers at the post-cri sis/trauma
c ounseling session. Complete reque st for post-crisis/trauma
c ounseling (Appendix A) and obtain doctors’ names from the
E m p l o y e e R e l a t i o n s Officer.
3. Provide a recommendation to the service area Chief Deputy
r egarding need for administrative time off, advisability of a
t e m p o r a r y m o d i f i e d d u t y a s s i g n m e n t, and/or additional counseling
a s s i s t a n c e . 4. Advise the County Safety O fficer and Employee Relations Of ficer.
B. The service area Chief Deput y concerned shall determine app ropriate
action which may include: retur n to duty, administrative lea ve, directed
psychological counseling, modified duty, or fitness for duty examination.
Appendices: Appendix A
Page 3 of 4 11/05 (REV 3/19)
COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO
Inter-Department Correspondence
D a t e :
To: Employee Relations Officer
From: Subject: REQUEST FOR POST-CRISIS/TRAUMA COUNSELING
The following named personnel have recently been involved in a traumatic incident.
The personnel have been directed to participate in a post-crisi s/trauma counseling.
Pursuant to General Order 11/05, you are hereby being advised.
Name(s): ______ ____________________
_______________ ___________
_______________ ___________
_______________ ___________
Incident: Date: ______ ______________
Type: ____________________
Report #: ____________________
SCOTT R. JONES
Sheriff
Page 4 of 4 11/05 (REV 3/19)
Appendix A