Policy Text
Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (03/12/2019 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
INSTRUCTIONAL ORDER
Subject: EMPLOYEE SUPPORT SERVICES
Index as:
CARE Team Employee Assistance Program
Chaplain Program, Police Employee Support Services
CISM Team Employee Support Services Review Board
Compassionate Assistance with Respect and Empathy Team Employee Support Services Teams Selection Process
Critical Incident Stress Management ESS
Debriefing Peer Support Team
Defusing Police Chaplain Program
Demobilization Staff Liaison
EAP Stress Reaction Symptoms
Accreditation Standards: 22.1.4, 22.1.5
Cross Reference : II-35, Employee Assistance Program
§39.201, F .S.S.
§90.505, F.S.S. Privilege with respect to communications of clergy
Replaces : I.O. V.5.20, Employee Su pport Services (August 28, 2017 )
This Order consist s of the f ollowing sections:
I. Introduction
II. Employee Support Services (ESS)
III. Police Chaplain Program
I. INTRODUCTION
A. The St. Petersburg Police Department has taken a proactive stance in developing an organizational response to
critical incident stress, treating the likelihood of the incidence of psychological injury with the same concern expressed for
physical safety and physical injury.
B. The Employee Support Service s (ESS) section is a means of equipping members to constructively deal with and
survive the aftermath of a critical incident. The ESS can reduce, and sometimes eliminate, the debilitating effects of critical
incidents and cumulative stress. It can promote positive coping behavior, create a more positive work atmosphere, and
reduce the emotional isolation often experienced after critical incidents.
C. The Police Ch aplain Program has been established within the agency to provide emotional and spiritual support to
its employees and their respective families, and to ass ist the agency with victims and the families of vic tims when deemed
necessary .
D. Employee Support Services is organizationally placed within the Training Division.
DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
April 2016 Immediately V.5:20
Distribution: All Employees
Instructional Order V.5:20
Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (03/12/2019 ) II. EMPLOYEE SUPPORT SERVICES (ESS)
A. Policy
It shall be the policy of the St. Petersburg Police Department to provide employees and their families with the necessary
emotional and psychological support associated with their involvement in a critical incident.
B. Goal
1. The goal of a formalized response to critical incident stress is to provide a confidential, non -evaluative
discussion of the involvement, thoughts, reactions and feelings resulting from the incident. The process has psychological
and educational components and serves to mitigate the stress impact of the incident.
2. While it is not intended to be therapy, ESS will assist employees in understanding and coping with the ir stress
and will accelerate the recovery process in persons experiencing normal emotions after a critical incident.
C. Definitions
1. Compassionate Assistance with Respect and Empathy (CARE) Team – An organized team of volunteers ,
comprised of both sworn and civilian employees , who provide logistical support to employees and their families following
traumatic events, unforeseen occ urrences, and critical incidents. These services include coordinating employee and family
support, connecting service needs , and i nternal and external communication.
2. Critical Incident – An abnormal event which has a stressful impact significant enough to overwhelm the usually
effective coping skills of an individual or a group. Critical incident stress may result any time an employe e faces a situation
which causes strong emotional reactions , which have the potential to interfere with the ability to function during or after the
critical incident.
3. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) – A comprehensive, integrated, systematic and multi -faceted crisis
intervention approach to manage critical incident stress after traumatic events. CISM is a coordinated program of tactics ,
utilized to minimize the reactions to traumatic experiences through the use of defusing, debriefings, and/or de mobilizations.
4. Debriefing – An organized group discussion with police or other emergency service workers 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 reactions to the stressful event. The debriefing is a coordinated
effort between the CISM Team and the EAP Coordinator.
5. Demobilization – A quick informational and rest session applied when operational u nits have been released
from service at a major incident requiring considerable resources. Demobilization services are utilized at large scale, lengt hy
and highly intense events , such as airplane crashes, long -term violent civil disturbances, natural disas ters, etc.
6. Defusing – An informal debriefing performed immediately after an incident has occurred. In many cases, a
defusing may eliminate the need for a debriefing. A defusing is co nducted by members of the CISM T eam.
7. Employee Support Services Review Board – Is comprised of the ESS Team Members .
8. Peer Support – A means to provide individual crisis management. Peer Support is an intervention designed to
mitigate symptoms of stress , whether attributed to a single event or ongoing experiences. Peer Suppor t Team members
may reach out to employees following a traumatic/critical incident or serve as an available resource when voluntarily
contacted by an employee in need.
9. Stress Reaction