Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW
3 01/24/2011 12/01/2021
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
______ _______________________________
1011 - Peer Support and Assistance Program 1 POLICY 1011 PEER SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
1011.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The Tustin Police Department recognizes the value of providing an “in house” resource for
employees and their family members to support them in managing both professional and
perso nal crisis. The purpose of this directive is to establish policy related to an in -house Peer
Support and Assistance Program and implementation of a Peer Support Team for Department
employees and their families.
The Peer Support Team may be utilized to s upport other City Departments and personnel and
should work in cooperation with peer support teams of other agencies and/or City Departments in
multi -agency and/or multi -department incidents. The Peer Support Team may also be utilized to
support the commun ity in situations of critical incidents, such as school shootings, natural
disasters, etc.
1011.1.1 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This section pertains to the following CALEA Standards: 22.1.4, 2 2.1.7 , 22.2.3, 22.2.4, 22.2.6 ,
35.1.9
1011.2 DEFINITION
The Peer Support Program is a program that offers assistance and appropriate support resources
to employees when personal or professional problems negatively affect their work performance,
family unit or self. This communication is confidential, providing it does not violate any law or
Department regulation. This program is designed to:
a) Provide emotional support during and after times of personal or professional crisis to other
employees who need assistance ;
b) Promote trust, allow anonymity, and preserve confid entiality for persons using Peer
Support within the guidelines of the program ;
c) Develop members who can identify personal conflicts and provide guidance or referral to
professional/alternate resources as required ;
d) Maintain an effective peer support training and response program ;
e) Check on status of illnesses and IOD’s and provide support where desired and needed .
1011.3 MISSION STATEMENT
The role of the Tustin Police Department Peer Support Team is to be available to listen, support,
refer, and assist empl oyees and family members during professional or personal, stressful , or
difficult periods in their life.
1011. 4 ACCESSING PEER SUPPORT
The Peer Support Team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all employees. There are
Peer Support Team brochu res available at several locations in the police building, including
briefing, report writing, and the Records Unit with team member contact information included .
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW
3 01/24/2011 12/01/2021
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
______ _______________________________
1011 - Peer Support and Assistance Program 2
1011. 5 POLICY
The Peer Support Team is intended to be a resource available to the Depart ment in the event of
a critical incident or crisis situation. Peer Support personnel will be available to:
a) Listen to another employee’s feelings after a critical incident or crisis situation ;
b) Conduct or assist supervisors in diffusing critical incidents ;
c) Respond to an employee’s request for peer support or assistance ;
d) Conduct Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) debriefings ;
e) Provide information on other resources available, i.e., Employee Assistance Program
(MHN), Alcoholics Anonymous, credit support , etc. ;
f) Provide Peer Support information to new employees ;
g) Coordinate the new employee orientation / family orientation .
Personnel who may possibly be involved in conducting any criminal prosecution or administrative
discipline shall avoid any conflict of interest.
Peer Support personnel shall also be available for support and assistance on any other incident
at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
In addition, Peer Support personnel may be utilized to support the community in critical incident
situa tions. Examples would be school shootings, natural disasters, etc.
1011. 5.1 CRITICAL INCIDENTS
Critical incidents that require a Peer Support response shall include, but are not limited to:
a) All shootings where a suspect is injured or killed ;
b) Where an e mployee witnesses another employee’s death or serious injury ;
c) Where an employee is taken hostage ;
d) Where an employee is witness to a suicide ;
e) Where an employee is witness to a violent death or serious injury ;
f) Infant/child death ;
g) Where an employee is a witne ss or a participant to an incident involving multiple deaths ;
h) Any incident that is likely to affect the employee’s ability to interact with the public and
carry out their job functions ;
i) Any other incident deemed appropriate by the Watch Commander .
1011. 5.2 DEBRIEFING/DEFUSING
Debriefings and defusing will be conducted by supervisors as soon as practical after a critical
incident . Debriefings should occur within 24 -72 hours after the critical incident and will be
conducted by CISM qualified personnel. Atte ndance at debriefings shall be mandatory for all
employees involved in the critical incident.
A defusing immediately follows the critical event and generally lasts no longer than one hour. It
gives all parties involved in the incident the “ big picture” o f what occurred. It gives involved
personnel a reminder about exercise, what foods to eat, to drink plenty of water and to know their