Report Recommendation 6.2

The Saint Paul Police Department is invested in the health of its police officers and civilian employees.

During new officer testing and training, the department works to ensure that officers are capable of meeting and dealing with the physical and psychological stresses of police work. To continue this capability, the department operates a physical training program to maintain the physical and mental conditioning of recently trained and veteran officers.

The department’s physical training program includes an annual in-house fitness assessment to determine each officer’s current physical fitness. Upon completion of their assessment, all Saint Paul police officers are allowed to exercise during their regularly scheduled on-duty time, up to three one-hour sessions per week.

All officers are also required to take a Bruce Protocol Stress Test administered by the program physician, beginning at age 40. These officers are retested at age 45 and then again at age 50. After age 50, the test is administered every two years until age 60, when the test is administered every year. 

Officer wellness is improved by fair and transparent treatment in the Saint Paul Police Department. The department maintains a predictable system that rewards officers for their hard work, sacrifice, and compassion, provides training when appropriate and holds officers accountable when necessary. 

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The Saint Paul Police Department relies on officers as essential partners, stakeholders and subject matter experts to review policies and procedures.

In 2019, an employee workgroup developed a new annual employee evaluation program.  The new program focuses on a fair and objective rating system which includes an employee self evaluation.  This recent evolution serves as an example of how the department embraces employee led innovation when it meets the values of the profession, department and those we serve. 

The Saint Paul Police Department has developed an additional training program specifically for patrol supervisors, focusing on topics beyond the technical requirements of their jobs.  This training focuses on officer wellness by preparing supervisors to recognize and address unhealthy trends or practices, and to practice internal procedural justice for officers. 

The first cohort began in 2017, and the second began in 2018.  When the program is complete, every sergeant will have participated in this advanced training class.  Strong and effective supervision will lead to a healthier workplace and employees and importantly, better outcomes for the department and those we serve.

The Saint Paul Police Department has an obligation to provide a professional standard of law enforcement service to the community. In fulfilling that responsibility, it is essential that department personnel are properly trained. This is true not only for new officers, who must receive basic training before taking on police responsibilities, but also for experienced officers throughout their careers. Training is provided to accommodate department needs, and to support the personal and professional development of its employees.

See sections: “On-the-Job Training”, “Supervision Training” and “Encouragement to further Education”.

The Saint Paul Police Department recently evaluated its deployment model in an effort to better support officers on the job and at home. The department is committed to aligning personnel resources to match the findings of this deployment study.

Prolonged policing assignments can be stressful, and detrimental to an officer’s wellness. Allowing officers a break from chronic stressors while creating balanced skill sets enables officers to better meet the demands of policing, serving the community and preparing tomorrow’s leaders.

The Saint Paul Police Department has developed a comprehensive system for patrol officers and patrol supervisors to communicate their career development plans to the department. Officers’ plans for the future of their own careers will be used to create opportunities, improve job satisfaction and minimize the negative effects of prolonged high stress assignments.

The Saint Paul Police Department operates a full service 24-hour gym staffed by a full-time physical fitness coordinator who can advise employees on nutrition, exercise and wellness programs. 

The Saint Paul Police Department uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) system for all patrol vehicles so that officers can be located in an emergency, when communication has been lost and during calls for assistance. The department will, whenever possible, utilize technology to improve officer safety.

Wellness is not just physical. The Saint Paul Police Department funds and supports a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that is located “off-site” and is designed to actively promote the emotional well-being of all police officers, other employees of the department and their families.

EAP is available to help with short-term counseling for a variety of issues. Typical concerns may include emotional concerns, work-related or personal stress, relationship difficulties and chemical dependence. Employee assistance professionals are available for critical incident debriefings and to help officers and their families following traumatic or critical events. 

The Saint Paul Police Department demands professional conduct from all employees. Beyond professional conduct, members of the department sometimes perform their duties in a manner exceeding the highest standards. When officers serve above and beyond, the department works to commend and recognize those individuals who have brought honor to themselves and the department. 

Officers are safer and better able to provide trusted service with respect when the department has earned the acceptance, understanding and approval of the public. The willing and practiced participation of the public in enforcing the law is essential for the preservation of freedom.

To earn public understanding, trust and participation in order to serve the community, the Saint Paul Police Department strives to provide officers with clear direction about expectations, practices, and procedures. The department holds itself, its officers and all employees accountable to the highest standards; if something isn’t right for our officers or our community, we want to fix it. 

The Saint Paul Police Department believes that our officers and our community deserve policies that allow officers to make the right decisions in difficult circumstances, set high standards and reflect our shared values. As officers are routinely faced with unpredictable and unusual circumstances, it is impossible to provide standing procedures for each situation that could occur. Therefore, the department is continually looking to improve policies to guide officers in the necessary exercise of discretion, and procedures reinforced by training to provide a structurally sound framework for in-the-moment decisions. 

The Saint Paul Police Department understands that police officers will make mistakes. To serve our officers and the public, the Saint Paul Police Department is committed holding ourselves accountable to the highest standards. Identifying areas in which the department can provide enhanced training and clearer direction must always remain a priority.

Not applicable for local law enforcement.