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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCITIZEN REVIEW BOARD - MINUTES - 12/11/2024CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD (CiRB) REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 5:30 PM 222 Laporte Ave, Colorado River Room Regular Meeting This information is available in Spanish or other languages at no cost to a person who would like this information translated or communicated in Spanish, or another language. Please call (970)416-4254 or titlesix@fcgov.com to make a request for information in other languages. Esta información está disponible en español u otro idioma, sin costo para la persona que le gustaria esta información traducida o comunicada en español u otro idioma. Favor llame al (970)416-4254 o a titlesix@fcgov.com para solicitor información en otros idiomas. Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. TTY: please use 711 to call (970)221-6753. 1. CALL TO ORDER a. Called to order at 5:31 by Shamera Loose 2. ROLL CALL a. Board Members Present: Mike O’Malley, Elizabeth Grant, Shamera Loose, Amy Hoeven, Veronica Olivas, Michael Ruttenberg, Melissa Rosas b. Staff Present: Lieutenant Jeremy Yonce, Assistant City Attorney Sara Arfmann, Jessica Jones 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION a. Public Input – 5 minutes per individual 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. November 13, 2024: Michael Ruttenberg moved to approve, which was seconded by Elizabeth Grant. Motion passed. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Voicemail: None b. E-mail: None c. Training: FCPS Staff Psychologist Robert Seals, Ph.D. CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD (CiRB) REGULAR MEETING Dr. Seals gave an overview of the Employee Mental Health Program at FCPS, along with the history of the program. Historically, only larger agencies had police staff psychologists, but as time progresses, medium and even small agencies have access. Dan Dworkin was the pilot of the Stress Awareness Management Program. Board Member Question: Is it true that officers can often spend more time with their partners than their families, and that at times, the intimacy that develops can be mistaken for something else? That can be true. They do spend a lot of time with their coworkers, and there is also additional pressures added that other industries do not experience, such as extra scrutiny, and experiencing life-or-death situations. A critical incident is an event that is potentially significantly impactful to an individual due to it being outside the norm of typical experiences. Officers witness an average of 188 critical incidents per year. They are at a higher risk for developing depression, PTSD, substance abuse problems, and experience higher rates of divorce and suicide. Board Member Question: Are there any diagnosis or medications that impact an officer’s ability to have a job or carry a weapon? Yes. Bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, etc. When it comes to neurotic diseases, like depression or anxiety, a diagnosis itself isn’t necessarily a disqualifier, if it isn’t impacting them currently. Methodologies have changed over the years. Initially, the idea was to just screen out anyone with a mental illness, but over time, that process have evolved, as that is not comprehensive enough. Prior to having a staff psychologies, police officers would often be sent to their local EAP, who may have had no experience in counseling police officers. The stigma over of mental illness occurs in two ways: through public/social culture and through self-perceived, self stigma. These days, law enforcement embeds police psychologists into staff’s daily lives, because there often isn’t time outside of work to consistently treat issues. Board Member Question: What about the cultural aspects of young people who experience violence from school shootings and then come in as police officer recruits? Different generations feel differently, but there is less stigma among young people, though there are also different types of trauma and violence. 100 years ago, soldiers had often seen death before going to war. By the 1970’s, this was no longer true; however, kids today are trained on simulated violence through video games. Board Member Question: Is the MMPI still used? They have two measuring tools that they use, which are similar to the MMPI. It is CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD (CiRB) REGULAR MEETING important to use caution with these tools and remember that it only provides one data point. Additional points of data are included in the interview, which cover background records and any hospitalizations. Board Member Question: Do you see only the officer or also the family of the officer? Yes, FCPS staff psychologists see both. It is important to be cautious in terms of therapy relationships, to ensure there is no impact to the officer’s therapy, but sometimes it is essential. Board Member Question: If you see an officer that is unfit for duty, do you have to report it? This requirement is limited to whether the staff psychologist believes that there is eminent danger to self or others; otherwise, they work under the same strict privacy laws that other psychologists do. Board Member Question: Is there anything in the disclosure statement that says you would have to report a violation of policy? No. The military does include that in their disclosure statement, but law enforcement does not, because they want to encourage officers to seek therapy, rather than inhibit them. Board Member Question: Do you do group therapy? Yes, the officers are allowed to participate in group therapy. There are a few groups outside of FCPS that facilitate it. Preventing the buildup of stress or intervening early is essential. Staff psychologists get into classrooms, in-service trainings, shift briefings, etc. Pre-exposure preparation involves training before the incident occurs. Board Member Question: Do you know the percentage of clients that are officers versus those that are dispatchers? No, FCPS does not have statistics with that information, but all employees receive the same 10 hours of initial training, and have access to services afterwards. Board Member Question: Looking at DORs, for female officers, does sexual harassment occur? There have been issues historically about being blacklisted in the industry for reporting it. It does happen, but it is more subtle and less extreme cases. There are specific issues that come up for women officers as opposed to men, however. CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD (CiRB) REGULAR MEETING FCPS has been doing Wellness Checks since 2019, which is a voluntary, incentivized program; officers can receive awards twice a year. They use questions that use positive psychology, like asking about how one’s family is doing and what are goals to set for the upcoming year. The information is informative, because it helps the staff psychologist build relationships and get an idea of who needs help. Board Member Question: Do you meet in person or on Zoom? They have either option. Giving options helps get people in who otherwise wouldn’t come. About 60% of the agency makes use of mental health resources in FCPS. Peer Support Groups are governed by C.R.S. 16-2.5-403 and 13-90-107, along with FCPS Policy 817. Colorado has high training requirements to become P.O.S.T. certified. Board Member Question: Are peer support groups made up of other employees, or are they outside third parties? Yes, they are other employees, and they must be authorized by the Chief. Officers are also able to participate in peer support for other law enforcement agencies, with the approval of both chiefs. Board Member Question: Are you familiar with 911 Awareness Training? Yes, they run a peer support group and there is value in being able to talk to someone outside of FCPS as well. The purpose of peer support groups is to provide a place where people can come talk about their issues. The goal is to create privacy for the officers. FCPS has about 26 members in its peer support group and it has both proactive and reactive elements. Preparing for critical incidents to be able to appropriately respond is crucial. A Critical Incident Debriefing is a forum to explore reactions to the incident, present techniques/resources for managing stress, etc. Board Member Question: Have you ever heard of technology that uses virtual reality that use s both mind and body for therapy? Yes, it can be used to work with trauma, and already is used in the military. In the right setting, it is a valuable tool. Board Member Question: In an officer-involved shooting, when would the staff psychologist speak to the officer? That circumstance is very structured. The staff psychologist would speak to them CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD (CiRB) REGULAR MEETING immediately, and then again, after they have made their formal statements. Board Member Question: What kind of engagement do you have with officers’ loved ones? Limited, but it is offered. Different families want different things and have different levels of engagement with the mental health resources that FCPS provides. Board Member Question: Can officers still see the staff psychologist after they leave or retire? Yes, the staff psychologist still sees people who are no longer employed by FCPS. It isn’t the psychologist’s role to talk an officer into going or staying but to provide support and hear them out. Board Member Question: What about officers getting support for critical incidents that occur when they are off-duty? That can be different, because it doesn’t have to be a trauma that occurs during your shift for it to impact you. FCPS makes sure that officers have support for whatever they need. Board Member Question: Are paramedics allowed to attend Critical Incident Debriefings? Yes. Anyone who was involved, so that could include police officers, paramedics, even the coroner. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Approval of Minutes for PSU2024-031: Melissa Rosas moved to approve, which was seconded by Elizabeth Grant. Motion passed. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS a. Elizabeth Grant did a ride-along with Lieutenant Martinez and attended an accountability session with him. It was a quiet night, but she had the opportunity to go to the hospital and work with another officer to respond to a DUI case. b. Veronica Olivas has applied to attend the LCSO academy. CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD (CiRB) REGULAR MEETING 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Board members can reach out to Jeremy to schedule tours of FCPS facilities if they are interested. b. The next training can include an introduction to the assistant chiefs; this can take place in either January or February, depending on scheduling. 10. ADJOURNMENT a. Mike O’Malley moved to adjourn, which was seconded by Elizabeth Grant. Motion approved and meeting adjourned at 7:26 PM. Approved by a vote of the board on 01/08/2025