Washington, DC, May 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and BJA’s VALOR officer safety initiative, awarded its National Officer Safety and Wellness Awards Monday, May 14, 2018 at the Hotel Monaco during National Police Week. These awards are presented as part of the Destination Zero program designed to highlight agency-level achievements in the areas of officer safety and wellness.
The primary objective of the program is to reduce causal factors that injure and kill law enforcement officers, and help officers live safer, happier and healthier lives. .
Destination Zero began in 2014 with a goal to identify agencies conducting unique and innovative programs aimed at reducing risk factors and to share the design and outcomes of these programs with the entire law enforcement community. Agencies with successful programs are asked to submit details of their initiatives to be considered for an award. The information collected through this process is housed at DestinationZero.org and is readily available to anyone who wishes to review content or implement similar programs within their department or agency.
Awards are presented in the following categories:
- General Officer Safety: This category features programs that directly affect officers’ physical safety while performing their jobs.
- Officer Traffic Safety: These initiatives are designed to reduce automobile crashes and limit the risk factors of operating a motor vehicle or managing traffic. Programs that increased seatbelt use, limited distractions or reduced driving speeds are also included in this category.
- Officer Wellness: Fitness programs, mental health programs and initiatives, such as peer support groups and nutrition, are included in this category.
- Comprehensive Safety: Includes programs that demonstrated the most comprehensive approach and were strategically implemented into safety and wellness efforts. Agencies considered for this award had a strong overall program that was successfully marketed and innovative in its approach to gain employee participation.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the Bureau of Justice Assistance are proud to announce the following 2018 Officer Safety and Wellness Award winners:
- General Officer Safety: Texas A&M University Police Department
- Officer Traffic Safety: Placer County (CA) Sheriff’s Office
- Officer Wellness: City of Bend (OR) Police Department
- Comprehensive Safety: Sidney (OH) Police Department
In addition to the four winning agencies, the following finalists are also acknowledged:
- General Officer Safety: Berrien County (MI) Sheriff’s Office, North Richland Hills (TX) Police Department
- Officer Traffic Safety: Missouri Department of Transportation, Washington County (MN) Sheriff’s Office
- Officer Wellness: Osceola County (FL) Sheriff’s Department, Plymouth (MN) Police Department
- Comprehensive Safety: Cedar Park (TX) Police Department, Glendale (AZ) Police Department, Greenfield (WI) Police Department
Following months of review and evaluation of the submitted programs, the award process selected 13 finalist agencies whose programs fell into one of the four officer safety and wellness award categories. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund convened a distinguished panel of judges to evaluate the finalist programs. A seven-member selection committee, representing nearly every type of law enforcement agency, carefully considered each finalist program and selected the award recipients for each of the four categories.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the Bureau of Justice Assistance are grateful to all participating agencies and extend congratulations to the four winning agencies and finalists for 2018. The National Officer Safety and Wellness Awards are presented annually, and agencies are encouraged to submit details about their successful safety and wellness programs at www.DestinationZero.org.
-- ### --
About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of American law enforcement and making it safer for those who serve. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 21,541 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now building the new National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of American law enforcement by providing visitors a “walk in the shoes” experience. The Museum is working to expand and enrich the relationship shared by law enforcement and the community through the Museum’s educational journeys, immersive exhibitions, and insightful programs. For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org.
About the Bureau of Justice Assistance
The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. BJA's mission is to provide leadership and services in criminal justice policy development and grant funding and administration to support local, state, and tribal justice stakeholders to achieve safer communities. BJA supports programs and initiatives in the areas of law enforcement, justice information sharing, countering terrorism, managing offenders, combating violent crime, adjudication, advancing tribal justice, crime prevention, protecting vulnerable populations, and capacity building.
For more information about BJA, visit www.bja.gov. For more information about VALOR, visit www.valorforblue.org.