EAP AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT: DO THEY ACTUALLY SERVE AND PROTECT?

Police officers historically suffer from higher rates of suicide, alcohol and substance abuse, relationship troubles, and other physical and mental health issues than the general population. Over the past several decades, law enforcement agencies have turned to employee assistance programs (EAPs) and wellness programs to help their members manage and mitigate the negative effects of stress commonly associated with the profession. But how well do EAPs and wellness programs work for the law enforcement community? To answer this question, this thesis utilized a structured, focused comparative multi-case study. Five police departments from across the United States were examined to determine program relevancy, adequacy of implementation, barriers and enablers, and efficacy. This study found that none of the five departments collects and analyzes data on how many of its members use the services or for what reasons they are seeking services. Without the collection and analysis of data consequently, the departments cannot reliably demonstrate that their EAP and wellness programs benefit department members. It is recommended law enforcement EAP and wellness programs develop and implement a standard method of collecting, analyzing, and sharing data. It is possible to collect data without compromising confidentiality and only once these data are available can EAPs ensure that they are best serving members of the law enforcement community. ; Civilian, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Dept. ; Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.