EVERETT, OCT. 21: The Everett Police Department is a recipient of the Gesa Credit Union’s Local Heroes Grant, which will support intensive resilience training to promote the mental health of officers and staff within the department.
Gesa’s Local Heroes Grant Program offers funding that assists organizations across the Pacific Northwest, including firefighters, healthcare workers and law enforcement.
In a report from the Department of Justice on Best Practices to Address Law Enforcement Officer Wellness, wellness initiatives, such as those funded by the Local Heroes Grant, improve officers’ use of force decision-making and overall cognitive performance under pressure, Everett Police said in a press release.
This year, 52 organizations were awarded through the program, totaling more than $500,000 in funding.
Everett Police, alongside Lake Forest Park, Spokane County, Tacoma and Whitman County received the Law Enforcement Grant.
“We are grateful for the partnership with Gesa to give our officers and staff better tools to care for their emotional and mental health,” Cassie Christopher, wellness coordinator with the Everett Police, said. “The ripple effect of this investment is widespread, not only for the men and women who directly benefit from a greater capacity for self-care, but also the families and communities that interact with better regulated officers, that have a greater capacity for empathy and connection.”
Based on a press release from Everett Police Department.