By Heather Collins
The proposed 2019 budget for the City of Carmel includes a $25,000 increase for mental and physical health services for the Carmel Police Dept. In 2018, CPD only budgeted $5,000 for those services.
CPD spokesperson Lt. Joe Bickel said Chief Jim Barlow has made the health and wellness of the officers a priority.
“He’s been very involved with these types of new programs and ideas to make the department more healthy, not only physically, but also mentally,” Bickel said.
The funds will help provide the department with an on-staff mental health consultant, launch the department’s Professional Growth and Wellness Program and provide psychological counseling and additional assistance.
“There’s a variety of things officers go through that normal people don’t. With these types of extra stresses, we felt like the officers need another avenue for assistance,” Bickel said.
Bickel said extra stresses included responding to calls with injured children, critical injury auto accidents and incidents and interviewing rape and molestation victims.
“When a police officer stops a car or responds to a call, they have to go from zero to 100 in an instant at any given time,” he said.
Police officers are 35 times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease and have an average lifespan of 20 years less than a civilian, Bickel said, adding that post-traumatic stress disorder is rampant in the profession.
“(Policing) affects the spirit, soul, mind and emotions at any given time,” he said. “While we try to be strong and Teflon-proof, everyone has emotions and caring thoughts inside of them.”
Bickel said the additional support is welcomed by the officers and that they appreciate the opportunity to seek additional help if needed.
Officers can also earn an additional $800 to $900 a year through physical fitness incentives. The fitness evaluations will follow the standards sets by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
