Commissioner Johnson questions employee support utilization after officer Rose's incident

In a recent DeKalb County ERPS Committee meeting, discussions centered around the utilization of employee support services following a tragic incident involving Officer Rose. Commissioner Johnson raised concerns about whether there had been an increase in the promotion of these services in light of the event, questioning if employees were taking advantage of the available resources.

The committee addressed these concerns by inviting the employee occupational compliance manager to provide insights. It was noted that while individual tracking of service utilization is confidential, the overall case numbers can indicate trends in employee engagement with the support services. The manager confirmed that there has been a steady increase in utilization over the years, with cases rising from 39 to 49 in the current year.

This uptick in service usage suggests that employees may be increasingly seeking help, particularly after traumatic events. The committee plans to monitor these numbers closely, with expectations of further insights in the next quarterly report. This ongoing evaluation highlights the county's commitment to supporting its employees' mental health and well-being, especially in the wake of distressing incidents.

As the committee continues to track these developments, the focus remains on ensuring that employees feel supported and have access to the necessary resources during challenging times.