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Police chief outlines second phase of department wellness campaign including peer support and confidential counseling
Summary
Chief Mike Federico described a multi-part employee wellness program for the Port Hueneme Police Department: creation of a peer-support team, a confidential counseling contract with a national provider, on-site stress debriefs, a small station gym funded in part by state grant money, and a schedule of monthly wellness campaigns.
Chief Mike Federico presented the second phase of the Port Hueneme Police Department’s wellness initiative at the Jan. 6 council meeting, describing a mix of personnel programs, counseling services and facility improvements intended to address operational stress and officer well-being.
Federico said the department has added a formal peer-support team chosen by employees and staffed by two long-tenured supervisors who were selected by their peers. The chief said the team was trained and has already been used during difficult incidents in the past year. Federico also said the department contracted Counseling Team International (TCI), a national counseling provider, to provide confidential counseling and on-site critical stress debriefs after traumatic incidents.
“People, if we want compassionate, respectful police employees on the streets, we have to make sure that we treat everything they see and do,” Chief Federico said. He described confidentiality protections for peer support and counseling and noted a change in California law that provides limited confidentiality for peer-support communications, while acknowledging statutory exceptions where criminal activity would override confidentiality.
Federico outlined practical, day-to-day changes intended to reduce stress: staffing adjustments to avoid overburdening dispatch personnel, on-site debriefing availability, supervisor-management consultation services, mindfulness and breathing trainings, mobility and ergonomics training, and a new small gym in the police station funded in part by state grants. He said the department had added equipment — a wall-mounted fitness system and a treadmill with a television — and would run fitness and nutrition campaigns and optional team challenges.
Council members asked how many officers had used peer support. Federico said the department maintains confidentiality and would not provide exact participation numbers, but confirmed the program has already been used and was benefiting employees.
Federico also noted the department’s chaplain program remains a resource and that the peer-support program complements existing services. He said confidential counseling services are available to employees and immediate family members and can be accessed through the peer-support team or directly with TCI.
Council members expressed support for the program, asked about next phases and about limits of confidentiality, and Mayor Pro Tem Lopez and others thanked staff for prioritizing mental health. No formal action or voting was required for this presentation; Chief Federico said the next steps are monthly wellness campaigns and additional training and programming scheduled throughout the year.
