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Sheriff’s office outlines wellness program for deputies, cites 60% engagement and early cost savings
Summary
Stanislaus County Sheriff and wellness coordinator Susie Powell Roos described a multi‑pronged deputy wellness program — covering physical fitness, peer support and on‑site services — reporting roughly 60% participation and preliminary reductions in days‑away and first‑aid markers; board invited future updates and an Arizona State University study.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office presented an update on a grant‑supported deputy wellness program that officials said addresses both physical and mental health needs of law enforcement staff.
Sheriff Jeff (surname in transcript) told the board the program began about seven years ago and expanded through grant funding to hire a coordinator, Susie Powell Roos. ‘‘That being said, as the program grew, it became a bit more disjointed…we needed someone to coordinate this program and thankfully, through a grant, we were able to select someone and that someone is Susie Powell Roos,’’ the sheriff said.
Susie Powell Roos described the program’s mix of offerings: on‑site gyms and refurbished training facilities, peer‑support counseling, clinician services, meal‑prep options at fixed posts, subsidized local fitness drops, soft‑tissue therapy through York Orthopedic, and incentives for passing physical tests. She said engagement across program offerings — from gym usage to wellness challenges and peer support — is ‘‘roughly over 60%,’’ and preliminary administrative measures show cost savings in days‑away from work and first‑aid metrics. Susie added the program will participate in a brain‑mapping study with Arizona State University to assess treatment approaches for repeated traumatic exposure.
The presentation included stark context about officer health: Roos cited national comparisons and said life‑expectancy among law enforcement professionals can range from the mid‑50s to mid‑60s in some studies and noted higher rates of cardiovascular disease and suicide risk in the profession. She told the board, ‘‘So why do we need a deputy wellness program? Well, in some cases, their lives depend on it.’’
Board members asked about the participation metric and whether the 60% figure covered mental‑health as well as physical offerings; Roos said the figure spans all program services. Supervisors encouraged follow‑up reporting; Roos offered to return with updated outcomes when additional data are available.
No vote or budget appropriation was required; the program is funded largely through the identified grant and reimbursable sources, and supervisors directed staff to return with future program results.
