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Ad hoc flags training and certification bottlenecks for peer support and critical-incident policy
Summary
Ad hoc members identified a training and procurement bottleneck that prevents 28 prospective peer-support members from serving until trainers are contracted and certified; they discussed criteria for debriefs, documentation, and follow-up supports.
The ad hoc on Wellness and Critical Incident shifted from drafting the strategic plan to detailed questions about peer support and critical-incident follow-up. Participants emphasized clarifying triggers for debriefs, what services are offered or mandatory, documentation requirements and the city’s responsibility for follow-up care.
Members reported there are 28 people awaiting peer-support training; eight of those are already trained in critical-incident response but the remainder cannot serve until they complete certified training. Participants said certification requires contracting qualified trainers via a professional services agreement, creating a procurement hurdle that delays implementation. The ad hoc described this as a significant gap: recruited and vetted peer-support candidates cannot begin duties until training is paid for and scheduled.
Discussion identified practical elements the policy must address: who is required to attend debriefings, whether follow-up with a mental-health professional is mandatory or voluntary, timelines for supervisor check-ins, and possible interim supports (for example, temporarily not assigning individuals to ride alone after an extreme incident). Participants cited dispatchers and crime-scene technicians as groups that may need tailored approaches because of exposure to traumatic material.
The group agreed to list vetted external training resources in an appendix and to assemble contact links and statistics for veteran employees; Commissioner Farmer agreed to share veteran-related resources and existing trifolds for inclusion. Because training capacity and vendor contracting were raised as blockers, participants identified procurement and budget steps as a near-term implementation priority.
Next steps: the ad hoc will include training-procurement constraints in the policy draft, compile a resources appendix, and prioritize allowing newly certified peer-support members to begin work once trainers are contracted.
