How is Kearney Police Department enhancing wellness for its personnel?

KEARNEY — At the Kearney Police Department, we recognize that mental and physical wellness is essential for first responders.

Due to their exposure to traumatic incidents at much higher rates than the general population, public safety personnel are more susceptible to mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicide.

To proactively address these challenges, the Kearney Police Department has launched a customized, confidential wellness app available to KPD personnel and their families. Powered by Cordico, this app includes a wellness toolkit addressing 60 behavioral health topics, including fatigue, suicide prevention, and alcohol abuse, along with mental health self-assessments, videos, and guides on yoga, mindfulness, nutrition, and more. Additionally, it provides contact information for local therapists experienced in working with first responders and connects users with the KPD Peer Support Team and Police Chaplains.

Personnel and their family members will have confidential, 24/7 access to the app, ensuring they have the resources they need during their most difficult moments, whether on or off duty. Kearney PD will utilize this technology to help personnel build resilience and mitigate the long-term effects of job-related stress.

This initiative was made possible through funding from LB615 from the Nebraska Opioid Recovery fund, aimed at implementing a statewide program to connect law enforcement, fire, dispatch, and corrections officers to behavioral health services, support, and training. Kearney Police joins hundreds of agencies nationwide served by Cordico.

Chief Bryan D. Waugh stated, “As an organization, we are proud to adopt this Wellness App which will serve to strengthen our commitment and priority to the health and wellbeing of our personnel, their families, and the community. We strive to be at the forefront of shaping our profession’s culture regarding mental health and wellness, and leveraging this technology helps us do just that. We look forward to other agencies following suit in Nebraska, thanks to funding from the Nebraska Opioid Recovery fund.”