A program designed to assist law enforcement agencies with health and safety initiatives is calling for submissions to its awards program.
Destination Zero, which launched in 2014 as a partnership between the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, has begun its fourth year of soliciting submissions for the National Officer Safety and Wellness Awards.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide are encouraged to submit their safety and wellness programs for an award. Destination Zero shares information about successful programs and initiatives at its website in an effort to improve officer health and wellness.
Four categories are available for consideration, including:
General Officer Safety – This category focuses on the physical safety of officers by providing them with enhanced equipment, lifesaving first aid gear or training to improve the safety of officers as they handle crime scenes or large incidents.
Officer Traffic Safety – This category is seeking programs that specifically address driving safety and training to reduce crashes, such as an increased use of seatbelts and prudent driving strategies. These programs often include marketing and outreach efforts that remind officers of the necessity to use caution and wear their seatbelts, according to Destination Zero.
Officer Wellness – This category encompasses a range of strategies that improve the physical and mental health of officers to support them and their families better as they perform physically- and emotionally-demanding jobs. Submissions in this category are initiatives that promote fitness, resilience and overall well-being.
Comprehensive Safety – This classification is for agencies that have an overarching safety strategy, which improves safety and wellness at every level. The departments submitting programs in this category should have tactical safety improvements, a driving safety component and programs that support fitness, mental health and create an overall culture of safety within the organization.
The deadline for submissions to be considered for a 2018 National Officer Safety and Wellness Award is Dec. 31, 2017.
Interested agencies or departments can submit online by visiting, and selecting the “Submit Your Program” button at the top right hand corner of the home page, or by contacting Shelly Marc at [email protected] or 202-737-3400.