Wellness Program Implemented By County Police Department

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — In an effort to improve the overall health of sworn and non-sworn agency members with the Anne Arundel County Police Department and their families, the department has permanently instituted a pilot wellness program that began in October 2020.

The program's five wellness areas, or pillars, are physical health, psychological health, family well-being, financial well-being and spiritual well-being.

The focus of the physical health pillar is personal fitness, nutrition, and stress response, with activities and discussions in these areas. The program offers weekly fitness events such as group workouts, yoga nights and rucks/hikes. Resiliency and mindfulness are emphasized in the psychological health area, incorporating peer support sessions and critical incident debriefings into wellness activities.

Family wellness efforts are geared toward helping officers identify their support systems in their home life and analyze their relationships with friends and neighbors. The spiritual pillar allows officers to explore their own spirituality, reflecting on their purpose in life through meditation, prayer circles and access to departmental chaplains. Employees are coached on ways to live within their financial means with proper budgeting and advice on retirement planning through financial wellness sessions.