What the IACP now recognizes

The IACP and the 2023 U.S. Department of Justice Report on Best Practices to Advance Officer Wellness identify exactly the concerns that are raised:

• Officers perceive that seeking mental health care may result in reassignment, removal from duty, firearm restrictions, or termination.
• Those perceptions become barriers to early intervention.
• Agencies should reduce fear, increase confidentiality, clarify when a fitness-for-duty evaluation is actually warranted, and distinguish between temporary stress reactions and genuine occupational incapacity.
• Leadership should explicitly define seeking psychological support as a sign of professional strength rather than weakness.
• Peer support should be protected by clear confidentiality policies and should serve as a bridge to care rather than a gateway to discipline.