NCJ Number
231557
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 79 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2010 Pages: 1-8
Date Published
August 2010
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article describes the basic features of a plan that guides law enforcement agencies in assisting employees who are returning from a military deployment to receive the services they need in order to reacclimate to civilian life and their former profession.
Abstract
As of November 2008, just over 120,000 members of the National Guard and military reserves have been activated to serve in recent war efforts. Public safety professionals compose approximately 10 percent of these reservists. As they come back from combat, their agencies should be prepared to help these officers readjust to civilian life and work. Agencies must have reacclimation measures in place that will benefit the employees, their families, fellow officers, and the community. An effective plan can help achieve this goal. This article describes four important features of such a plan. The plan should create the position of a Military Liaison Officer (MLO), who becomes the major contact for handling the many concerns and inquiries from deployed officers and their families. The MLO manages other features of the plan, which include providing education/training to department personnel on the predeployment and postdeployment process; outreach to deployed employees and their families; and the implementation of a standardized reacclimation process for returning personnel. This article describes how three law enforcement agencies - the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, and the Santa Monica Police Department - have implemented reacclimation plans for returning deployed officers and their families. 23 notes