b'F E A T U R ESupporting Members during COVID-19 Best Practices of the Toronto Police Service Wellness UnitBy Ivy Nanayakkara, Toronto Police ServiceWellness UnitS ince2020,COVID-19hasway that best suited the needs andproviding support and guidance during impactedmanyaspectsdemandsoftheirparticularcircum- the crisis. ofourdailylives.Duringstances.TheTorontoPoliceServiceFrom March 2020 to March 2022, thistime,tremendoususedacollaborativeandproactivethe team fielded more than 90,000 pressureshavebeenapproachofcontinuousdesign,queriesfromtheapproximately placed on police services. Membersimplementation and improvement to8,000 members of the Toronto Police of the Toronto Police Service Wellnessrespond to the localized pressure of Unit recognized the impact that thisthe pandemic. Serviceseekingsupport,guidance, unprecedentedglobalhealthcrisisand information related to the COVID-wouldhaveonourmembersand,TheTorontoPoliceService19pandemic.Theresponsefrom in anticipation, sought to find waysWellnessUnit,inpartnershipwithmembershasbeenverypositive, tosupportourmembersandthetheEmergencyManagement&andthisteamregularlyreceives servicescommitmenttopublicPublic Order Unit, set up a dedicatedsentimentsofgratitudefortheir safety.Thepandemicbroughtansub-unit called Pandemic Support,attentionanddedicatedsupport increased risk of absenteeism and anwhichwasresponsibleforrunningduring a very stressful and precarious additional strain on critical resources.apeer-based24/7hotlineandatime. Service members have recog-Thesefactors,combinedwithever- fulloccupationalnursingcaseandnizedthePandemicSupportteam changingpublichealthmeasurescontacttracingprogram.ThroughasanextensionoftheChiefand fromalllevelsofgovernment,the reallocation of personnel and theCommands investment in support for necessitated the rollout of a proactivedevelopmentofaspecializedteamthe health, safety, and wellbeing of pandemicsupportsystemfortomanageCOVID-19operationalservice members.the service. issues, the newly formed Pandemic Supportsub-unitwasabletofocusAs one member expressed, Thank Emergencyserviceshavetheonasinglespecifictask,positivelyyou for being such an amazing point benefitofextensiveexperienceincontributing to the health and safetyof contact for me when my family and rapid and concise incident manage- of our members.I were off with COVID over Christmas. ment and response. However, thereThePandemicSupportteamisYour quick wit, humour and willing-waslittleexperienceinreplicatingresponsibleforfieldingcallsfromness to go above and beyond to get aresponsetotheunprecedentedmembersandsupervisors.Theyme back to my division during such a COVID-19pandemic.ThislackofsupportmembersduringCOVID-19busy time have been greatly appre-knowledgeplacedallemergencyexposure,isolation,illness,testing,ciated. Thank you so much for being servicesinaprecariousposition.returntoworkandvaccinations.such an awesome human being and Due to illness and isolation of staff,They provide guidance for navigatingfor helping me out. Another member they were vulnerable to a disruptionpublic health measures and infectionreported,PandemicSupporthas in business continuity and potentialpreventionandcontrol.Theteamsbeen a key information source for me risks to service delivery. primaryresponsibilityistobeaand my team during all the changing Eachindividualpoliceservicedirectlineofcommunicationforpublichealthguidelines.Thestaff soughttomitigatethisriskinaTorontoPoliceServicemembers,are always helpful and kind, whichThe Official Publication of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police21'