b'means so much when we are in aso much for all your assistance; it isby extension, to the communities we confusing and difficult environment. much appreciated. serve. A combination of a dedicated InteractionswiththecommunityDespitethelargenumberofpandemicsupportteam,including are the very nature of effective poli- memberswhowererequiredtotheonboardingofspecialized cing. Circumventing these interactionsself-isolateduetoexposureormultidisciplinaryprofessionalssuch with the communities we serve is notpositiveCOVID-19tests,anearlyasoccupationalhealthandsafety possible, despite lockdowns, stay-at- equalnumberofmemberswerespecialists,health-careworkersand home orders and other public healthclearedtoreturntoworkwithoutallied staff, and the commitment of recommendations and guidelines. ToanyrestrictionsbythePandemictheServicesleadershiptosupport this end, the positivity and exposureSupport team. This translates into anand invest in member wellbeing, has rates of Toronto Police Service mem- avoidance of 42.9% of lost time dueenabled the Pandemic Support Unit bers have mirrored the trends of theto immediate and proactive case andtosuccessfullyattenuateabsentee-community.Theinherentriskandcontactmanagement.Thisprovedism rates by approximately 43%. As impactofabsenteeismhavedriventobeahighlyeffectiveapproachaPandemicSupportteammember theteamsvigilanceinsupportingwhen compared to sole reliance onnoted,Beingtrainedinashort members and seeking to triage andthe available resources of local publicamountoftimeandbeingableto proactivelycasemanageillnesshealthagencies,whowerealreadygive quick, sound advice and direc-and exposure. resource-stretched by supporting thetion to members in the ever changing public. Importantly, this is not to saytimes throughout the pandemic was Theservicedevelopedkeypart- thatanyguidelineswereignored.and is very challenging. Having the nerships with the Toronto ParamedicRather, it is to acknowledge that, atnurses,doctorsandallthefellow Services and the Toronto Fire Servicestimes, members did not fit the isola- teammembersworkingtogether, toestablishadedicatedtestingtion criteria established by the localday in and day out, has proved to be centre for first responders. The goalpublic health department. not only educational but rewarding. I of these partnerships was to ensureThePandemicSupportteamhave spoken with hundreds of mem-thatthesecriticalpublicsafetyfollowed up with each member whobers over the last year-and-a-half of resourceswerereadilyavailabletofailed the daily COVID-19 self-screen- being with the unit, and [I have] met the citizens of Toronto in the event ofing tool to determine the nature ofsome amazing people that I have had an emergency. Additionally, throughtheirexposure,isolation,sympto- thepleasureofworkingwithfrom increasedandswifttestingoffirstmology,andrecoverytimelines.day to day. The time I have [spent], responders,therewasadecreasedThispracticeofdirectcontactwithandcontinuetospendaspartof risk of COVID-19 transmission withinmembers offered an additional layertheWellnessTeam,willbetimes theServiceand,byextension,of supportive care, health education,Ineverforgetwhilebeingpartof through interactions with the urbanand resource sharing, as well as anthe Service.and heavily populated community. earlier resolution to promote a safeTheapproachtakenbythe Thetestingcentreadministeredreturntowork.AsonememberofToronto Police Service unequivocally thousands of tests for first respond- the pandemic team explained, It iscontinues to reduce the financial and ersintheCityofTorontoandwasa beneficial and effective program ashumanresourceburdenthatwould acriticalpieceofthePandemicourmixofhealthcareprofessionalshaveotherwisecausedareduction Supportinfrastructureformembers.and peer members provides empa- inthenumberofmembersavail-This enabled quick and more accuratethetic guidance, which caters to theable to work, increasing the risk to contacttracingandmemberisola- specificneedsofeachandeverypublic safety.tions. Through this dedicated testingone of our members. Whether it is facility, we were able to better under- asimplequestionaboutneeding stand how the virus was spreadingtoisolate,orofferingsupporttoaIvy Nanayakkara is the Manager/ throughoutthecommunityandthemember who may become criticallyUnit Commander of the Torontoservice. Armed with this knowledge,ill, our team is prepared and willingPolice Services Wellness Unit.thePandemicSupportteamwasto help each member every step ofShe can be reached atable to pivot a number of times andthe way. ivy.nanayakkara@torontopolice.on.carespond accordingly to the constantlyThisprogramhasdemonstrated changing landscape of public healthsignificant value in supporting mem-measuresandrequirements.Asbers, returning members to work in*Special mention to PC Joe Mate andoneUnitCommanderconveyed,Ia safe way and as early as possible,othermembersofthePandemic appreciate you all so much for yourreducingboththetransmissionofSupport Team for their contributions helpduringouroutbreak.ThanksCOVID-19 within the workplace and,to this article.22 H.Q. Summer 2022'