Pasadena Police Expand Mental Health Support for Officers

The Pasadena Police Department will present details of its comprehensive wellness program to the Community Police Oversight Commission Thursday evening, highlighting expanded mental health resources and trauma response services for officers and staff.

The department’s Employee Wellness Unit operates as a dedicated division focused on addressing the physical and mental health needs of all personnel through what officials describe as a holistic approach to officer wellbeing.

Central to the program is the Trauma Response Unified Support Team, known as T.R.U.S.T., which provides immediate crisis intervention following critical incidents. The integrated team includes peer support members, chaplains and mental health professionals who respond to traumatic events affecting officers or community members.

The department’s Peer Support Team has grown to 12 trained members who are nominated by their colleagues and specialize in providing emotional support and managing critical incident stress. The program also includes an expanded Chaplain Program that recruits spiritual advisors from various denominations who receive POST-certified training.

Training initiatives within the wellness program cover emotional survival, trauma-informed care, suicide prevention, mindfulness and procedural justice. The department partners with psychological service providers and maintains an Employee Assistance Program to support personnel.

Physical wellness remains a priority through fitness challenges and partnerships with local health businesses, including collaborations with yoga and mindfulness centers to help employees maintain healthy lifestyles.

The department’s Family Wellness Fair has experienced significant growth in participation, serving to integrate wellness philosophy into the lives of both sworn and non-sworn employees’ families. The event features wellness vendors and family-friendly activities designed to support community engagement.

The Wellness Unit currently employs a full-time sworn sergeant, a sworn officer with dual duties and a part-time civilian staff member. The team operates under the Community Relations Section and works alongside collateral assignments including peer support personnel and police chaplains.

The presentation will be part of the oversight commission’s regular meeting at \City Hall, where commissioners review departmental programs and policies as part of their community oversight responsibilities.

The wellness program reflects what officials characterize as a multi-disciplinary approach emphasizing prevention, support and community engagement alongside traditional law enforcement functions.