Preparing for the Unimaginable

How chiefs can safeguard officer mental health before and after mass casualty events

How to Read This Guide

This guide was written for law enforcement executives but with two different types of readers in mind. You may be interested because you want to build resiliency in your agency and prepare for a mass casualty event. In that case, you will have some time to read carefully and make a plan to ensure officer mental wellness is a priority. Alternatively, you may be reading this guide because a mass casualty event has occurred and you need guidance. You do not have time for in-depth discussion—you need to know what other chiefs recommend, and you need to know it fast.

“Where you are on this timeline, as an individual and as an agency, determines what information you need. “

To assist both types of readers, this guide offers nuanced explanations and narratives as well as quick facts, tip sheets, and summaries. We hope you can quickly find what you need via the detailed table of contents and the keyword index.

Trauma experts distinguish between the before, during, and after of a traumatic event. Where you are on this timeline, as an individual and as an agency, determines what information you need. That’s why this guide is structured like a timeline.