Growing demand for officer support leads to major expansion of OKC police Wellness Unit

A unit within the Oklahoma City Police Department is expanding to provide more support to officers on the streets. A building close to downtown police headquarters and the training center is under renovation to fit the department’s needs.

Growing crimes rates and officer burn out keep OCPD’s Wellness Unit officers busy. The unit averages 800 to 900 officers a year seeking mental health help, peer support or other wellness-related services to manage a stressful, life-threatening job.

OCPD’S Wellness Unit has been operating for several years out of a small, 700 square-foot space that offers officers little privacy. The new Cornerstone Wellness Center located in southwest Oklahoma City is a 12,500 square-foot building under renovation.

Every area of the new wellness center is being built with a purpose. From treatment for on-the-job injuries and physical wellness, to private spaces for mental health treatment and quiet areas for relaxation. Officers and their family members will have access to services.

The OKC Police Foundation raised money to make the project a reality. The project does not utilize any city tax dollars.

Department leaders said wellness centers like OKC’s are the future of police departments across the country. Officers and other staff will move into the Cornerstone Wellness Center in August, and the official opening will be held in October.

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