DOCSLIB.ORG

Utilization and Impact of Peer-Support Programs on Police Officers' Mental

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2020 Utilization and Impact of Peer-Support Programs on Police Officers’ Mental Health Beth A. Milliard Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, and the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Beth Milliard has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Gregory Koehle, Committee Chairperson, Criminal Justice Faculty Dr. Sean Grier, Committee Member, Criminal Justice Faculty Dr. Dianne Williams, University Reviewer, Criminal Justice Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2020 Abstract Utilization and Impact of Peer-Support Programs on Police Officers’ Mental Health by Beth Milliard MA, University of Guelph, 2010 BA, University of Windsor, 1995 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Criminal Justice/Law and Public Policy Walden University February 2020 Abstract Police officer suicides rates hit an all-time high in the province of Ontario, Canada, in 2018. Sadly, this statistic is somewhat unsurprising, as research has shown that police officers suffer from higher rates of mental health disorder diagnoses compared the general public. One key reason for the elevated levels of suicide and other mental health issues among police officers is the stigma associated with seeking help. In an attempt to address these serious issues, Ontario’s police services have begun to create internal peer- support programs as a way of supporting their members. The present research explores the experiences of police officers serving as peer-support team members, particularly with regards to the impacts of peer support. In addition, this research also examines the importance of discussing shared experiences regarding a lack of provincial standards with credible peers. The Policy Feedback Theory posits that, when a policy becomes established and resources are devoted to programs, it helps structure current activity and provides advantages for some groups. This study utilized a phenomenological, qualitative approach, with data collection consisting of face-to-face interviews with 9 police officers serving on the York Regional Police’s peer-support team. The findings revealed that peer support is more than just a “conversation”; rather, it is instrumental in enhancing mental health literacy among police officers, and it significantly contributes to stigma reduction. The findings also revealed that internal policy demonstrated an organizational commitment to mental health and peer-support programs, and that a provincial standard is necessary to ensure best practices and risk management in the creation and maintenance of peer-support programs. Utilization and Impact of Peer Support Programs on Police Officers’ Mental Health by Beth Milliard MA, University of Guelph, 2010 BA, University of Windsor, 1995 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Criminal Justice/Law and Public Policy Walden University February 2020 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to the spouses and children of police officers who are often forgotten and, in some cases, are the “first responders” to those who put their lives on the line every day to help others. Thank you for your understanding and empathy, and for loving us for who we are. Acknowledgments I would like to thank Dr. Koehle and Dr. Grier for their support and ongoing commitment to helping me successfully complete my PhD. I also want to thank the members of the York Regional Peer-Support Team who volunteered to participate in my research. Your experiences and dedication to helping others is truly astonishing, and I am honoured to have known each of you. Thank you to Chief Jolliffe, who not only allowed me the opportunity to conduct research with the York Regional Police, but who also believed in me when I came to him in 2012 with the idea of creating a unit dedicated to the psychological wellness of all members. Lastly, I would like to thank my family for making this dissertation possible, especially my father, Rick Markoff (who is a retired police officer) and my mother, Georgia Markoff (who always tells me if a door closes, a window opens). I’d also like to express my thanks to my children, Benjamin and Madison, who learned the importance of education, patience, and understanding while was I spending countless week-ends and evenings doing homework. And, most importantly, I am eternally grateful to my husband Matt, who is also a police officer and my muse. Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................3 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................4 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................5 Research Questions ........................................................................................................6 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................6 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................7 Definitions......................................................................................................................7 Assumptions ...................................................................................................................9 Scope and Delimitations ................................................................................................9 Limitations ...................................................................................................................10 Significance..................................................................................................................10 Summary ......................................................................................................................11 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................12 Introduction ..................................................................................................................12 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................15 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................17 Types of Stress Faced by Police Officers ....................................................................19 Operational Stress ................................................................................................. 21 i Organizational Stress ............................................................................................ 21 Personal Stress ...................................................................................................... 22 Additional Effects of Police Stress ..............................................................................23 Compassion Fatigue .............................................................................................. 24 Burnout ................................................................................................................. 25 Moral Injury .......................................................................................................... 26 Police Culture and Mental Health ................................................................................30 Stigma 31 Value of Peer Support ..................................................................................................33 NYPD Peer-Support Program: POPPA (Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance Program) ......................................................................... 35 New Jersey Police Department: COP2COP ......................................................... 36 Peel Regional Police, Ontario, Canada: Peer-Support Program ........................... 36 Durham Regional Police Service, Oshawa, Ontario: PILLAR Program .............. 37 York Regional Police, Ontario, Canada: Peer-Support Program .......................... 37 Peer Support Providers ......................................................................................... 40 Family Support.....................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Ontario Provincial Police Discipline Hearing

    Ontario Provincial Police Discipline Hearing

    ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE DISCIPLINE HEARING IN THE MATTER OF ONTARIO REGULATION 268/10 MADE UNDER THE POLICE SERVICES ACT, RSO 1990, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO; AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE AND PROVINCIAL CONSTABLE DAVID DIONNE, #13490 AND MR. STEVEN DICK CHARGES: NEGLECT OF DUTY, DISCREDITABLE CONDUCT, DECEIT __________________________________________________ DECISION WITH REASONS __________________________________________________ Before: Superintendent Robin D. McElary-Downer Ontario Provincial Police Appearances: Counsel for the Prosecution: Ms. Lynn Donnelly Legal Services Branch, MCSCS and MAG Counsel for the Defence: Mr. James Girvin Ontario Provincial Police Association Counsel for the Public Complainant: Mr. Robert Houston BurkeRobertson LLP Barristers and Solicitors Hearing Dates: May 24 – 26, 2016 This decision is parsed into four parts: PART I: OVERVIEW; PART II: THE HEARING; PART III: ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS; and, PART IV: DECISION. PART I: OVERVIEW Allegation of Misconduct Provincial Constable David Dionne, (PC DIONNE), #13490, being a member of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), faces three counts of misconduct, namely, neglect of duty, discreditable conduct and deceit, contrary to sections 2(1)(c)(i), 2(1)(a)(xi) and 2(1)(d)(ii), respectively, of the Code of Conduct contained in the Schedule to Ontario Regulation 268/10, as amended. The edited particulars of the allegations are: Count 1: Neglect of Duty It is alleged PC DIONNE, without lawful excuse, neglected or omitted to promptly and diligently perform a duty as a member of the OPP. On or about September 1, 2014, while on-duty, he was dispatched to attend a 911 call at a private residence: • He failed to attend the residence during his shift.
  • Information Report to Council Report Number 17-302

    Information Report to Council Report Number 17-302

    City of Kingston Information Report to Council Report Number 17-302 To: Mayor and Members of Council From: Lanie Hurdle, Commissioner, Community Services Resource Staff: Paige Agnew, Director, Planning, Building & Licensing Services Date of Meeting: November 7, 2017 Subject: Nuisance Party By-Law Executive Summary: The purpose of this Information Report is to provide an overview of the concept of a Nuisance Party By-Law as a local enforcement tool, to identify best practices from other Ontario municipalities, and to outline next steps for the development and implementation of the by-law in Kingston. In Ontario, a number of municipalities have enacted nuisance party by-laws to provide Police and By-Law Enforcement with the ability, under one City-wide by-law, to address the negative impacts on neighbourhoods of behaviours associated with large social gatherings. By exercising the authority provided under a nuisance party by-law, an Order can be issued by Police for a large social gathering/party to cease, and for the dispersal of people not residing at a residence where the social gathering is occurring. By-laws of this nature have been demonstrated to serve as an additional tool for local enforcement, bridging the gap between existing by-laws and charges under the Criminal Code. The regulatory purpose of this concept is to create a duty upon those hosting a social event or party to control the participants, and to give law enforcement personnel a mechanism to control and disperse people where the event has become a public nuisance. Nuisance party by-laws can therefore provide additional enforcement options beyond those available under existing by-laws and statutes.
  • Parks Canada

    Parks Canada

    ARCHIVED - Archiving Content ARCHIVÉE - Contenu archivé Archived Content Contenu archivé Information identified as archived is provided for L’information dont il est indiqué qu’elle est archivée reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It est fournie à des fins de référence, de recherche is not subject to the Government of Canada Web ou de tenue de documents. Elle n’est pas Standards and has not been altered or updated assujettie aux normes Web du gouvernement du since it was archived. Please contact us to request Canada et elle n’a pas été modifiée ou mise à jour a format other than those available. depuis son archivage. Pour obtenir cette information dans un autre format, veuillez communiquer avec nous. This document is archival in nature and is intended Le présent document a une valeur archivistique et for those who wish to consult archival documents fait partie des documents d’archives rendus made available from the collection of Public Safety disponibles par Sécurité publique Canada à ceux Canada. qui souhaitent consulter ces documents issus de sa collection. Some of these documents are available in only one official language. Translation, to be provided Certains de ces documents ne sont disponibles by Public Safety Canada, is available upon que dans une langue officielle. Sécurité publique request. Canada fournira une traduction sur demande. A Guide to Competency-Based Management in Police Services Built by policing for policing This initiative was funded by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program Ottawa, March, 2013 Police Sector Council Page 1 of 69 Letter from the Steering Committee Dear Colleagues, The benefits of managing human resources using a competency- based management (CBM) approach are now undisputed.
  • Issues Surrounding the Regionalization of Police Services

    Issues Surrounding the Regionalization of Police Services

    ARCHIVED - Archiving Content ARCHIVÉE - Contenu archivé Archived Content Contenu archivé Information identified as archived is provided for L’information dont il est indiqué qu’elle est archivée reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It est fournie à des fins de référence, de recherche is not subject to the Government of Canada Web ou de tenue de documents. Elle n’est pas Standards and has not been altered or updated assujettie aux normes Web du gouvernement du since it was archived. Please contact us to request Canada et elle n’a pas été modifiée ou mise à jour a format other than those available. depuis son archivage. Pour obtenir cette information dans un autre format, veuillez communiquer avec nous. This document is archival in nature and is intended Le présent document a une valeur archivistique et for those who wish to consult archival documents fait partie des documents d’archives rendus made available from the collection of Public Safety disponibles par Sécurité publique Canada à ceux Canada. qui souhaitent consulter ces documents issus de sa collection. Some of these documents are available in only one official language. Translation, to be provided Certains de ces documents ne sont disponibles by Public Safety Canada, is available upon que dans une langue officielle. Sécurité publique request. Canada fournira une traduction sur demande. Options for Service Delivery in the Greater Vancouver Region: A Discussion Paper of the Issues Surrounding the Regionalization of Police Services Prepared by the Planning, Research and
  • This Link Opens in a New Tabaccessible PDF of The

    This Link Opens in a New Tabaccessible PDF of The

    In the LINE OF DUTY Investigation into how the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services have addressed operational stress injuries affecting police offcers Ombudsman Report • André Marin, Ombudsman of Ontario • October 2012 Director Special Ombudsman Response Team (SORT) Gareth Jones Lead Investigator Adam Orfanakos Investigators Ciaran Buggle Domonie Pierre Rosie Dear Elizabeth Weston Grace Chau Mary Jane Fenton William Cutbush Emily Wong Early Resolution Offcers Ronan O’Leary Maggie DiDomizio Leanne Salel Senior Counsel Laura Pettigrew Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/OntarioOmbudsman Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/Ont_Ombudsman Watch us on YouTube: youtube.com/OntarioOmbudsman Ombudsman Report Investigation into how the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services have addressed operational stress injuries affecting police officers “In the Line of Duty” André Marin Ombudsman of Ontario October 2012 Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................... 6 Investigative Process ................................................................................. 10 From Shell Shock to Operational Stress Injury ........................................... 12 The OPP Casualty List: Operational Stress Injury Sufferers ........................ 15 Officer Albert ...................................................................................... 15 Officer Beatrice ..................................................................................
  • Selected Police-Reported Crime and Calls for Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March 2020 to March 2021 Released at 8:30 A.M

    Selected Police-Reported Crime and Calls for Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March 2020 to March 2021 Released at 8:30 A.M

    Selected police-reported crime and calls for service during the COVID-19 pandemic, March 2020 to March 2021 Released at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time in The Daily, Tuesday, May 18, 2021 Police-reported data on selected types of crimes and calls for service during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to March 2021 are now available. Note to readers The Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics is conducting a special survey collection from a sample of police services across Canada to measure the impact of COVID-19 on selected types of crimes and on calls for service. Data will continue to be collected monthly until December 2021 and to be reported regularly. This is the fifth release of this special data collection by Statistics Canada. Previously published data may have been revised. For this reference period, 19 police services provided data on a voluntary basis. These police services are the Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, Kennebecasis Regional Police Force, London Police Service, Montréal Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Ottawa Police Service, Regina Police Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Saskatoon Police Service, Sûreté du Québec, Toronto Police Service, Vancouver Police Department, Victoria Police Department, Waterloo Regional Police Service, Winnipeg Police Service, and York Regional Police. Police services that responded to this survey serve more than two-thirds (71%) of the Canadian population. Although the Edmonton Police Service, Montréal Police Service, RCMP, Sûreté du Québec and Winnipeg Police Service were unable to provide data on calls for service, the police services that did provide these data serve one-third (32%) of the Canadian population.
  • Amalgamation of Police Services

    Amalgamation of Police Services

    Amalgamation of Police Services by John Kiedrowski, Ronald-Frans Melchers, Michael Petrunik, Rick Ruddell RESEARCH REPORT: 2015–R027 RESEARCH DIVISION www.publicsafety.gc.ca Abstract Police amalgamation (also referred to as regionalization, consolidation, or merger) has been a focus for administrators of police service delivery since the early 1950s when various provincial governments began to promote the amalgamation of services in adjacent municipal governments in the interests of cost-effectiveness and efficiency. The major justification for police amalgamation has been that significant cost savings would result through achieving economies of scale. While several studies show that economies of scale can be achieved in some contexts, other research suggests diseconomies of scale may also occur depending on the context and the size of police services being amalgamated. Police expenditure and crime rate data were collected for nine police services across Canada to help understand the impact of police amalgamation on the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery. Our review found no significant differences in cost-effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery among those police services that had undergone amalgamation and those continuing to operate independently. Several potential implications of police amalgamation for the FNPP are identified and discussed in the context of the legal framework for First Nations policing, Aboriginal governance and funding issues, and the rural and remote locations of many Aboriginal communities. Author’s Note The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Public Safety Canada. Correspondence concerning this report should be addressed to: Research Division, Public Safety Canada, 340 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0P8; email: PS.CSCCBResearch- [email protected].
  • Iacp New Members

    Iacp New Members

    44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 200 | Alexandria, VA 22314, USA | 703.836.6767 or 1.800.THEIACP | www.theIACP.org IACP NEW MEMBERS New member applications are published pursuant to the provisions of the IACP Constitution. If any active member in good standing objects to an applicant, written notice of the objection must be submitted to the Executive Director within 60 days of publication. The full membership listing can be found in the online member directory under the Participate tab of the IACP website. Associate members are indicated with an asterisk (*). All other listings are active members. Published July 1, 2021. Australia Australian Capital Territory Canberra *Sanders, Katrina, Chief Medical Officer, Australian Federal Police New South Wales Parramatta Walton, Mark S, Assistant Commissioner, New South Wales Police Force Victoria Melbourne *Harman, Brett, Inspector, Victoria Police Force Canada Alberta Edmonton *Cardinal, Jocelyn, Corporal Peer to Peer Coordinator, Royal Canadian Mounted Police *Formstone, Michelle, IT Manager/Business Technology Transformation, Edmonton Police Service *Hagen, Deanna, Constable, Royal Canadian Mounted Police *Seyler, Clair, Corporate Communications, Edmonton Police Service Lac La Biche *Young, Aaron, Law Enforcement Training Instructor, Lac La Biche Enforcement Services British Columbia Delta *Bentley, Steven, Constable, Delta Police Department Nelson Fisher, Donovan, Chief Constable, Nelson Police Department New Westminster *Wlodyka, Art, Constable, New Westminster Police Department Surrey *Cassidy,
  • 2020 Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report

    2020 Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report

    Toronto Police Service 2020 Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report Intelligence Services, Hate Crime Unit Intelligence Services, Hate Crime Unit remains dedicated to the achievement of its complementary objectives: the prevention and thorough investigation of hate motivated offences and the pro-active education of others to enable them to recognize and combat hate. Our goal is to encourage mutual acceptance amongst communities and to safeguard the freedoms, safety and dignity of all persons as guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Toronto Police Service – Hate Crime Unit Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report 2020 Executive Summary The Toronto Police Service Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report is an annual report that provides statistical data about criminal offences that are committed against persons or property which are motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate based on the victim’s race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex/gender, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender orientation or expression, or on any other similar factor, within the City of Toronto. The report explains the mandate of the Toronto Police Service Hate Crime Unit and the methodology that is used by the Hate Crime Unit to collect the statistical data. The data is based on hate crimes that were reported to the Toronto Police Service between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. The report also provides an overview of the training and education that was provided to the Toronto Police Service’s police officers with respect to hate crimes in 2020, as well as the various community outreach initiatives that were undertaken by the Hate Crime Unit and other units within the Toronto Police Service.
  • Award Recipients

    Award Recipients

    ONTARIO LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN AWARD RECIPIENTS SPECIAL OLYMPICS ONTARIO HALL OF FAME The Special Olympics Ontario Hall of Fame was instituted to recognize builders and volunteer fundraisers who through their individual and collaborative efforts, have made Special Olympics Ontario a more capable and better known service to people with an intelectual disability, and a more deeply cherished cause in our province. Those whom are recognized have made remarkable contributions to the welfare of our athletes, inspired by the ideals that animate the work of Special Olympics in Ontario and throughout Canada. 2019 2008 Julie Tilbury, Thunder Bay Police Service Jim McIlveen, Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre 2018 Karen Moloney, Durham Regional Police Carrie Gouthro, Correctional Services Canada Service (Guelph Parole) 2007 2017 Chief Terry McLaren, Peterborough Lakefield Chief Al Frederick, Windsor Police Service Police Service 2016 2006 Kevin MacBean, Peel Regional Police Moe (Maurice) Pilon, Deputy Commissioner OPP 2015 Warren Giertuga, Thunder Bay Correctional 2005 Centre Chief Paul Hamelin, Halton Regional Police Service 2014 Shirley Roy, SO Volunteer Timmins Tammy Blackwell, Truck Convoy for Special Olympics 2004 Mark McGugan, London Police Service Chief Ean Algar, Halton Regional Police Service Larry Maracle, Niagara Regional Police Service 2013 Catherine Heaney, Peel Regional Police 2003 Chief Thomas Kaye, Owen Sound Police 2012 Service Chris Hartley, Owen Sound Police Service Mike McAllister, Niagara Regional Police
  • Police and Crime Rates in Canada a Comparison of Resources and Outcomes

    Police and Crime Rates in Canada a Comparison of Resources and Outcomes

    Police and Crime Rates in Canada A Comparison of Resources and Outcomes Livio Di Matteo | September 2014 fraserinstitute.org Contents Summary / iii Introduction / 1 Overview / 3 The Determinants of Crime and Police Resources / 7 The Data / 11 Analysis / 14 Estimating the Efficiency of Police Resources in Major Canadian CMAs / 26 Conclusion / 36 Appendix 1: Regression variables / 38 Appendix 2: Population weighted regression results / 39 Data Key / 40 References / 46 About the Author / 53 Acknowledgments / 53 Publishing Information / 54 Supporting the Fraser Institute / 55 Purpose, Funding, and Independence / 56 About the Fraser Institute / 57 Editorial Advisory Board / 58 fraserinstitute.org / i fraserinstitute.org Summary There is rising policy concern in Canada over growing policing costs given that crime rates have fallen dramatically in recent years. Between 2001 and 2012, police officers per 100,000 of population in Canada rose 8.7% while the crime rate declined by 26.3%. This was accompanied by growing expenditures and a decline in work- load as measured by criminal code incidents per officer. Real per capita police expenditures in Canada between 1986 and 2012 rose 45.5% while criminal code incidents per officer declined by 36.8%. Public debate on rising police costs must be considered in the context of increasing overall public spending in Canada and a more complex society. Policing has evolved beyond just dealing with crime and includes a wider range of problem social behaviours, which are factors in police resource and expenditure growth. As well, there are changes in the technology of both crime and poli- cing as well as other factors affecting staffing such as operational load due to service demand and response time, socio-economic factors such as demo- graphics and crime trends, and strategic directions of police forces in terms of governance and policing methods.
  • Northampton County Regional Police Study Hellertown Borough and Lower Saucon Township | March 2012

    Northampton County Regional Police Study Hellertown Borough and Lower Saucon Township | March 2012

    Northampton County Regional Police Study Hellertown Borough and Lower Saucon Township | March 2012 Governor's Center for Local Government Services Joseph L. Kirschner, Police Peer-to-Peer Consultant > ready > set > succeed Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community newPA.com Tom Corbett, Governor & Economic Development www.pa.gov C. Alan Walker, Secretary Regional Police Study # P-8-11 TABLE OF CONTENTS Subject Page Introduction 1 Consolidated Police Services 2 Advantages of Regional Police Services 4 Disadvantages of Regional Police Services 7 General Demographics 9 Regional Map 10 Chart 1 – Current Demographics of the Municipalities 11 Crime Statistics & Data 12 Projected Police Staffing and Service Needs 14 Chart 2 – Proposed Police Department Staffing Levels 17 Proposed Organization of the Police Department 18 Proposed Number of Police Vehicles 19 Chart 3 – Proposed Staffing Levels by Municipality 20 Chart 4 – Pennsylvania Regional Police Department Comparison 21 Proposed 2012 Operating Budget 22 Chart 5 – Proposed 2012 Operating Budget Breakdown per Category 25 Chart 6 – Proposed 2012 Operating Budget 26 Chart 7 – Proposed Cost Distribution 28 Alternate Cost Distribution Methods 30 Cost Comparison Summary 31 Chart 8 – Housing Unit Cost Comparison 31 Conclusions and Recommendations 32 Chart 9 – Regional Police Department Proposed Organizational Chart 35 Regional Police Implementation Flow Chart 36 Shared Municipal Services Grant Program 37 Regional Police Assistance Grant Program 37 Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Program 38 Executive Summary 40 Notes 41 i Regional Police Study # P-8-11 INTRODUCTION The intent of this study is to determine if the municipalities of Hellertown Borough and Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, would benefit from consolidation or contracting to form a full service regional police department to serve both of these communities.