Rebecca L. Fix, Frank Ferdik, Hayden P. Smith
Preservation of community safety is inextricably tied to police personnel wellbeing. When considering that an alarming number of police personnel are experiencing serious health impairments, a pressing need emerges to address this issue. In response, the current study conducted semi-structured interviews with (n = 18) sworn and (n = 8) civilian police personnel from a Mid-Atlantic police department to acquire insight into the health services they need. Thematic analysis of interview data produced several key themes related to police health. These included considerations for: 1) improved physical fitness, 2) improved nutrition and wellness, 3) the construction of a built environment inside police agencies to promote police wellbeing, 4) active agency assistance, 5) peer support, and 6) the integration of clinical therapy into police departments. Findings contribute to the development of necessary health interventions that can optimize police personnel’s ability to fulfill their important service-provider functions.