Officer City of San Diego, California San Diego, Califoniria, United States
The San Diego Police Department has implemented a program that uses two specially trained facility dogs to provide a wide spectrum of services ranging from officer/employee wellness to comfort care of children who are victims of child abuse, neglect, and child sexual abuse. The San Diego Police Department’s Wellness Unit has a separate, on-site facility dog that is available to supplement an existing, robust array of officer/employee wellness services, and is available to be deployed reactively or proactively to myriad critical incidents (e.g., officer-involved shootings; critical stress incident debriefs). The SDPD Child Abuse Unit has an on-site facility dog that is used to support child victims during interviews and court testimony, and empowers child victims and promotes disclosures of crimes. The local Child Advocacy Centers, courts, and the District Attorney’s Office support the use of the facility dog in their facilities. Evidence-based research has shown the usage of facility dogs reduces cortisol levels and increases oxytocin levels. By bringing a calming presence, the facility dogs provide a safe space for employees and victims to freely share their feelings.
