08-04 Members Involved in a Traumatic Critical Incident - Definitions Flashcards
Chief’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) On-Call Designated Authority means:
a member of the cadre of on-call Toronto Police Service uniform senior officers that acts as the designated authority and manages the SIU event in the field on behalf of the Chief.
Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) means:
the team consisting of Peer Support Volunteers coordinated through the Service to respond to incidents where critical incident stress may occur and to assist members and their families to cope after becoming involved in a traumatic critical incident. CIRT members are trained in trauma response measures and are qualified to lead defusing sessions. CIRT members are not counsellors.
Critical Incident Stress means:
physical and psychological symptoms experienced by a member as a result of being involved in a traumatic critical incident.
Debriefing Session means:
a scheduled formal meeting specifically set up for members directly involved in the traumatic critical incident to discuss reactions to the traumatic event in confidence with a qualified mental health professional. The debriefing session takes place a few days after the conclusion of the traumatic critical incident, in a secure location where disruptions can be eliminated and can last up to 2.5 hours. The Employee Family Assistance Program Liaison/Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) Coordinator will work with the Officer in Charge, CIRT Peer Support Volunteer and/or the qualified mental health professional to schedule the session. Attendance is mandatory for the members directly involved but active participation in the discussion is voluntary.
Debriefing sessions may be conducted by a mental health professional assisted by members of the CIRT and are not operational debriefings.
Defusing Session means:
an immediate informal meeting attended by an individual or a group of members involved in a traumatic critical incident to assess the need for further assistance prior to the end of shift. The defusing session takes place immediately after the conclusion of the traumatic critical incident in a secure location where disruptions can be eliminated and lasts for approximately 15 to 30 minutes. Two Peer Support Volunteers normally lead these meetings with Employee Family Assistance Program support if necessary. Attendance is mandatory but active participation in the discussion is voluntary.
Defusing sessions may be conducted by a mental health professional assisted by members of the Critical Incident Response Team and are not operational debriefings.
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) Liaison/Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) Coordinator means:
the member designated by the EFAP Committee to:
liaise with
- the EFAP provider and its CIRT,
- the Toronto Police Operations Centre, Officer in Charge and/or unit commander, and the CIRT/Peer Support Volunteers (PSVs), and;
work with CIRT/PSVs, the EFAP provider, and/or Psychological Services to co–ordinate defusing and debriefing sessions.
Peer Support Volunteer (PSV) means:
a Service member trained in trauma response measures and available on-call to provide ongoing assistance and support to members and their families after becoming involved in a traumatic critical incident. PSVs are qualified to lead defusing sessions. PSVs are not counsellors. The PSVs will assist members to seek professional treatment, if required.
Post Incident Firearm Exposure Session means:
a session involving firearm exercises undertaken with a qualified firearms instructor. This session does NOT consist of a qualification standard and is NOT an operational debriefing. Rather, a post incident firearms exposure session consists of an individual course of fire intended to be educational, to provide reassurance, and to promote officers’ confidence with their firearm after an officer-involved shooting incident. The post incident firearms exposure session will take place prior to being returned to full duties after a shooting incident.
Post incident firearms exposure sessions are mandatory for officers who discharge their firearms in the line of duty and officers determined by their Unit Commander to be directly impacted by the incident. However, any officer involved in a shooting incident may request to participate in a post incident firearms exposure session. Post incident firearms exposure sessions do not apply to the discharge of a firearm for the purpose of dispatching an animal, unless circumstances suggest otherwise.
Referral means:
the assistance provided by the Employee and Family Assistance Program provider or Psychological Services to members and their families in locating a community mental health professional or other service suitable to the presenting difficulty.
Traumatic Critical Incident means:
any incident during which a member experiences, witnesses, or is confronted with serious injury, death, or mass casualties; any incident in which the member’s life has been imperilled or threatened; or any situation which is recognized at the time to have the potential to significantly interfere immediately or at a later time with a member’s ability to function professionally or personally.
