Virtual conference and awards ceremony to take place on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. This important panel discussion will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, October 14 from 2:00pm to 3:30pm (EDT).
Washington, DC— The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum’s Destination Zero program will host a one-day conference and awards ceremony aimed at improving officer safety and wellness on Tuesday, November 10, 2020.
This year’s Destination Zero Conference will be hosted by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) VALOR Initiative. The day-long conference will feature prominent keynote speakers and more than a dozen past Destination Zero national award winners and finalists in a series of panel discussions and sessions aimed at improving ways to keep officers safe, mentally and physically healthy, and emotionally resilient.
The conference will feature a live panel discussion, Pandemic, Protests and Policing in 2020: Strategies for Mental and Physical Well-being. Panelists from the medical and mental health communities, along with officer safety and wellness proponents, will discuss ways that agencies can increase the resiliency of officers during these turbulent times.
An additional live panel discussion will feature members of the Destination Zero team, along with past Destination Zero Award winners. They will present valuable information on applying for the National Officer Safety and Wellness awards, as well as tips for accessing and using the Destination Zero Safety Resources Center.
“Making it safer for those who serve is at the very heart of our mission,” said National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund CEO Marcia Ferranto. “Now more than ever before, law enforcement officers face dangerous situations which impact their physical and mental health. We hope participants in the Destination Zero Conference will leave with valuable strategies for staying safe on the job. We also hope they’ll become more familiar with the many resources our Destination Zero program has to help our law enforcement community improve their physical and mental wellness.”
In addition to panel discussions, the Destination Zero Conference will provide virtual sessions on improving traffic safety and reducing the number of crashes among law enforcement officers, along with improving safety through use of ballistic equipment, firearms proficiency, and the use of drones for foot chases and search and rescue efforts.
The conference will also feature a session on the importance of wellness programs, including elements such as resiliency, mental health, physical well-being, as well as family and financial health for officers and their families. Presenters in this session will include a cardiologist, mental health professional, wellness director, and law enforcement agency executives. Topics will include fitness tests, cognitive re-framing, and stress reduction.
A highlight of the conference will be the 2020 Destination Zero Officer Safety and Wellness Awards Ceremony. Sponsored by Verizon, this year’s awards will be presented by Principal Assistant Attorney General Katherine T. Sullivan on behalf of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs and the Department of Justice. Awards will be presented to law enforcement agencies from across the country in the categories of General Officer Safety, Traffic Safety, Officer Wellness, and Comprehensive Officer Safety and Wellness.
For media inquiries about the Destination Zero Officer Safety and Wellness Conference, please contact Robyn Small at 202-737-8524.
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About Destination Zero
Destination Zero, an initiative of the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum, is designed to help agencies improve the health and safety of law enforcement officers across the country, from agent to correctional officer, from trooper to patrolman, from sheriff to constable. Destination Zero is searching for programs that benefits all.
The primary goal of the Destination Zero program is to create a platform that provides all U.S. law enforcement agencies with the ability to research successful and/or promising officer safety and wellness programs and identify the resources necessary to begin their own risk management initiatives.
About the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of American law enforcement and making it safer for those who serve. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial contains the names of 22,217 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. For more information about the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, visit LawMemorial.org. Authorized by Congress in 2000, the 57,000-square-foot National Law Enforcement Museum at the Motorola Solutions Foundation Building tells the story of American law enforcement by providing visitors a “walk in the shoes” experience along with educational journeys, immersive exhibitions, and insightful programs. The Museum is an initiative of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information on the Law Enforcement Museum, visit LawEnforcementMuseum.org.
Robyn Small
[email protected]
(202) 737-8524