Washington, D.C. (October 8, 2021) — The Destination Zero Officer Safety and Wellness Conference and Awards Ceremony, beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, October 15, is an annual gathering of law enforcement officials who are dedicated to improving the safety and wellness of their employees. This year’s virtual program will feature topics on Officer Safety and Wellness initiatives like Cardiac Wellness, Suicide Prevention, and Officer Traffic Safety.
“I encourage every law enforcement agency across the nation to register to participate in the conference this year,” said Marcia Ferranto, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “Officer safety and wellness is a key pillar of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, and these collaborative programs are designed to keep officers safe on the job and off of the Memorial wall.”
Destination Zero is a program of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s Officer Safety and Wellness (OSW) Department. This year’s conference, sponsored by The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, will feature prominent keynote speakers and six sessions designed to assist agencies with beginning or enhancing their local initiatives to keep officers safe, mentally and physically healthy, and emotionally resilient.
“Law enforcement officers work tirelessly and make countless sacrifices to protect our communities. That’s why Goodyear is honored to support the Destination Zero Conference. We deeply appreciate the opportunity to be part of this important effort to help keep our law enforcement officers safe,” said Maylon Carroll, Goodyear Channel Manager and Destination Zero Advisory Council Member.
Schedule of Events:
*All times local, EST
- 9:15 AM: Cardiac Wellness and Proper Screenings for Law Enforcement
- 10 AM: Improving Wellness and Resiliency and Pandemic Preparedness
- 11 AM: Comprehensive Officer Safety
- NOON: SAFLEO and Suicide Awareness for Law Enforcement
- 1 PM: Officer Traffic Safety
- 2 PM: Seven Years of Destination Zero
- 3 PM: Officer Safety and Wellness Awards Ceremony
Officer Safety and Wellness Awards
A highlight of the conference will be the 2021 National Officer Safety and Wellness Awards Ceremony beginning at 3 PM. Sponsored by Verizon, this year’s awards will be presented by Greg Cappetta, Public Safety Outreach Manager on behalf of Verizon, the sponsor of the event.
Awards will be presented to four agencies that have been proactive in maintaining the health and safety of their officers. The four award categories are General Officer Safety, Officer Traffic Safety, Comprehensive Safety, and Officer Wellness.
This year’s winners are listed below:
- General Officer Safety – West Carrolton (OH) Police Department
- Officer Traffic Safety – Harris County (TX) Constable’s Office Precinct #5
- Officer Wellness – Charlotte-Mecklenburg (NC) Police Department
- Comprehensive Safety – Oxford (AL) Police Department
In addition to the winners above, eight agencies received finalist distinction:
- Fort Smith (AR) Police Department
- Sioux City (IA) Police Department
- La Mesa (CA) Police Department
- McHenry County (IL) Conservation District Police Department
- Norfolk (VA) Police Department
- Montgomery (TX) Police Department
- National Institutes of Health (MD) Police Department
- Miami Beach (FL) Police Department
The Conference and Awards Ceremony will be livestreamed on Facebook and on Zoom. Registration info can be found here.
National Officer Safety and Wellness Awards are presented annually, and agencies are encouraged to submit details about their successful safety and wellness programs to the Memorial Fund’s Officer Safety & Wellness Initiative at www.DestinationZero.org.
For media inquiries about the Destination Zero Officer Safety and Wellness Conference, please contact Colby Jordan at 601-664-2010 or [email protected].
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The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is the leading authority on official line-of-duty officer deaths. Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., which honors the names of over 22,611 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The National Law Enforcement Museum at the Motorola Solutions Foundation Building is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come. For more information, visit nleomf.org.
Colby Jordan
[email protected]
(601) 664-2010