[0:00] - We need to prove that what we have on our wall [0:03] all throughout the department is actually true. [0:06] My name is Amos J. Olivarez and I'm the wellness director [0:09] for the Bloomington Police Department. [0:11] - [Damon] Well, after we developed our mission vision values [0:13] with the assistance of the community, we wanted [0:16] to basically have a system in place [0:18] to hold our own agency accountable [0:20] to those mission, vision, and values. [0:22] - [Amos] My connection to the police department started [0:24] when I was on an interview panel for Chief of Police. [0:27] After his hire, I was on the missions, vision, [0:29] core values team, so we helped kind of establish all that. [0:32] I did that from the community standpoint. [0:33] And then after that I kind of started to just volunteer [0:36] and jump in where I can [0:38] and help support the department in different kind of ways. [0:41] - [Damon] And then we made this a full-time position [0:42] because we very quickly understood the importance [0:45] of having that position. [0:46] - Additionally, I believe he is 100% committed [0:51] and passionate about the work. [0:53] - [Amos] My job is really in thirds. [0:54] The first third is to be present with our officers. [0:57] The second third is to sit on command staff [0:59] and to really be a voice of accountability, [1:01] like, do we actually do the things [1:03] that we say we're going to do? [1:04] And the final third is to do public relations, [1:07] to work within our community to bridge that gap of disparity [1:10] between our community and the law enforcement, [1:12] working with our school district and different organizations [1:15] within the community. [1:16] - [Booker] For me, I look at officer wellness. [1:18] One for those that have families, [1:19] that you're the best person you can be at home [1:21] with your significant other, your spouse and your family. [1:25] And then two, that you are also the best partner you can be. [1:28] - [Amos] When we think of wellness, [1:29] what we've kind of narrowed it down to [1:30] at the police department here is mental wellness, [1:33] emotional wellness, physical wellness, personal wellness, [1:36] and professional wellness. [1:37] So really mind, heart, body, skill and home. [1:42] Those are really the five things [1:43] that we're concentrating on, [1:44] and when we hit all five of those things [1:45] and we feel like our officers are gonna be healthy, [1:48] and healthy officers do really good work [1:50] in the community. [1:51] - [Booker] As a leader, if you wouldn't feel comfortable [1:53] utilizing your wellness program, it's not good enough [1:55] for your troops, right? [1:56] We can't just continue to do, check the box. [1:59] Check the box gets you check the box results. [2:01] - [Amos] I spend a lot of time with officers in their cars. [2:04] I spend a lot of time out in the community [2:05] with our officers. [2:06] I see them do the hard work. [2:07] I see them trying to be respectful even when they are being [2:10] very disrespected. [2:12] Like, I see them going above and beyond, [2:14] and I really appreciate that. [2:15] I appreciate that as a fellow colleague of theirs. [2:19] I also appreciate that as a community member. [2:21] I live in East Bloomington. [2:23] I do a lot of my work in Bloomington. [2:25] My kids go to school in Bloomington. [2:28] Everything in my life is like within two or three miles, [2:30] all within Bloomington. [2:32] I also hope that communities would rally [2:34] around their police departments. [2:36] When we're out and about and people thank police department [2:38] for what they do, it means so much because so much [2:41] of what they do is unseen. [2:42] But I hope that the ripple effect is that we would [2:43] kind of come together, that we would unite, [2:45] that we would protect one another. [2:47] I don't see this as like, just a job. [2:49] I truly see this as like, a calling. [2:52] (cheerful music)