Sunday, July 16, 2023

 Resolution about Changing Police Department Policy from Fit for Duty to Take a Half Hour Nap

The PA Medical Society Should Urge Police Accrediting Agencies to Stop “The Fit for Duty” Standard, and Replace It with “Take a Nap” Standard for Sleepy Officers


Whereas police accrediting agencies review and certify police departments as hospitals are accredited;


Whereas sleepiness impairs function as much as legal intoxication; 


Whereas sleepy work is a factor in police mishaps, including crashes, wrongful shootings, and low productivity;


Whereas sleepiness at work was a factor in multiple historic catastrophes; 


Whereas the current enforced policy is, fit for duty, meaning, no tolerance for sleepiness on the job;


Whereas sleepy officers are punished, and cover up their impairment;


Resolved, the PA Medical Society will urge all police accrediting agencies in Pennsylvania to adopt this alternative police job sleepiness policy. A sleepy officer may report self as sleepy, with immunity from punishment. The supervisor will require that he take a half an hour nap, and return fit for duty.


Resolved, all incident reports of police mishaps will include a box, Sleepiness. If checked off, a brief narrative of the contributors to sleepiness will be enumerated. 


Resolved, Departments will make efforts to not contribute to sleepiness, for example, giving comp time for testimony after a full shift of work. 


Resolved, a yearly count of mishaps with sleep as a factor will be kept for tracking. 


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