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.