Cops Helping Alleviate Police Problems

Critical Incident Response & Peer Support Team

C.H.A.P.P.s Mission Statement

The mission of the C.H.A.P.P.s Program is first and foremost the supplying of support to the employees of the Oklahoma City Police Department and their family members during and following a time of crisis within their lives.  We respond to critical incidents which are incidents that are so powerful that they overwhelm the person's emotional coping mechanisms.

It is the policy of the C.H.A.P.P.s Program to respond to our "police family" without any regard given to race, religion, gender or the personal values of the one involved.  We respond without any cost or obligation, either real or implied, being placed upon the person involved and the person is free to terminate the response at any time.

It isn't the event  which is significant, rather, it's the meaning which
we attach to the event that makes it significant.

Incidents for Response

Initially, when we began the C.H.A.P.P.s Program in 1983, we primarily responded to Officer involved shooting situations.  We wanted to address the problem of post-shooting trauma for Officers.  This we did by providing a peer who could provide support.   We began to realize that there are a whole host of incidents that are powerful enough to overwhelm our normal coping skills; and we began expanding our thinking as to the type of incident to which we needed to respond.  Currently, we use the following list as a general guide to when a response is necessary.  It is important to note that we do not limit ourselves to these incidents.  If we are needed or if we are requested on an incident that is not listed, then we will respond to it as well.  This list is not ranked by order of importance.

• Officer-involved shootings.
• Any serious injury of an Officer (on or off-duty).
• Any serious illness, injury or death of any Departmental employee or their immediate family (as needed or requested).
• Following any event that has significant potential for overwhelming the employee (when requested).
• Following a significant loss of property (i.e. fire, flood, tornado, etc.).
• Any time an employee or their family requests our response or assistance.