TOLEDO, Ohio — The health of Toledo police officers is a top priority for the city and a new policy made by Chief Michael Troendle this year is helping to keep them healthy.
The Toledo Police Department partnered with ProMedica to offer complete health screenings for its officers. More than 600 police officers will have received a full wellness check by the end of 2023.
Forty-two wellness days were offered to TPD officers this year. The days are designed to check the overall health of officers who are new to the department.
TPD Sgt. Erik Welling, who is involved in organizing the event, said officers getting health screenings is an issue he's proud to see get resolved.
"It's been a long time since we have done something like this, about 15 years since we have done any kind of health screening for our officers, so I am really proud that this day has blossomed into what it is now which is a full, eight-hour, completely comprehensive wellness day," he said.
During each wellness day, 15 officers are given a variety of screenings and presentations.
Welling said the partnership with ProMedica allowed him to customize the presentations to address the officer's needs for things such as "physical health, mental health, medical health and financial health."
Andrea Masters, a Paramount wellness manager with ProMedica, said the goal is to empower officers to better understand their personal health.
"First responders obviously have a very stressful daily job and it's important and critical for them to be their best, healthiest versions so they can keep our communities safe," she said.
The wellness days also help the officers get ahead of any unforeseen health complications. They walk, run and get a muscular endurance evaluation and are screened for their cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and heart health risk factors,
Masters said prevention is key.
"By allowing them to learn where their risk factors may be and then giving them the tools to make those behavior changes, that will help them perform in their jobs, keep our communities safe and help them be their best self too," she said.
Welling said the training has been embraced by officers and has given them a day to relax and debrief.
"This day kind of helps them focus on them and make themselves a priority for once," he said.
Welling also said as he nears retirement, he hopes the program will expand to help former officers and their families.