Chat with The Chief: Maple Grove PD’s Eric Werner Talks About Officer Wellness Programs
Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner talked with CCX Media’s Rusty Ray just days after the murders of two Burnsville police officers and a paramedic, and Werner, a 13-year veteran of the Burnsville Police Department and former captain, said he feels personally impacted.
Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner
“When I saw the incident take place, obviously my friends, my colleagues down there, seeing what they’re going through, (it was) very difficult and it struck home,” said Chief Werner. “Our hearts go out to them.”
Werner said he expects an international response over the coming days and weeks.
“It’s a brotherhood, sisterhood, police and firefighters. The community’s hurting,” he said. “When a community loses a police officer or firefighter, they’re losing a part of their fabric but also you lose someone in one community, you lose someone in all communities.”
As first responders have come under more and more scrutiny in recent years, and in light of tragedies like what happened in Burnsville, Werner said it’s important to him and his officers that they receive as much wellness and healthcare opportunities as possible. That’s one reason why he asked City Council last year for money to pay for more wellness opportunities. Werner said the Maple Grove Police Department will work with Provicta to help offer health and education to officers and their families about total wellness-mind and body.
“Maple Grove is a progressive city,” said Werner. “We already have some comprehensive wellness programming in place for all of our employees, and this just builds on top of this.”
He said the traumas associated with highly-stressful calls, along with the changing nature of calls even within hours of each other, can really add up over time.
“You do that over 25 to 30 years, it’s going to take a toll on (officers) mentally and physically,” said Werner.
