Reiki for Officer Wellness Week at the CPD
/In late February the Reiki Brigade was invited to participate in Wellness Week at the Chicago Police Department’s 18th District. This was our first opportunity to offer reiki to officers on “Midnights,” the shift that begins at 10:30 or 11pm and lasts until morning. It was a Friday night, so a busy shift lay ahead.
I am sometimes invited to address officers during Roll Call, as was the case in this instance. I sat in a room full of attentive officers listening to the summary of highlights for the evening, including a spike in carjackings and how officers should proceed. Then I was given a few minutes to let them know what we were offering in the Community Room, and invite them to join us for a 10-minute session.
One of the things that set this event apart from others was the collection of memorial items in the Community Room. In February of 2018, the 18th District’s Commander, Paul Bauer, was shot six times and lost his life while on duty.
As of today, news items are popping up that the trial for the man accused of Bauer’s murder is underway. We engage with the police department because we know their job is especially stressful, and their ability to manage this stress is necessary for everyone’s safety.
A cabinet of plaques and photos commemorated the lives of other fallen officers from the 18th, and these visual reminders made the whole event that much more poignant. At one point Jason made the comment, “This makes me see police officers a bit differently.”
Over the course of four hours (we ended up staying late for folks coming off their shift), we were able to work with 23 officers, many of whom had very positive and unexpected experiences with reiki. “I feel really light. That’s weird!” one officer said.
Here’s Rebecca, owner of A Focused Touch wellness, working with a female officer.
Yesterday, this thank you note came from the 18th—a first in our years of service to the CPD. We are so thrilled with this growing trend of events exploring care options for officers, and honored to be one of many groups of service providers participating. Thank you Jason and Rebecca, Commander Jill Stevens, and everyone at the 18th for all you do!
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