Page 47 - February 2018 FOP Newsletter

Destressing in District 12
n BY ERICA WURST
Officers in the 12th District got a bit of a reprieve last month, thanks to Officer Nikki Papadapoulos.
Papadapoulos, who works in com-
munity relations, was the brains be-
hind the New Year/New You Destress
Fest, held on Jan. 10 at District 12
headquarters. Officers were invited
to pet puppies, participate in Reiki
training, use essential oils and nosh
on health bars, fruits and snacks in a
stress-free environment. Think mas-
sages, crafts and stress relief tech-
niques. There was yoga and relaxation and, for three hours, officers got to let go of a bit of the stress they were harboring.
“It’s up to us to stay focused and have as little stress as we can,” Pap- adapoulos said. “We want to stay motivated and have positive attitudes when we go out on the street and deal with residents. If we’re over- whelmed or stressed out, it’s hard to have a good interaction with the public.”
As you can imagine, the event was a hit, not only with officers but also with residents who were invited to attend. Papadapoulos said the timing for the event was perfect and allowed participants to wind down following a stressful December.
“Usually in community relations, we are doing things for the com- munity. I thought it was time to do something for the officers,” Pap- adapoulos said. “We got great feedback, and the event was a hit.”
Other districts who got word of the fest have reached out to Pap- adapoulos in hopes of hosting their own events, and Papadapoulos plans to host a Destress Fest several times a year.
“When we walk into a situation with less stress, we deal better with the public,” she said. d
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ FEBRUARY 2018 47