their questionnaires, said they would be willing to allocate or provide monies to financially assist the program’s funding. Comments expressed dealt with a willingness to allocate or provide monies provided the program were beneficial to several employees, the belief that all of the departments should provide funding for the program and the belief that the program would be of value to all of the departments.COMMUNITY REACTIONCommunity reaction to the S.E.A.R.S. program was obtained through the use of a six-question questionnaire, which was distributed, for return, to members of the Davison Area community. Community members were provided ample space, following each question, to elaborate their responses.The first question posed to community members asked if they would be in favor of the program. Sixty-seven percent of those community members who returned their questionnaires said that they would be favor of the program. Comments that were expressed dealt with the fact that a peer supporter be familiar with the officers and employees, the fact that a peer supporter would know best who to assist officers and employees, concern that a peer supporter would the ability to assist only with minor non-work related issues, and concerns that a peer supporter may feel an obligation to notify management or supervision of any serious problems that are presented to him or her.The second question posed to community members asked if they believed the program would be particularly beneficial to the officers and employees of the Davison Area Police Departments. Sixty-seven percent of those community members who returned their questionnaires said the program would be particularly beneficial to the officers and employees of the Davison Area Police Departments. Comments that were expressed dealt with the fact that a peer supporter is likely to be more compassionate concerning the issues that officers and employees might be dealing with, and with...
