A Personal Testament

 by Jessica Green CCEO, COSS

I am excited to share a couple of important initiatives in the field of code enforcement, focusing on the safety of our dedicated officers. The CEOSF is dedicated to code officers who are working in the field and aims to address the challenges we face by providing resources, training, and support to enhance the safety and effectiveness of code enforcement officers nationwide.  

Stories like Jill Robinson’s tragic death really hit home, because this could have been any one of us. We all want to go home at night to our families, so having proper resources, including training and equipment, is critical.


Because I believe training sets the standard on officer safety and survival in the code enforcement profession, I encourage you to register for the CEOSF Code Official Safety Specialist Training. This training changed my outlook on inspections, and on how I present myself while doing my job. In the Code Official Safety Specialist Training, you’ll learn how to have a tactical mindset, gain verbal de-escalation skills, learn fear management tips, and learn tools to help survive violent encounters. The 15-hour class is $250, and need-based scholarships are available from CEOSF.

In a perfect world, every city would have the financial resources to purchase bulletproof vests for code officers. I encourage you to advocate for yourself to your city leadership – let them know why body armor is critical for Code Officers, and request they consider including funds for body armor in the budget plan. Unfortunately, the reality is, many city do not have the funds available. Through the Request a Vest program, the CEOSF is able to provide body armor to approved applicants. You can apply for this program online at codeofficersafety.org/request-a-vest.

Please encourage your fellow code officers to get involved with CEOSF. The more officers who know about and utilize the resources available, the safer our profession can be.

 

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About the Author

Jessica is a Senior Code Enforcement Officer in Oklahoma and serves as Vice President of the Oklahoma Code Enforcement Association (OCEA). Jessica is a Code Official Safety Specialist (COSS) and currently serves as Regional Representative for Region 10 for CEOSF.

 

 

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