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KTVU Video Segment Details Emeryville PD’s ‘Quiet Room’ and use of Wearable Technology to Combat Job Stress

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KTVU Channel 2 crime reporter Henry K. Lee recently produced a video segment detailing how the Emeryville Police Department is using yoga, meditation and scented oils to help “peace officers” find peace.

Emeryville Police Chief Jennifer Tejada is profiled in the piece for her efforts to bring Mindfulness Resilience Training to her squad. “Every first responder out of the gate sees things in life that ordinary people don’t see … yet we don’t teach them how to process that. We are taught to stuff our emotions.”

Officer Michelle Sheppard helped assemble the quiet room.

Police Department ‘Quiet Room’

Officer Michelle Sheppard was tasked with helping assemble a ‘Quiet Room’ where officers could mentally recharge. “I went to my trusty Pinterest and I looked up different ways to incorporate a tranquil room that is still empowering to officers.”

The room is outfitted with stars on the ceiling, cushions, aromatherapy and a library of books relevant to the mental wellbeing of officers.


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Also profiled in the segment is Lieutenant Fred Dauer who has embraced breathing and meditation into his daily regimen. “Being able to regulate the cortisol and the physical effects that stress has on the job is extremely important.”

Some of the officers are even using a wearable technology called a Spire Stone that monitors their breathing and vibrates to alert them of sudden changes. “Spire was developed with that in mind,” noted Spire’s Head of Communications Michael Habdank-Kolaczkowski. “It really facilitates ‘life’.”


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Tejada acknowledges that all of this might not be right for every officer but seemed confident that it would catch on within police communities as it became more mainstream. “When you work in a fast-paced, dynamic, high-stress profession, these are really good options to have.”

Tejada has been a thought leader in ‘mindful policing’ and featured in publications such as mindful magazine.

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Rob Arias

is a third generation Californian and East Bay native who lived in Emeryville from 2003 to 2021. Rob founded The E'ville Eye in 2011 after being robbed at gunpoint and lamenting the lack of local news coverage. Rob's "day job" is as a creative professional.

7 Comments

  1. It often feels like the chief of police arrived with a solution looking for a problem rather than looking to understand the issues our city and its officers face and address them. Seriously, why is she always promoting mindfulness techniques and products?

    Were stress and a lack of mindfulness training the biggest problem Emeryville had when she arrived? Did we have issues with retention related to mental health? She mentions she had an issue with stress she was dealing with, but is that the main reason why this is her big focus?

    The way it comes across is like she’s trying to brand herself as a “thought leader” in this area and retire into the private sector selling mindfulness solutions.

    I just don’t understand why almost every bit of publicity she puts out is about mindfulness.

    • I think the mental health of our city’s officers s/b a priority in terms of the longevity of their careers and life after being a cop. Hopefully this will prevent them from burnout and will help them be as affective as possible in keeping our city safe. Having done the citizen’s academy with the EPD a couple years back as well as a ride-along, I got a glimpse of the stress they encounter every time dispatch calls their badge No. Being a cop in this city is no joke!

      • That’s not the issue. If you think EPD officers have mental health issues that need to be addressed, you address them. That can be done without a road show

        The question is why marketing herself publicly as a mindfulness “thought leader” seems to be her top priority: KTVU, Mindful magazine, the speaking events, the non-stop social media about mindfulness.

        Why does the mental health of EPD’s officers require interviews with local TV and video of Chief Tejada doing downward dog? Is this really about Emeryville and its officers’ needs? Or it it about marketing herself to achieve her own personal goals?

        It’s getting a bit old. We get it. You came to Emeryville and solved our mindfulness problems.

        Now about all the crime…

    • Amen, anon. The only thing I have heard about crime in last two years is the statement issued telling officers to stop talking about crime. Otherwise it is all vinyasa and deep breathes over at EPD.

  2. For a city of our size, salary and benefits are shall we say, generous. Here’s a snippet of the top four employees:

    Jennifer Tejada POLICE CHIEF
    Emeryville, 2017
    Regular Pay: $209,250.00
    Overtime: $0.00
    Other Pay: $17,080.76
    Total Pay: $226,330.76
    Benefits: $59,215.60
    Total Compensation: $285,546.36

    Dante Diotalevi POLICE CAPTAIN
    Emeryville, 2017
    $186,782.00
    $0.00
    $8,442.49
    $195,224.49
    $57,311.36
    $252,535.85

    Michael Lee POLICE OFFICER
    Emeryville, 2017
    $117,335.00
    $61,892.40
    $13,861.56
    $193,088.96
    $54,239.25
    $247,328.21

    Robert Alton POLICE SERGEANT
    Emeryville, 2017
    $138,296.50
    $24,510.08
    $19,466.77
    $182,273.35
    $58,504.14
    $240,777.49

    From https://transparentcalifornia.com

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