The long-awaited Employee Fitness Center at the Main Jail was opened recently with a ribbon cutting ceremony held by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office.
The project was led by the Quality Work-Life Committee in the Custody Branch, which was formed to explore opportunities to positively impact the health and well-being of the Sheriff’s Office workforce. Working in law enforcement is stressful, whether in the jail, on patrol, or in a clerical capacity.
The committee worked with Paul Wright, CEO of Savvy Health Solutions who provided design guidance for the center as well as help in finding no-cost equipment.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Posse provided a significant portion of the funds for the project along with donations from the Santa Barbara County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
Sheriff Bill Brown thanked Sr. Custody Deputy Tariq Falfal for his dedication to the project and his donated time to bring the fitness center to reality.
“This center provides a positive way to relieve stress and increase overall health, resulting in employees who are better suited to withstand the mental and physical rigors of working in law enforcement,” Brown said. “This fitness center is conveniently located at our Main Jail facility, allowing access to all employees, around the clock.”
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse is a 501(c)(3) organization formed by local citizens to find ways to help the Sheriff’s Office improve efficiency, performance, morale and effectiveness by helping fill the gap between the community’s increased law enforcement needs and the county budget.
In the recent past, the Sheriff’s Posse has helped the Sheriff’s Office obtain emergency equipment, including COVID-19 personal protection equipment, protective vests, night vision goggles, specialized weapons, computer equipment, narcotics and explosive detection canines, and a headquarters barn for its Mounted Enforcement Unit.
For more about the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse, visit sbsheriffsposse.org.