Public Safety Innovation (PSI) Lab
Cutting-Edge Public Safety Research
Officer Safety and Wellness
Police officers and other public-safety professionals face a range of physical, psychological, and organizational challenges that can affect their health, safety, and well-being. PSI studies these challenges and works to strengthen the scientific evidence used to guide programs, policies, and interventions intended to support first responders.
Our research examines issues including occupational stress, trauma, PTSD, sleep, anxiety, resilience, physical wellness, work-life balance, and organizational support. PSI also evaluates programs intended to improve officer health and safety, with an emphasis on producing practical evidence that can inform public-safety agencies and the communities they serve.
Selected Research
Reducing the Effects of PTSD Among Police Officers
PSI is involved in research testing interventions designed to reduce the effects of post-traumatic stress among first responders and military service members.
Evaluation of No Belt Required
PSI conducted a preliminary evaluation of No Belt Required, a martial arts-based training program for police officers in the Tucson metropolitan area. The evaluation examined changes in defensive-tactics confidence, sleep disturbance, stress, PTSD-related symptoms, work-life balance, and anxiety.
Officers reported significant improvements in five of the six measured outcomes, including defensive-tactics confidence, sleep disturbance, stress, PTSD-related symptoms, and work-life balance.
Featured Report
Evaluation of No Belt Required — Report 1: Pre-Post Survey of Participating Police Officers
Edward R. Maguire, Ph.D.
Public Safety Innovation Lab, Arizona State University
August 12, 2026
This preliminary evaluation followed participating officers over approximately 13 to 16 months and examined changes in officer confidence, sleep disturbance, stress, PTSD-related symptoms, work-life balance, and anxiety.
Explore More
Learn more about PSI research and publications related to officer health, mental health, occupational stress, trauma, and wellness interventions.