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EMOTIONAL KEVLAR FOR COPS

Jeff Shannon is a Berkeley police officer and a Marriage and Family Therapist with experience dealing with police officers. Recognizing that many officers are comfortable with a therapist who has actual law enforcement experience, he maintains a private practice which focuses on emergency service personnel. Jeff is a strong supporter of the Badge of Life program and its emphasis on early preparation for stress and trauma as well as the value of annual “mental health checks.”

Jeff was strongly influenced by his father's experience as a police officer. After a medical retirement from the California Highway Patrol, his father became a divorced, problem drinker and was shunned by his former workmates. Jeff's father died at the age of fifty seven, depressed and alcoholic. He has just completed a book on the hidden dangers associated with a career in law enforcement.

Jeff can be reached at thrivinginpublicservice@gmail.com or (510) 595-5580.

Visit Jeff's blog, Police Mental Health, Emotional Kevlar for Cops.

BADGE OF LIFE: The mission of the Badge of Life (BOL) program is to assist law enforcement officers in the United States and Canada to maintain the highest possible quality of life in their careers. Our goal is to provide free assistance and materials from which officers can be trained to deal effectively with stress and emotional trauma long before reaching a crisis level.

A 501(c)(3) public charity, we believe our programs must be more than waiting until a "crisis" and a potential suicide. We believe that, for every police suicide, there are a thousand other officers who continue working while suffering from the inner trauma of years of death, misery and hostility.

It’s not “just” about suicide—it has to be about emotional health for ALL police officers. We advocate annual, voluntary mental health checks for all ranks, believing that preparing officers for trauma and stress BEFORE they happen is more valuable than waiting until after the damage is done.

For further information, contact the executive director, Andy O'Hara, at (916) 560-8896 or by e-mail at badgeoflife@yahoo.com

RESOURCES: Free powerpoints (officers and cadets), videos, lesson plans. See www.badgeoflife.com for a sampling.

CABLE: The Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (CABLE), Inc. brings law enforcement and community resources together to address common issues related to mental health. CABLE is a grass roots, non-profit 501(c)(3), research and training collaborative whose mission is to serve as an interdisciplinary resource and catalyst for law enforcement and community collaboration, support and education. While based in Connecticut, CABLE freely offers its information and resources to departments across the United States and Canada.

This unique organization is comprised of a cross-section of stakeholders: municipal and state law enforcement personnel, mental health professionals, families and persons with mental illness, and educational institutions. CABLE’s strength is its ability to bring people together from diverse perspectives that are committed to work collaboratively for the common good.

CABLE offers Crisis Intervention Team Training and Peer Support Training. For further information, contact Louise Pyers, M.S., B.C.E.T.S, Executive Director and Founder, at (203) 848-0320 or by e-mail at Lcp@cableweb.org.

RESOURCES: Peer support syllabus, links to useful information, advice and assistance setting up your peer support program.

CANADA -- Badge of Life Canada's goal is to assist law enforcement officers in Canada to maintain the highest possible quality of life in their careers. Our goal is to provide free assistance and materials from which officers can be trained to deal effectively with stress and emotional trauma long before reaching a crisis level.

According to the Badge of Life, Canada, Directors, "We in Canada share with Americans the price we pay in our daily devotion to the shield and the public we serve. We are the compassion, the strength, the standard bearers for what is right and proper, yet we so often suffer not only the physical wounds, but the emotional wounds that follow us long after the physical scars have healed."

Kezia Smykaluk, Constable, Hamilton Ontario Police

e-mail: k.banksia@gmail.com,

Peter Hannon, Constable, Hamilton Ontario Police

e-mail: dingo793@gmail.com

SSD Health and Wellness: Our goal is better physical, mental and emotional well-being in law enforcement. To promote a healthier and more confident work force through proper education and instruction regarding physical fitness, nutrition, and reduction of job related injury factors, members of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department Health and Wellness Team have, on their own time, developed this excellent newsletter to reach out and inform police officers of the latest in good physical and emotional self-care.

Subscription to the Feed is free.

UNDER THE SHIELD (UTS) was formed to meet the unique needs of law enforcement personnel and their family members by providing support through CONFIDENTIAL services, education and public awareness.

UTS is a national organization and on the cutting edge of progressive law enforcement training. The professional staff provides many services, including stress management education, critical incident stress debriefings, conflict resolution and anger management to law enforcement personnel and family members.

Instruction and services are provided on an individual, family and /or group basis. At times, law enforcement personnel require services and support on a variety of levels. Programs of instruction are developed on a client-by-by client basis, with a variety of avenues or options available. “Under the Shield's” professional staff is constantly updating and expanding these programs to meet the unique needs of the law enforcement community.

Under the Shield provides free counseling for law enforcement officers and family members. Contact Susan Lewis Simons, M.S., B.C.E.T.S. at (334) 324-3570.