Police Officer Standards and Training Commission Holds Critical Officer Wellness Training

Training empowers officers to address colleagues' mental health concerns

DOVER, Del. - The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) and the Delaware Police Accreditation Committee (DPAC) recently collaborated with Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health Program to deliver crucial officer wellness training aimed at fostering peer support within law enforcement agencies statewide.

The program, titled "My Brother's Keeper," brought together 50 participants on April 17 at the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security building in Dover. The four-hour training session was specifically designed to empower officers to recognize and address mental health concerns among their colleagues. Led by an experienced team of professionals with extensive backgrounds in law enforcement, military service, and behavioral health, participants received training on identifying signs of distress in fellow officers, making appropriate peer referrals, connecting colleagues with vital support resources, and cultivating a culture that prioritizes mental health awareness.

"Together, we can make sure we are addressing issues surrounding mental health and wellness in law enforcement," said Sean Moriarity, Executive Director of POST. "The goal of this initiative is to reach officers from every law enforcement agency in Delaware, ensuring support systems exist regardless of department size."

[Link]Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health senior outreach coordinator Kent Burkert addresses attendees at a recent training to promote officer wellness.

The expert training team from Penn Medicine Princeton Behavioral Health included:

• Dr. Michael Bizzarro, PhD, LCSW, BCD - Director of Clinical Services
• Ken Burkert, CPRS, CISM - Senior Outreach Coordinator and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
• Rick Zaleski, CPRS, CRSP, MRT - Retired Police Sergeant, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, and Certified Recovery Support Practitioner

Law enforcement wellness programs are critical to protecting officers' mental and physical health, preventing suicide, reducing burnout, and supporting family relationships. Addressing these issues can ultimately lead to increased community trust and better operational efficiency for police departments.

[Link]Rick Zaleski, a retired police sergeant and certified recovery specialist, addresses attendees during a recent training session to promote peer support programs designed to increase officer wellness and address mental health challenges.

Peer support programs are delivered through colleagues who understand the unique stressors of law enforcement. Police officers routinely face traumatic incidents and life-threatening situations that can lead to significant impacts including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and compassion fatigue. But officers might also feel discouraged from showing vulnerability or seeking help. Rather than speaking with outside professionals, officers might be more comfortable speaking with peers who can recognize warning signs and facilitate early intervention. This proactive approach helps prevent more serious outcomes including substance abuse, severe depression, and suicide.

The training also helps law enforcement agencies meet DPAC Standard 7.1.2 - Officer Wellness requirements, supporting the broader goal of statewide law enforcement accreditation mandated by House Bill 206, which requires all police agencies to be accredited by 2028.

The Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police has adopted over 100 standards related to professional policing, which have been approved by the DPAC. The DPAC is active in its mission to advance law enforcement in Delaware through the establishment of professional standards and the administration of a formal mechanism by which Delaware agencies can be systematically measured, evaluated, and updated. The POST website maintains a list of current accredited police agencies in Delaware.

ABOUT THE POLICE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING COMMISSION

The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), a division of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS), oversees standards and training for all police officers in Delaware. POST aims to improve the professionalism and behavior of officers by setting qualifications for new recruits, education and training requirements, and training standards. POST advises the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC), provides guidelines for local oversight boards, and investigates potential officer misconduct relative to certification.