THE BADGE OF LIFE

Trained counselors for police officers, veterans or family members. If you, or someone you know, is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, please call 1-800-273-8255. This service can immediately link a caller seeking help to a trained counselor closest to the caller’s geographic location – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

See the short "Terry Wise Story," produced by the Suicide Lifeline--and make the call.

The West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat (WCPR) is a part of the First Responder Support Network (FRSN), a non-profit organization with skilled and experienced clinical and peer staff trained in trauma recovery. Our goal is to help emergency service professionals and retirees regain control over their lives and either return to work with a new perspective on stress and coping or move on with their lives. The WCPR residential program provides an educational experience designed to help current and retired first responders, recognize the signs and symptoms of work-related stress including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in themselves and in others.

Significant Others and Spouses (SOS): The SOS program is for emergency responder partners and spouses who may also be affected by these critical incidents (resulting in secondary or vicarious traumatization), but may also experience their own depression or anxiety symptoms and need a program to address their needs. In addition, Significant Others and Spouses may have their own trauma history, which is re-activated when his/her partner experiences a traumatic event.

The Law Enforcement Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous was created to assist employees in our profession. The meeting is open to any law enforcement employee who has a desire to stop drinking. Check out our list to see if there is a group near you. If you can't find a group that's accessible to you, we still encourage you to attend a regular AA, many of which are listed here as alternatives. Many of us did, finding our recovery from alcoholism more important than our ego.

If you have a group, get on the list. You're of no use if you keep yourself a secret!

Other 12-Step Programs for Police Officers:: If you are not an alcoholic, it doesn't mean the 12 step programs can't still be of value to you. A twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addictions, compulsions, or other behavioral problems that may be interfering with relationships, careers or one's enjoyment of life. The 12-step programs are NOT religious, although there are a few religious ones available should you wish one. We encourage you to look over this list and consider joining one of these fellowships. Like AA, no one cares who you are--they only care about you.

The California Peer Support Association, a professional and educational organization, is dedicated to the advancement, promotion, and enhancement of peer support and peer support programs for law enforcement, fire, and allied emergency service personnel.

An excellent program in Philadephia, the Bottles and Badges group demonstrates how local groups can team with other organizations to share important information about alcohol recovery. An energetic and successful group, they are on the "cutting edge."Too often, agencies feel they must "disguise" AA as something else, like just a social group, rather than what it is--a gathering of like-minded souls trying to salvage their lives. Alcoholics cannot be "pampered" into AA--it is a decision they must make based on their own situation and need. There is no "easy way" for recovery from alcoholism, nor should we suggest there is.

To find a Law Enforcement Fellowship group of AA in your area, visit AA for Cops

Released October 19, 2009. The only accurate database of officers killed and injured and other vital data regarding law enforcement.

OCCUPATIONAL CHAPLAINS OF AMERICA Not to be forgotten in the emotional health of the police officer is the need for a sense of spirituality as a part of resiliency. Chaplains can play a valuable role by assisting all employees and immediate family members, regardless of faith or none. They are a confidential source and guide, and can prove an invaluable source of support.

IN HARM'S WAY is a federally funded program that offers training seminars and workshops nationally on suicide prevention. This webpage offers a plethora of resources, reproducible materials, articles with varying viewpoints, statistics and opinions from which readers can form their own conclusions on the magnitude of the law enforcement suicide problem, its causes and the best approaches to finding a solution.

JOHN M. VIOLANTI, PhD, is the most renowned and widely published expert on the topics of police mental health, suicide and health risks. A 23-year veteran of the New York State Police, Dr,. Violanti's research has focused on a number of topics including assessment of psychological and biological indicators of chronic workplace police stress; subclinical cardiovascular and metabolic disease in the Buffalo Police Health Study; line-of-police-duty deaths: survivor responses and departmental policies; and the epidemiology of police suicide.

DUTY: THE LIFE OF A COP Julian Fantino is the highest-profile police officer Canada has ever produced. In a remarkable career spanning almost forty years, he has led four police forces and continues to leave a huge imprint on law enforcement, not only in this country but right around the world. Currently Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, Fantino has seen the best and the worst, and was a key figure in the landmark decision to designate an officer's suicide from horrific PTSD as a "line of duty death."

Always upfront and willing to tell it like it is, Fantino is just as candid about where he thinks the system has gone wrong . . . and what we might do to make it right.

Chief Joel Shults of the V.A.L.O.R. Project writes from a cop's perspective as a former police chaplain, academy trainer, college professor, street cop and researcher as he adds his commentary to some wisdom of the ages. From the Bible to former Presidents to fictional television characters, Shults applies a poliece officers eye to helping today's law enforcement professional gain new insights for growth and improvement.

Pursuit Performance Training for law enforcement provides agency-wide programing, scientifically designed for optimal performance for the mental and physical challenges of law enforcement officers.

PEER SUPPORT TRAINING: The Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement, Inc. (CABLE) brings community and law enforcement resources together to address common issues related to mental health. CABLE is a grassroots, non-profit, 501 (C)(3) research and training collaborative who’s mission is to serve as an interdisciplinary resource and catalyst for law enforcement and community collaboration, support and education. They offer an excellent peer support training program, free, to police agencies.

HOW TO PICK A THERAPIST: In this video, Dr. Anne Bisek, Clinical Psychologist, walks the viewer through the steps of when and how to find a good therapist, the alarm signals an emergency responder should be aware of, issues of confidentiality and the types of therapy available.

The Sacramento Sheriff's Department 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. This is a forward thinking program and subscription to the Feed is free.

Suicide by Cop incidents pose a number of unique challenges and difficulties, including those involving their investigation. In addition to the usual exploration into how a shooting occurred, more focus than usual needs to be dedicated to explaining specifically why it occurred.

The critical mission of the STAR 6 Foundation is to act as the benevolent arm of the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association by providing immediate and ongoing financial assistance, grievance counseling and peer support for the spouses, families and “brothers and sisters” of the fallen and injured men and women of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and surrounding law enforcement agencies. Badge of Life is proud of its close affiliation to this dedicated organization.

"When a Child Dies" is a special program by Dr. Anne Bisek for emergency responders dealing with why child death calls are actually so challenging and how best to deal with them. Dr, Bisek has done extensive, valuable research on this challenging topic and is available for presentations. She can be reached for information at 510-797-4911 and at anne@doc911.net.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a 501(c)(3) organization, has been at the forefront of a wide range of suicide prevention initiatives in 2009 -- each designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. We are investing in groundbreaking research, new educational campaigns, innovative demonstration projects and critical policy work. And we are expanding our assistance to people whose lives have been affected by suicide, reaching out to offer support and offering opportunities to become involved in prevention.

Anne Bisek, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist in Fremont, California. Her practice focuses on first responders, their families and military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. She is the mental health professional on the San Mateo CISD team, and also provides debriefings for the California Highway Patrol. She is a volunteer at West Coast Posttrauma Retreat Center, and a member of the San Francisco Psych Pros. Anne uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. She has worked in the domestic violence unit at Hayward Police Department, and in corrections. Her research was with three California Urban Search and Rescue teams deployed to New York following the terrorist attack in 2001. She enjoys running with her dog Justice, and biking. She can also be reached at 510-797-4911.

MentalHelp.Net Blogs: Rebecca Morgan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose interests extend across a broad range, particularly PTSD, anxiety, depression and their impacts on law enforcement and other emergency services personnel. Rebecca hopes, through her blog, to provide new and up-to-date information, as well as give reassurance to those in need that caring help is available--and that there is hope.

"COPICIDE" John Violanti and James Drylie provide the most informative examination, to date, of the phenomenon often called "suicide by cop," increasingly known by the term, "copicide." Numerous case examples explore the wide variety of scenarios faced by officers, many of them rendering some confusion when coming to a finding of SbC. Violanti and Drylie do an excellent job of examining each in detail, however, and produce a valuable insight and recommendations for law enforcement agencies to consider, both in their training and evaluations. They also explore the uncomfortable topic of officers committing "suicide by suspect," or "suicide by cop turned inside out." A full review can be found in the Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology.

RPOAC is the only statewide organization in California dedicated to protecting retired peace officers’ interests. Inflation has reduced many retirement incomes to below poverty levels. Many retirees have to seek employment to survive; some are forced to rely on public assistance; others barely exist. The Retired Peace Officers Association of California (RPOAC), was organized by retired peace officers. We would not stand by and helplessly watch our benefits be carelessly discarded or eroded away.

MENTAL AMMO is committed to providing quality training to law enforcement agencies. Training includes tactics, use of force and reality based training. Their web site offers a wide variety of informational and training articles as well as videos. The police news page is updated daily.

The Law Enforcement Mental Health Alliance (LEMHA) is a registry of selfless, committed organizations and individuals devoted to sharing resources and information with the goal of reducing police suicides, improving the overall mental health of law enforcement personnel and supporting survivors in the United States and Canada. There is no membership fee--only a desire to work together in seeing the betterment of life quality for police officers. Here you will find a broad range of the best information available, as well as an opportunity to promote your program and be featured in an exclusive article about your ideas and goals.

The Retired & Disabled Police of America (RDPOA) is a fraternal organization formed in October, 1990. Membership is open to any individual who is retired or disabled from service as a law enforcement officer from any local, state or federal law enforcement agency, including military police units. Members receive our official publication, the American Police Bulletin (APB). The APB is published quarterly and contains information of interest to our members.

A retired Texas state trooper, Thomas Peoples knows the world of multiple traumas on the job. He became suicidal after a pursuit in which the suspect crashed and killed an infant he knew and had held on his knee only a week before. His experience and survival led him to form Shadows of the Badge, a website enabling him to reach out to fellow officers with his story and provide useful information about suicide preventionfor officers who may face the same danger.

POLICE SUICIDE, Epidemic in Blue by far out-ranks any book we've read thus far on the police lifestyle, stress, trauma and suicide. John M. Violanti succinctly points out how difficult it is to identify the problems when police agencies continue to hide and misclassify suicides under the ignorant premise that they are "shameful." The result, he demonstrates, is that the picture of the problem remains confusing and that it is only through indirect means that we can even project there's a true problem.

CopShock, 2nd Edition: In the second edition, almost 50 percent of CopShock has been expanded, revised and updated with new material, including self-tests for PTSD. This second edition is a valuable follow-up to the first, with new chapters that carefully lay out what PTSD is and how officers can take steps now to "prepare for the inevitable." Kates encourages officers to set up a support system before a critical incident occurs, which includes friends and family, peer counselors, therapists and support groups. Highly interesting is a new chapter (9/11) in which he discusses the dilemma of "delayed onset." The chapter on "Resiliency" is also a thoughtful one that offers suggestions on developing what the author calls a "resilience" to future traumatic events by broadening one's viewpoint, acceptance, considering support groups, and taking advantage of a mental health professional to develop a healthy strategy for moving ahead. A book every officer should read.

The Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study is currently conducting some of the most exciting research to date on the demographic, lifestyle, and psychological factors involved in police stress. Involving the detailed tracking and examinations of 400 officers, they have also partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice and extended the BCOPS Study to measuring police officer fatigue and the impact of fatigue on officer health and performance.

SuicideByCop.com’s goal is to develop and present a more clear understanding of the “suicide by cop” phenomenon. This is a site for law enforcement personnel as well as the general public - to enlighten, educate, and offer support to officers who have been inexplicably drawn into the emotional upheaval of those who choose to end their lives.

John Violanti and Stephanie Samuels bring it all together in "Under the Blue Shadow," a book that explores the psychological dangers of a police career with compelling case studies. Violanti continues his reputation as America's foremost authority on police psychology, and Stephanie Samuels shows herself to be a voice of great value as well.

We are the dedicated women known as Police Wives. We understand the highs and lows that are The Job. We stand behind our men in blue, but even the strongest of women need support. Policewives.org is dedicated to helping all PW sisters around the world. We assist through our Warm Fuzzies group, PW Sisters program, and our annual Christmas Adopt-a-Family project. Not only are we there for one another, but are there for others who need help. We assist families in need, including donations to organizations like COPS, as well through our own projects that provides blankets and stuffed animals to children in need. PoliceWives.org recognizes the plight of wives and children left behind by police officer suicides and wishes to offer them comfort and support through its projects and forums.

Ellen F. Kirschman, Ph.D. of Redwood City, California is a consulting psychologist for many law enforcement agencies across the country and is available to give workshops to police families. Author of “I Love a Cop,” she is also is co-founder of the website, policefamilies.com. She is a member of the psychological services sub-section of the International Association of Police Chiefs; The American Psychological Association (Division 18; Police and Public Safety); The Society for Police and Criminal Psychology; and Women in the Fire Service.

of a Better Life is CHP Sgt Scott Klocker's own moving story as a trauma survivor and how he found help and recovery. Sgt Klocker is active giving powerful, highly acclaimed presentations to a wide variety of audiences describing his trauma, recovery and suggestions for officer mental health. For further information, contact Scott at Trooper@succeed.net or read about him at LEHMA.COM.

Policefamilies.Com The purpose of this Web Site is to provide Law Enforcement families and under served law enforcement communities with essential psychological information and improved access to family support services. An excellent resource, this site contains a wealth of recommended literature, family resources, curriculum materials such as downloadable overheads and handouts, and links of use to all law enforcement.

EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) is a professional association where practitioners and researchers seek the highest standards for the clinical use of EMDR. By promoting training, research,EMDRIA is committed to assuring that therapists are knowledgeable and skilled in the methodology of EMDR, an accepted psychotherapy by leading mental health organizations throughout the world. EMDR is effective when used in conjunction with other conventional types of therapy, such as CBT.

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) provides prevention support, training, and resources to assist organizations and individuals to develop suicide prevention programs, interventions and policies, and to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.

I LOVE A COP is an outstanding book for families of police officers (and officers) on the lifestyle in a law enforcement career. The author does a wonderful job of explaining the emotional strains of shifts and job stresses, how officers change, and the strain put on a family. This is a book full of support and resources, including recommendations for therapy when needed--valuable reading for families and officers.

No Time to Say Goodbye is the finest book possible for the grieving survivors of police suicide, too often forgotten in short time. Not only is it valuable reading for them, but it is ESSENTIAL reading for police administrators and those involved in running suicide programs. Once read, you will realize the true, long range impact on the human beings for whom you design your programs and you will be haunted by the realization that, following a quiet funeral, the true struggles have only begun. A moving, heart-wrenching book.

An excellent book is Randy Sutton's "True Blue, Police Stories by Those Who Lived Them," a marvelous study in the contrasts of a cop's life, from the mundane to the tough to the stunning and the tender and loving. An excellent books for officers to re-grasp reality and for family members to understand the humanity of their man or woman behind the badge.

I held off reading "Cops Don't Cry," fearing a gushy book of emotions by a policeman's wife. I was delighted to find a most sobering look at the challenges faced by a spouse in such a relationship. On the one hand, the author spares no punches in sharing the difficulties and challenges, which will surprise those who are new and comfort those who've been in relationships for a time. On the other hand, she offers sound advice on making it all work, taking care of yourself and, above all, keeping a sense of humor. It's tough, she notes, especially when such things as trauma and PTSD enter the picture--but again, she walks the reader through the steps of making it all worthwhile. Great, informative reading.

Codependent No More: The pioneer book on how to stop trying to run everyone else's lives and focus on taking care of yourself. Must-reading for…well, everyone.

Anxiety Disorders in Adults: Contains excellent information on anxiety disorders in general and on PTSD, with focus on both catastrophic and cumulative PTSD, multiple trauma experiences, treatments and a table of "client metaphors" (D. Meichenbaum) for symptoms.

"I Can't Get Over It" is an excellent, comprehensive book for trauma sufferers and survivors of law enforcement suicide. While it is not addressed to police officers alone, it's an excellent, clearly written breakdown of PTSD, what it is, its symptoms and biochemistry, and the healing process. It contains a series of exercises which I, personally, feel are good but should be completed under the supervision of a therapist.

Jeanne Templeman and Associates is a collaborative of highly experienced persons who have diverse backgrounds in the disciplines of mental health, drug and alcohol recovery, nursing, social work, recreational therapy, chaplaincy and who are also "consumers". Their entire team is committed to meeting those needs. They provide consultation, training and in-service to other providers, and are currently working on developing continuing education programs for licensed professionals.

“Who Gets PTSD?” contains research by Violanti, Paton and others on why many police officers suffer full-blown PTSD and others do not. The book looks at trauma types, frequency of exposure, personal, event and organizational influences for keys. “From the moment the police officer enters police work, the socialization process molds him/her into depersonalized relationships and a myth of indestructibility. The effect of trauma, with its ensuing surge of emotions, devastates this myth." Excellent advanced reading for instructors, peer officers and others involved in police mental health programs.