The Dothan Police Department has been awarded $50,018 through the 2021 Law Enforcement Mental Health & Wellness Act (LEMHWA), funded through the US Department of Justice COPS Office.
Officers respond to a variety of traumatic events, each affecting the mental health of personnel at every level of the organization, from responding officers to support staff. As a result, law enforcement personnel are at a greater risk for a variety of serious mental health issues, including depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The grant funds will provide a series of training seminars named “Body Armor: Protecting Those That Protect Us”. These seminars will provide services for Wiregrass area law enforcement officers, civilian staff, and their spouses and/or parents by providing professional guidance on officer emotional and mental health. The program will focus on areas such as peer support, suicide prevention, stress reduction, and police officer family services.
The well-respected Sheriff Tim Whitcomb of Cattaraugus County, New York and esteemed Dr. Tim Faulk will share their personal experiences and professional knowledge in officer wellness and resiliency. Officers and support staff are encouraged to register for this event at www.dothanpd.org. You do not want to miss these stories of heroism and triumph!
This project was supported, in whole or in part by federal award number 15JCOPS-21-GG-02161-SLEM awarded to the City of Dothan, Alabama by the US Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The opinions contained herein are those of the author(s) or contributor(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of policies of the US Department of Justice.