THE NEXT STEP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 83
“We’re focusing on helping officers take care of themselves on
the front lines with the trauma they deal with every day,” Burkert
=
= with
= the stressors
= without
=
continues.= “It’s about learning
to =deal
= best
= of you,
=
= =
= that
= can benefit
=
it getting the
and =it’s something
a
= cop all the way up to somebody who has been on the job
rookie
for 30 years.”
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
There is also= a substantive
piece
in =place= at the =Princeton
=
=
House facility
who
= for= those
= first
= responders
= =
= are patients. Every
morning, Dr. Bizzarro, a former Port Authority police officer,
=
=
= =
= =
=
Perlstein, a former EMT, Schneider, who served 30 years in the
= = =
= = =
=
= =
=
=
=
Westfield Police Department, and Burkert facilitate group ses= =
=
=
=
=
sions for first responders. Though therapeutic in nature, the
= = everything
==
=
= = = from
==
= == with
= =
=to= worgroup= addresses
dealing
addiction
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
= enforcement
=
= = officers
=
= might =have = about dealing
= = = with
ries law
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
= = = issues,= going back
= to work
= = or pension==
attorneys,= disciplinary
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
= =
=
= =
related= questions.
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
==
=
=is facilitated
= =
= Bizzarro
=
= affords
=
“The group
by Dr.
who
everyone
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
= =
= to speak
=
= about
= their
= concerns
=
= and
= issues,”
=
= Burkthe opportunity
= = “Dr. Bizzarro
= =
= provides
=
= counseling.
=
ert details.
also
individual
Iris
provides
and
support
in
a
confidential
setting
for
group
= caring
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
= =
=
members
and I
= = to
= = their
= experiences,
==
= = = while
= = Jim
= share
= =Schneider
==
=
take the =peer
We
make
them
feel
like
they’re
= == perspective.
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
= =
= =
= =
= not
alone.
They
become
relaxed
and
are
willing
to
speak
about
their
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
= =
=
=
=
= =
own =personal
issues.
something
= =
=
= There’s
=
=
= to be said
= for first
responders
=
= = wanting
= =
= = able
= with somebody
=
= =who has
=
=to be
= =to =talk
been there.”
=
= =
=
==
=
=
It’s an extension of the Brother’s Keeper approach, which is
intended to help all first responders understand when stress has
become too overwhelming to deal with on your own and when
it’s controlling your entire thought process. Preliminary signs of
this, Burkert adds, would include sleep deprivation, problems at
home and frustration with colleagues who don’t appear to have
the “common sense and courage to perform certain duties.”
“I’m seeing officers having difficulties working collectively,
from those having a hard time fitting in with the new generation
to the officers burning out with just 10-12 years on the job,”
Burkert observes. “Also, based on what’s happening with the
pension and benefits, there’s also financial difficulties and the
stress of not being able to make it to the finish line.”
Still another aspect of the Brother’s Keeper initiative is
working with family members, especially spouses. The PART
Training has apparently filtered down to many PBA members’
wives who have seen friends take advantage of it or have read
about it in NJ Cops Magazine, according to Burkert. They are
becoming more aware of the services available and are reaching
out to their husbands’ partners, State Delegates or even
members they know in other towns to assist with making the
phone call to get treatment.
Burkert said there is an opportunity to create a training for
spouses of law enforcement officers and help them recognize
the signs of somebody in trouble and what to do when they see
them.
“It’s becoming a trend,” Burkert submits. “Law enforcement
officers’ wives are becoming more actively involved with helping
their significant others by reaching out to people the wives
would trust. And it’s not just wives. It’s older children and all family members. This is what being your Brother’s Keeper is all
about.” d
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■
FEBRUARY 2016
85