NJSACOP & Cop 2 Cop ... We are Stronger Together
By Cherie Castellano CSW , LPC , AAETS , Director Rutgers National Center for Peer Support
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | January 2023
Reflecting on my experience in the most recent New Jersey State Chiefs of Police meeting I was in awe of the leaders , connecting , supporting , training , and for my part highlighting the life changing efforts in times of crisis that New Jersey Chiefs provide to the officers they lead and the communities they serve .
Our 2022 Cop 2 Cop Crisis Leadership award was given to Chief Luis Guzman , Passaic Police Department who led a response to two officer suicides in one night , and then continued to utilize crisis leadership skills to coordinate care and support for his officers , families , and his command staff team by partnering with our crisis response team at Cop 2 Cop . Chief Guzman quietly accepted the award and later mentioned it was an honor to be amidst his peers and receive the honor . Beside me were our Cop 2 Cop Chief Peer Counselors , Retired Deputy Chief East Orange Anthony Woodson and Retired Morris Plains Chief Scott Thompson who collectively have over 60 years of experience and impressive biographies but their focus is solely to give back to their peers and officers in need by working at Cop 2 Cop . The humility and service that embodies these chiefs , actually each one of you , inspires me and the team at Cop 2 Cop to do more each year .
After 25 years working in the field of law enforcement psychological and peer support services and being the proud wife of Lt . Mark Castellano I remain inspired to ensure we offer you and your officers the support you need . Part of our problem the last few decades at Cop 2 Cop is that due to confidentiality we do not tell the stories of our support and success related to our work because we aspire to be like the Chiefs in their humble service . The problem with that is that sometimes only the problems are shared not all of the successes .
Our team at Cop 2 Cop quietly serves like all of you , and we have seen a significant increase in calls and support from Chiefs this past year . Increases in requests for crisis response / CISM services after suicides , shootings , child deaths and other critical incidents have our Cop 2 Cop peers leading groups across the state , and our calls have increased based on our partnerships with the Resilience program officers ( RPO ’ s ) who are working closely to build the resilience and respond to the needs of the officers you lead . Last year we updated our PTC course so that new officers will learn about all of the amazing resources available to them to thrive , not just survive in their law enforcement careers . A quote to reflect on as we begin the new year “ Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence .” Below you will find some facts and resources to share to ensure a successful effort to foster officer wellness at your agency .
Cop 2 Cop 22 years of service / Just the Facts … Cop2Cop Peer Support Program Unique Features / 1-866-267-2267
� Cop2Cop - Only Legislated Law Enforcement Peer Crisis Intervention Hotline in U . S . ( 1999 ) in over 20 years , more than 228,180 Cop 2 Cop helpline contacts and we have averted more than 326 potential law enforcement suicide crisis calls .
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The Cop2Cop Program offers 24 / 7 Access for a variety of law enforcement professionals and for their families . Dial 1-866-267-2267 Cop 2 Cop Peer Support , Cop 2 Cop Clinical Assessments , Cop 2 Cop Provider Network & Cop 2 Cop Crisis Intervention / Debriefing services
� Cop2Cop- “ Reciprocal Peer Support ” - A National Best Practice in Peer Support ( DCOE 2011 / APA 2018 ) “ Reciprocal Peer Support ” as a peer model received national recognition as a best practice in the LEMWHA Report to Congress 2019 as the emerging program in the U . S ., developed by Cherie Castellano , Director . “ National Best Practice in Peer Support ” by the Department of Defense Center for Excellence , The New York Times , FBI & the American Psychiatric Association in 2018 .
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Cop2Cop Peer Prevention -Cop 2 Cop Suicide Prevention Outreach & Training – Cop 2 Cop staff are trainers of the best practice gatekeeper model , “ Question Persuade and Refer ” ( QPR ) for law enforcement . A “ buddy system ” of support . We train 2,000 officers each year in this innovative model . Road to Resilience & Wellness training offered .
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