Reflections on Leading in Challenging Times
By Cherie Castellano , CSW , LPC , AAETS
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | May 2023
The aftermath residual effects of the stress of a global pandemic and nationwide protests about police misconduct has more cops reaching out for help and leaders are rising to foster Officer Wellness in New Jersey .
At Cop2Cop we have noted recent increases in calls , requests for training and prevention services and most significantly requests for our crisis response services in the aftermath of trauma and critical incidents . Police Chiefs throughout New Jersey have informed this increase as officials because you have worked to reduce the stigma of asking for help . You ’ re saying , “ make the call ” which has long lasting impact unknown to most due to our strict confidentiality guidelines . Often that initial Cop2Cop call becomes ongoing peer support calls with multiple conversations with only a small fraction of the callers discussing the threat of suicide .
What is clear during these Cop2Cop calls is that cops are undoubtedly under more pressure in the wake of the pandemic and protests about the police .
We have heard from officers about violence at protests , and feeling threatened , isolated in their communities and concerned about their families and their futures . Officers have reported anxiety , grief , loss , and trauma exposure more than ever before . Many officers struggle with serving their communities committed to protect and serve while feeling “ disheartened and sad ” about the scrutiny and judgment they face daily .
It doesn ' t help that police protests follow years of working under the threat of the pandemic , when some officers experienced illness , loss and family stress all while in the service to others .
The community embracing officers is a big part of their job satisfaction and when that connection is not there , they ’ re feeling it .
Although Cop2Cop is mainly for New Jersey officers , we receive calls from across the country . Interactions increased following the declaration of the pandemic as well as the George Floyd case events .
Most Americans do not have high confidence in police , according to a Gallup poll . The 48 % of people who expressed having “ quite a lot ” or “ a great deal ” of confidence in law enforcement was the lowest share in 27 years , and the decline was even more pronounced among black adults , fewer than a fifth of who reported high confidence .
“ There is no question that this is a difficult time for police officers , who are facing new challenges and risks from the COVID crisis , while simultaneously facing a crisis of trust because of “ unjustified deadly force ” in other cities ,” stated Attorney General Gurbir Grewal as he launched the New Jersey Resilience officer training directive .
After three years of success our Cop2Cop professional peer counselors and licensed clinicians continue to partner to mentor and support the Resilience program peers ( RPO ’ s ) who are trainers , not mental health professionals . We staff a RPO helpline with professional peers and licensed clinicians designed exclusively to respond to the needs of the 700 plus RPO ’ s in New Jersey who may find themselves facing an officer in distress or coping with real mental health or addiction challenges from the officers they train in resilience skills . Many call Cop2Cop directly for a handoff but the new RPO helpline offers them consultation and guidance .
Cop2Cop offers our national best practice model peer support services as part of our Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care National Center for Peer Support serving a variety of high risk first responders , military , and caregiver populations . Although Cop2Cop is legislated by law and funded annually , we have not had an increase in funds in 23 years . Based on our huge service demand increase and 23 years of service at Cop2Cop , I recently offered testimony at a budget hearing sharing statistics and outcomes to request additional funding for FY 24 . The increased funds will be utilized to hire more peer and clinical staff to be “ live ” 24 / 7 and to respond to increased crisis response requests without depleting the Cop2Cop helpline staff resources .
As leaders you recognize in challenging times you need to maximize your toolkit for Officer Wellness . Today include in your toolkit the access to Resilience Training ( RPO ’ s ) to build strength , use Cop2Cop or your EAP to offer culturally competent peer support and mental health services , and in the aftermath of a crisis or critical event access Critical Incident Stress Management teams like Cop2Cop , EAP , Community or Union resources . If all else fails , perhaps explore the NJ Police Chaplains Association and keep the faith . Thank you for shining in the darkness we face in these challenging times .
Cop2Cop 1-866-267-2267 RPO Helpline 1-833-486-5776
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