York County (ME) Sheriff’s Office | Officer Wellness Submission Packet

York County (ME) Sheriff's Office | Officer Wellness Submission Packet

York County (ME) Sheriff's Office

State: ME

PDF Resource

The York County, Maine law enforcement agencies recognized the need for mental health and wellness support for their officers and applied for the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) grant. The grant allowed them to establish the York County Peer Support Team, a county-wide program aimed at providing much-needed peer support for law enforcement officers in the area. The team, led by York County Deputy Bob Carr and supported by Sheriff William King, was created to address the adverse mental health impacts and high risks of suicide faced by officers in small, rural departments.

The program was developed in response to the lack of regular critical incident debriefs and functioning internal peer support teams within the county. The team’s core group, formed from the initial applicants, worked on creating policies, application forms, and recruiting additional officers to build a diverse and supportive team. By September 2021, the team had expanded, gained buy-in from area chiefs, and enlisted the help of licensed clinicians and a chaplain to provide additional support.

The team’s progress was marked by the development of data collection methods, including surveys and documentation of their involvement in debriefs and individual officer encounters. This data was aimed at assessing the long-term need for the team and demonstrating its value to area agencies. Furthermore, the team made efforts to increase visibility and provide resources to officers through the creation of a brochure, with the support of NAMI Maine and a graphic artist on the peer team. The brochure contains information on stress responses, resiliency, and community resources, as well as contact information for peer support members.

The peer support team has become proactive in reaching out to officers in need and initiating debriefs for critical incidents including officer-involved shootings, fatal crashes, suicides, and other difficult events. The feedback from officers who have received support from the team has been overwhelmingly positive, and the team’s reputation has led to the normalization of critical incident debriefings in the area. The team also responds directly to critical incident scenes and includes all first responders, including dispatchers, in their debriefings.

In conclusion, the York County Peer Support Team has made significant strides in providing much-needed mental health and wellness support to law enforcement officers in the area. Through their proactive approach, development of resources, and responsive support for critical incidents, the team has built a positive reputation and become an essential resource for officers in need.