An innovative crisis referral program for law enforcement officers, firefighters and other public safety employees.

I write to request your support of SB 5131 and ask that you vote to pass this bill out of the Senate Human Services & Corrections Committee.  I serve on the board of directors of Safe Call Now, an innovative crisis referral program for law enforcement officers, firefighters and other public safety employees.  The passage of SB 5131 is critical for our success.

Safe Call Now was formed in 2008 in response to a need recognized within the public safety community for a means by which officers or firefighters experiencing mental health issues or other personal problems could feel secure coming forward to seek assistance.  As a private resource outside of their department, officers or firefighters in crisis will feel more secure to contact Safe Call Now for referrals to appropriate counseling or treatment before problems escalate.  As in many other professions, employees facing such challenges hide these problems for fear they may be stigmatized or have their careers negatively impacted by seeking assistance within traditional employee assistance programs or within their organizations.

As a private resource, it is also vital that our public safety professionals feel confident that when they contact Safe Call Now their communications and referral will remain confidential and privileged.  This right of privilege would only extend to their communication with Safe Call Now, and is critical so that officers will not be deterred from speaking openly with an advocate or from seeking information about counseling and treatment programs.

Of course, allowing such communication to remain confidential should in no way imply an agency's willingness to not hold their employees to use Safe Call Now, we certainly recognize the need to address misconduct.

I fell strongly that these protections are vital in encouraging our officers not to hide personal problems, which may eventually affect their job performance and even the safety of those they are sworn to protect, but rather to feel comfortable in seeking assistance before finding themselves in crisis.
 

R. Gil Kerlikowske, Chief of Police, Seattle Police Department
Letter Wrote in Support of SB 5131

A confidential peer-to-peer crisis referral and training program

I write to request your support for SB 5131.  This legislation seeks to support a crisis referral program for law enforcement officers, firefighters and other public safety employees.  It would also provide training for law enforcement and corrections officers in personal crisis recognition and crisis intervention services. 

During my long career in law enforcement, I have witnessed the effects of the stress and trauma officers and first responders experience in the field can cause personally.  Our ranks suffer higher than average rates of substance abuse, domestic violence and suicide.  In too many instances, an officer may not feel comfortable seeking help within a traditional employee assistance program where a counselor may not relate to the unique stresses of law enforcement work, or fear endangering his or her career by reaching out.  As a result, the problems fester and become unmanageable, often leading to tragic consequences for the employees, their families, and the public.   The cost to local law enforcement agencies can be tremendous, especially if compared with the cost of early intervention, when replacing a trained veteran officer may cost an agency hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In 2008, a group of law enforcement employees and managers came together to address this critical problem.  These individuals created a non-profit corporation, Safe Call Now, to develop a confidential peer-to-peer crisis referral and training program.  The program would operate independently so that employees could seek confidential referral for treatment without threatening their careers.  Crisis referrals would be done by trained volunteer officers staffing a twenty-four hour crisis hotline.  Safe Call Now has broad support from both public safety management and employee organizations, who are contributing substantial funding. 

SB 5131 contains two provisions needed to assist the work of Safe Call Now and other crisis referral programs.  First, the bill provides direction to the Criminal Justice Training Commission to train law enforcement and correctional officers to recognize personal crises and seek assistance before problems escalate.  Secondly, the bill provides for confidentiality for crisis referral services to give public safety employees the confidence they can seek assistance for personal difficulties without jeopardizing their careers. 

I ask that you support this bill so that we can establish this innovative program and begin to tackle this complicated issue.  A specialized crisis referral and training program for law enforcement has the potential to improve the lives of many officers and their families.
 

John Lovick, Snohomish County Sheriff
Letter Wrote in Support of SB 5131

Vital that our public safety professionals feel confident that when they contact Safe Call Now

Safe Call Now was firmed in 2008, in response to a need recognized within the public safety community, for a means by which officers or firefighters experiencing mental health issues or other personal problems could feel secure coming forward to seek assistance.  As a private resource outside of their department, officers or firefighters in crisis will feel more secure to contact Safe Call Now for referrals to appropriate counseling or treatment before problems escalate. As in many other professions, employees facing such challenges hide these problems for fear they may be stigmatized or have their careers negatively impacted by seeking assistance within traditional employee assistance programs or within their organizations.

As a private resource, it is also vital that our public safety professionals feel confident that when they contact Safe Call Now their communication and referral will remain confidential and privileged. This right of privilege would only extend to their communication with Safe Call Now, and is critical so that officers will not be deterred from speaking openly with an advocate or from seeking information about counseling and treatment programs.

Of course, allowing such communication to remain confidential should in no way imply an agency's willingness to not hold their employees accountable for any actions that may come to their attention.  While we want to encourage our employees to use Safe Call Now, we certainly recognize the need to address misconduct.

I feel strongly that these protections are vital in encouraging our officers not to hide personal problems, which may eventually affect their job performance and even the safety of those they are sworn to protect, but rather to feel comfortable in seeking assistance before finding themselves in crisis.

Gregory M. Dean, Fire Chief
Letter Wrote in Support of SB 5131

Don't ignore the warning signs. Help is available. 

Public Safety is a stressful, demanding career. You keep communities safe. You protect life and property. You enforce laws. You resolve conflicts. Public safety rests on your shoulders. What happens when your personal life and career are out of balance? You are going through a divorce. Your finances are out of control. You can’t sleep. A traumatic event at work is haunting you. Drugs and alcohol seem to lessen the effects.

Don’t ignore the warning signs.  Help is available. 

Safe Call Now was established by public safety employees from throughout Washington State, for public safety employees, including civilians. Several of those instrumental in creating this program are from Seattle PD.  They include Kevin Haistings, Mike Nolan, Harry James and Steve Redmond.

Safe Call Now has been endorsed and supported by numerous public safety labor organizations including the Seattle Police Officers Guild.  It is also supported by such organizations as The Behind The Badge Foundation (formerly the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial), The Seattle Chaplains Association, and many others.

Talk to someone who understands the stressful demands of your work. Safe Call Now is an independent organization that is not affiliated with any police, corrections or fire agency. 

If you or someone you know needs help, remember it’s just a simple and confidential phone call away.

Assistant Chief Nick Metz
wrote to the entire Seattle Police Department

Dare lessons took hold

Dear Mr. Riley,

You may not remember me. My name is Kendra Bean and you were my DARE officer at Peter Kirk Elementary (1995-1996, I think). I later became a police explorer. After a few years doing security patrol, I now work for the Grandview Police Dept as a dispatcher and I volunteer at the Sunnyside Police Dept as an explorer adviser. I am hoping to apply for a reserve officer position by the end of 2009, and go full time in the next couple of years.

I saw the Seattle PI article on Safe Call Now. I think that it is a great idea. Through explorers, security, and now dispatching, I've come across struggles in my own life, and witnessed the struggles of those around me. Often we don't talk about what is bothering us, don't feel that we can. Law enforcement is all that I know, I don't want to lose it. This support line is exactly what is needed.

Anyway, the reason I am writing (other than to say hi) is that I would like to know who I should write to ask for support for Bill 5131. Would it be a senator? A representative? My police chief? I'd like help get some support for this. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Any information would be appreciated.

Sincerely,
Kendra Marie Bean

P.S. When I went through the hiring process for this job, nobody (including the chief and the polygraph examiner) believed that I had never done any drugs, until I passed the polygraph. Those DARE lessons took hold.

This would have benefited my Husband

Dear Mr. Riley,

I am requesting information about hotline volunteers.  I currently work as a nurse.  My husband had been a police officer for 15 years until his suicide in 2007. I would like to volunteer my time to a cause that I feel would have benefited my husband.  When you have a moment sending me some information would be appreciated. 

Thank you,
Anonymity Requested

Reached out for help when it was finally too late

Dear Mr. Riley,

I am writing to you because my wife heard your presentation on c-span last night before the state legislature.  Although I did not hear it myself my wife gave me the gist of what you had said.  My story is similar in many ways; I could have used something like Safe Call.  I was a 12 year veteran of the Snohomish County Sheriff' Office when I injured myself jumping a fence serving a search warrant.  I ended up with two back surgeries and developed an addiction to pain killers.  This addiction took me down roads I had never expected and brought me to my knees. 

Up until this time I was a standout officer having tested against my peers both occasions and being selected for sex crimes and later major crimes/homicide.  I ended up altering a prescription after running out of medications.  I was caught and charged then placed on administrative leave.  Up until this moment I had neglected to reach out locally for help being fearful that I would be stigmatized if my agency ever found out and worse if people I put away recognized me in treatment.  In any case, I reached out for help when it was finally too late.

Eventually I resigned from SCSO and pursued completion of my degree after moving to Virginia in 2005.  I returned last year and currently work downtown Seattle as a drug and alcohol treatment counselor.  In this capacity I interview about 40 clients a week and teach anger management/relapse prevention course to about 100 men and women as well as facilitate group therapy meetings.

If there is anything I can do to assist Safe Call I would be grateful to do so.  If you wish to have a cup of coffee sometime to discuss any of this, I'm open!  Thanks for the work you are doing. 

Warm Personal Regards,

Preston Walcker

Many programs to help ordinary citizens, few exist to help public safety employees

People, who work in law enforcement, the fire service, or corrections, are just that, people.

They have the same troubles as you and me.

Although some of them end up doing heroic things sometimes, most of them have worries about paying their rent or mortgage, and the rest of their bills, just like most everyone else.

Unfortunately, far too many people, who are dealing with stress and anxiety, subconsciously turn to self medicating - with food, alcohol and legal or illegal drugs...

...While there are many programs to help ordinary citizens, few exist to help professionals. That group would include the folks who work in medical services, ambulance companies, and a variety of care providers who provide help or assistance to the public. This bill will help change that.

It is very important to note that Alcoholics Anonymous IS NOT a treatment program. AA is a support group.

The first step in getting comprehensive treatment is to realize that whatever it is that you are doing on your own is not working very well. The second step is to realize that it IS ok to ask for help.

The first thing on the need to do list is the mental health evaluation. You must find out what subconscious issues are causing the stress and anxiety. Once you open that closet door and turn on the light, it allows a better chance of treatment success.

Based on my personal observations, I believe that without meaningful mental health treatment, concurrent and interactive with drug or alcohol treatment, any drug or alcohol treatment will be at high risk of failure.

That is why there needs to be a comprehensive and concurrent approach to treating addiction.

I realize that some folks stopped drinking when they went to AA 25 years ago. However, those folks still are untreated alcoholics. Without delving into the mental health issues that drove the addiction train, that individual is at high risk of relapse and a train wreck.

From Seattle PI Sound Off Blog

Giving men the opportunity to seek help

Being a cop has to be one of the dirtiest jobs out there. Having to deal with tragedies both spectacular and mundane on a routine basis can't be good for one's mental health.

I fully support treatment for cops. I think it could have benefits that go beyond the mental health of police (which is important for obvious reasons). People in law enforcement and other traditionally masculine occupations tend to define the male ideal in our society, and giving men the opportunity to seek help without feeling that they must have failed to need it could have broad implications for the well-being of men, and by extension everyone else, across the country.

From Seattle PI Sound Off Blog

Huge stigma attached to any sort of mental problem

The problem isn't just the A-type ego, it's the public part of the job. Police and Firefighters are constantly in the public eye and judged for our actions.

Don't believe for a second the cop who is open about his depression or alcoholism or whatever will be judged fairly if someone decides he made a mistake and sues.

Don't imagine the firefighter who becomes addicted to heavy drugs because of his broken back will be patted on the head for seeking treatment.

There is still a huge stigma attached to any sort of mental problem, whether it's addiction, depression, or post-traumatic stress. Just ask a soldier coming back from Iraq if he feels comfortable admitting he can't sleep or gets shaky when he hears loud noises.

I, for one, think it should be confidential for everyone, whether they're public safety workers or not, if they consult a psychiatrist or counselor, and not held against them.

From Seattle PI Sound Off Blog