Officer Wellness and the Law: How Mandates and Legal Decisions Have Impacted Services and Support for Law Enforcement Employees

Monday, October 21, 2024

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET

Location: 257AB

Submitter and Speaker(s)

Sherri A. Martin, MA, LPCA

National Director of Wellness Services
Fraternal Order of Police
Meriden, Connecticut, United States

Speaker(s)

Thomas Coghlan, PsyD

Police Psychologist
Blue Line Psychological Services
Great Neck, New York, United States
Joseph King

Sergeant, Peer Support & Family Assistance Units
Boston (MA) Police Department
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Katherine Kuhlman

Police Psychologist
Kuhlman Psychology and Consulting
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

As agencies work to implement wellness services, practices, and programs aimed at supporting personnel, vigilance is required. While programs may originate with the best of intentions, without care and consideration of how they will be perceived and received by affected personnel, pitfalls and wasted effort may be realized too late. This presentation will explore key intersections between wellness services and legislation and legal rulings affecting their implementation. Four key topics will be explored: (1) confidentiality and privilege in peer support; (2) mandated mental health visits with clinicians; (3) public safety officer benefits and deaths by suicide; and (4) presumptive coverage under workers’ compensation for PTSD diagnoses. Strategies for ensuring success will be included.