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The NOPD Made A Big Investment This Year In Mental Health Support For Officers And Their Families

by Dawne Massey

December 9, 2016

Categories: On the Beat

Topics: Modernizing Policing

The NOPD Made A Big Investment This Year In Mental Health Support For Officers And Their Families

When gunshots rang out on Bourbon Street in the early morning of November 27th, NOPD officers worked quickly to secure the scene and to get help for the victims. At the same time, Cecile Tebo began work to get mental health help for the officers responding.

Tebo, a civilian and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), heads up the NOPD’s Officer Assistance Program (OAP), a first line of support and mental health assistance for NOPD officers and their families. Part of that support includes Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). Shortly after the Bourbon Street shooting, she held a “mental health debrief” for officers who responded to the scene.

“It’s totally confidential, no notes are taken,” said Tebo. “We just talked through the incident. I asked the questions: What were you doing before the shooting?, What do you remember about what happened?, What were your thoughts when things went down?, and What would you change? It lasted about an hour, and no one was forced to talk – you can just sit and listen.”

The mental health session is part of a first-ever comprehensive program of support provided by OAP. In addition to Tebo, Mike Miller, who is also a LCSW, serves as civilian support. The duo offers confidential counseling for individuals and couples. They utilize a network of resources to connect officers and their families with confidential mental health services including psychologists and psychiatrists, rehab centers for substance abuse, nursing homes and mental health facilities. They’ve even helped officers with homeless and mentally ill family members get them off of the streets and into mental health treatment programs. 

Tebo estimates they’ve assisted 150 officers in the 18 months the program has been in operation, and they’re starting to see a deeper appreciation for mental health care. Word of mouth is spreading and the program has made a significant impact this year. Tebo said she’s seeing officers who are bringing in their partners and co-workers to OAP for help.

“The program offers a new level of intermediary care,” said Tebo. “In the past, a PTSD diagnosis or admitting you were suffering high stress could trigger termination. But now we’re saying ‘We’re OK with this – we can help.’ Today, if an officer is exhibiting increased aggressiveness or has an increased number of citizen complaints, PIB refers the officer to OAP. It’s not mandated that they seek help, but it is an option.”

OAP is expanding to include a one-on-one support program that currently has 10 officers trained to help fellow officers in a variety of areas.

“If it’s a substance abuse problem, I have an officer who is 15 years into his own recovery that can reach out to you. If you’ve been involved in an officer-involved shooting, I have an officer who can help walk you through it,” said Tebo.

In addition, OAP is involved with the NOPD’s Crisis Intervention Team training (CIT), and they’re among the first on the scene offering support for officer-involved accidents or tragedies.  Representatives from OAP’s crisis team are dispatched to the hospital, scene and district station, offering support and linking the officer and his or her family members to needed support services. The team includes Tebo, Miller, psychologist Dr. William McDermott, and NOPD chaplains and officers.