“There’s a lot to be done to raise awareness of families,” Hough said.Īlthough departments are doing a better job of providing mental health support, more needs to be done. He says those going into law enforcement or other high-stress areas of public service need to consider, “what it entails being a first responder and putting on that uniform.”īeyond witnessing and experiencing potential trauma, there are family disruptions such as demanding work schedules, odd hours, missed holidays, and other everyday concerns. Steve Hough is a former policeman and cofounder of Blue H.E.L.P., which advocates for first responders and tracks the numbers of those who died by suicide. Westminster Police Chief Darin Lenyi talks about mental health telling his officers that it is “okay not to be okay,” trying to remove the stigma of seeking help with depression during a Mental Health Awareness Patch Dedication and Unveiling Ceremony at the police department. Though suicide is at the farthest end of the mental distress spectrum, police also experience high rates of divorce, substance abuse, and other adverse outcomes. Sometimes officers are able to deal with it, but some can’t. Life and the job don’t stop, especially with family and other concerns, the stress and depression can build. “Instead you go home and think you’re normal, and you’re not.” “I saw things that warranted seeing someone and didn’t,” Atkinson admitted. While true in concept, it is easier said than done. In addition to being dedicated to the fallen officers, Lenyi said, “This wall is also a reminder that it’s OK to not be OK and seek help.” “(Richard’s suicide) turned my life upside down and having to raise four kids.” “You don’t want to lose someone and then see someone like me standing here,” she said. “We are exposed to humanity at its worst on a daily basis,” Westminster Chief Darin Lenyi said at the unveiling, noting the sky-high numbers of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in police.Ĭarrie Atkinson, Richard’s widow and a former WPD officer, came to the unveiling and spoke about the importance of seeking help for those in distress. “There’s a lot of despair, a lot of fear,” said Williams, who has seen and treated many police and first responders with suicidal thoughts. Heather Williams, who specializes in treating mental health issues among first responders in her private practice and has more than 20 years of experience responding to critical incidents. “It continues to shift in the right direction,” said Dr. The battle to remove the stigma of suicide and recognize mental health as just that - a health issue - is slow and ongoing. Those three are recognized with plaques on the Westminster Police Officers’ Memorial in City Plaza. Weber and Frank died from work-related illnesses, while Phillips, a motorcycle officer, perished in a traffic accident while on duty. In addition to Richard and Pate, Westminster lost three officers early: Lt. Throughout the month of May, officers in the department can wear green shoulder patches, while professional staff will be offered green ribbons and lapel pins, to support the cause. The surrounding wall is painted a bright Kelly green, the color that represents the month and is meant to symbolize new growth, new life, and new beginnings.įor the first time, the two officers are being commemorated in a central space in the police department. “The timely compensation of our employees is high priority for the City Manager and we are continually monitoring the effectiveness of the solutions that have been put in place.A Westminster PD officer wears the new green Mental Health Awareness Patch, to be worn for the month of May, raising awareness for Mental Health. “There could still be some instances when overtime is one pay period behind if the OT forms are not submitted by the due date for the pay period,” a city spokesperson said in an emailed statement. In response to our questions, the city said the problem had been ongoing for about a year due to “an unprecedented amount of overtime and staffing shortages.” KXAN began looking into the APD overtime payment issue after receiving tips about payment delays. They worry the issue could dissuade officers from volunteering to work critical overtime hours when they are needed the most. Though city management said APD overtime payment glitches have been mostly solved, some public safety leaders said the problems remain. While APD officers are racking up historic levels of overtime, KXAN learned the city has had problems paying that extra income in a timely manner. Austin Police officer Gavin Smart patrols downtown Austin’s 6th Street in mid-May with KXAN reporter Brianna Hollis.
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