5 days ago
How violence against officers affects police, first repsonders
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Following a difficult week for law enforcement in central Ohio, agency leaders are making sure their officers know mental health support is available.
Last week, Morrow County Deputy Daniel Scherrer was shot and killed, two Mifflin Township Police officers were shot, and other officers were shot at during other tense situations.
'Even though it didn't involve our department, it was a tough week to be a police officer in central Ohio,' Columbus Division of Police Lt. Tyler Wells said. 'We're all one, we're all in the same profession together, so whether it happened in California, whether it happens in Ohio, that affects us.'
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Wells is the acting commander of the division's wellness bureau. He said what happened last week can weigh heavily on the minds of officers.
'We start from day one in the training academy, preparing officers for situations like this,' Wells said. 'We let them know they're not alone.'
The bureau is always checking on officers, has clinicians available, and also has a 127-member peer assistance team. The Gahanna Division of Police also has a peer assistance team.
'Whenever these tragic incidents happen, there are some unseen scars that may happen or manifest themselves weeks, months, maybe even a year later,' Gahanna Division of Police Chief Jeffrey Spence said.
The resources in CDP's wellness bureau are also available to other agencies in the area, Wells said.
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'In the law enforcement community, we are one, so we look forward to taking care of anybody else that needs our assistance and provide them with the same amount of resources we provide our personnel,' he said.
Spence said 911 operators can also be affected by these situations and wants to make sure their well-being is not forgotten.
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