AG Coleman unveils statewide peer support effort
Attorney General Russell Coleman announced Wednesday his continued efforts to support the men and women of Kentucky law enforcement.
At a news conference in Covington, Coleman detailed the Office’s newest program: "Stand by the Badge" to support officer mental health.
The Office has launched a secure website for officers, deputies and troopers to access peers and resources to support them mentally, spiritually, and financially. A toolkit of best practices so agencies across Kentucky can stand up their own peer-support teams has also been created and made available to law enforcement.
The program awarded eight Kentucky law enforcement agencies funds to use for peer support services to strengthen officer mental health. The Office is continuing to seek additional funding opportunities to expand the ‘Stand by the Badge’ initiative.
Selected agencies will receive $5,000 for expenses including overtime for peer support specialists, training and education for peer support and wellness, and equipment for the teams.
The awardees include:
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Ashland Police Department will train officers to become peer support specialists and provide services to surrounding agencies.
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Daviess County Detention Center will send selected deputy jailers to training and then establish a peer support team within the jail.
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Elizabethtown Police Department will develop peer support and critical incident stress response resources, as well as provide a therapy dog for officers.
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Laurel County Sheriff’s Office will create a peer support team, beginning with sending six deputies to peer support specialist training.
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Paducah Police Department will establish a peer support team and fund team members to attend training.
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Scott County Sheriff’s Office will offer 24/7 peer support and wellness support to officers. Resources, including books about emotional survival following chronic stress, will be made available.
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The Northern Kentucky Police Chiefs Association will use funds to support their existing team, which provides services to over 50 agencies across eight counties.
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Warren County Sheriff’s Office will establish a peer support team, including training specialists by a mental health professional.
“When we give our law enforcement officers the opportunity to support one another, we build stronger officers, stronger teams, and ultimately safer communities,” said Attorney General Coleman. “Kentucky has some of the finest law enforcement officers in the business. We are honored to stand with them and put peer support programs in place that can offer hope, connection, and support when they need it most.”
Click here to watch the news conference.
The Attorney General’s grant program will expand existing peer support services already available in the Commonwealth. Some statewide resources currently exist to respond to critical incidents including officer-involved shootings, including the excellent work being done by the Department of Justice Criminal Training. The AG’s grants will provide funding for consistent peer support to address chronic day-to-day stressors and secondary trauma. Some large departments or regions already offer strong peer support programs, but other agencies, especially in rural communities, may lack the resources needed to operate their own teams.
“I’m grateful to Attorney General Coleman for providing this grant opportunity for peer support programs. This critical mental health initiative will help strengthen efforts to keep our deputy jailers and other law enforcement officers whole,” said Daviess County Jailer Art Maglinger, whose team received grant funding.
“Peer support teams are crucial to officers in crisis, after a critical incident, or those just struggling with the stresses of being a first responder. Support for these teams help officers be mentally and emotionally well; in return providing high-quality service to their communities,” Alexandria Police Chief Lucas Cooper, who helped stand up a peer support group for the Northern Kentucky region and received grant funding.
The AG’s Peer Support Grant Program was made possible through a grant from the nonprofit, bipartisan Attorney General Alliance.
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