Peer Support is CIT
for Officers
Peer
Melissa Graham, PhD
Support
Team
Officer Ned Bandoske
Sergeant Romana Lopez
Officer Joseph Smarro
San Antonio Police Department
Definition
Peer support occurs when people
provide knowledge, experience,
emotional, social or practical help to
each other. It commonly refers to an
initiative consisting of trained
supporters, and can take a number of
forms such as mentors, listening, or
counseling
Philosophy and Purpose
The goal of peer support is to provide
Officers with the opportunity to
receive emotional and tangible support
through times of personal or
professional crisis and to help
anticipate and address potential
difficulties
Characteristics of Good
Peer Support Providers (PSPs)
Ability to establish trust and rapport
Enable peers to express their feelings
Practice good listening behavior, both verbal and
non-verbal
Understand value of good listening
Identify high stress and poor adaptive behavior
Able to determine what is a crisis, short term
problem, or a chronic problem
Identify suicide risk
Follow up on the progress of a peer
Who is the Client?
The term client will refer to any Police
Officer that makes a self-initiated
contact, is referred to, or contacted by
a peer advisor
Scope of Peer Support
When is Peer Support
Needed?
Officers often have a “tough guy” image
and a distrust of professionals, this can
inhibit seeking professional help
Needing help may be seen as a sign of
weakness
Discussing with peers can
be an acceptable alternative
So that nobody “falls through
the cracks”
Critical Incidents May
Include
Serious Injury or Death
Mass Casualty Incidents
Suicide of an Officer
Death or Illness of a Child
Family Member Death
Divorce
Domestic Violence
Job Stress
Accidents
Stress Reactions in Police
Officers
Police, as a group, experienced higher job stress than
the “normal” population
Officers double that of the general population where one
in 10 adults abuses alcohol
Police officers over the age of 40 had an increased risk
for arteriosclerosis
72 percent of female officers, compared to 43 percent of
male officers, had cholesterol levels higher than
recommended by medical authorities
Police officers as a group had higher-than-average pulse
rates and diastolic blood pressure
Officers over age 40 had the highest 10-year risk of a
coronary event when compared to national standards
Standards of Practice
Recruiting
Several Methods of Recruiting
– Self Nominated
– Nominated by a Co-Worker
– Run ad in bulletin or advertise through
e-mail
Hiring Process
Letter of Interest
Supervisor Referral/Letter
No Pending Internal Affairs
Investigations
Interview
Mandatory Training
Initial Training
Topics Include
– Introduction to Peer Support
– Ethics
– Confidentiality
– Depression / Anxiety
– Suicide
– Stress Reactions in Law Enforcement
Continuing Education
Ongoing training should be provided in
the form of quarterly continuing
education training on relevant topics.
Ethics
Ethical Considerations
PSP’s should avoid conflicting peer support
relationships
PSP’s who are also supervisors should be
sensitive to potential role conflicts and refer
when at all possible.
PSP’s know when to refer to avoid conflict of
interest.
PSP’s cannot abdicate their job responsibility as
officers.
ICAP Guidelines
Ethical Considerations
Continued
The behavior and actions of PSP’s reflect on the
peer support project as a whole
The personal integrity of the PSP is paramount and
his or her respect for each clients dignity, self-
development and personal welfare
PSP’s will not exercise power over clients or derive
personal gain from helping them
It is unethical for a PSP to accept gifts from a
client, engage in activities that meet their personal
needs at the expense of a client, or ask for favors
from clients. The sole reward is the satisfaction of
helping a fellow officer
Ethical Issues
In developing trust with a client remember
to explain your role clearly. PSP’s are
primarily caring and attentive listeners,
serving as a referral source to help
troubled officers find the help they need
They are not tasked in solving the clients
problems for them
Ethical Issues
PSP’s should not enter into “dual
relationships” with clients. These can
include supervisory relationships, a
panel member of a review board, or
any situation where it would be
difficult for the PSP to remain
objective
PSP’s strive to be neutral
Maintaining Boundaries
The Peer Support Program is non-
emergent
PSP’s will not be expected to be “on
call”
PSP’s will arrange their contacts with
people who are referred to them at
their mutual convenience
How to Develop Your
Own Program
Get Leadership Support
Must Have Support From Peers
Research What Other Departments
Have Done
Determine Your Departments Areas of
Need
Discussion/Questions?