The Bonney Lake Police Department recently partnered with an independent licensed clinical social worker for mental health training and support services.
Officers with the Bonney Lake Police Department have a new mental health resource at hand.
The Bonney Lake Police Department entered into a contract agreement on February 1 with a licensed independent clinical social worker to provide peer support training and mental health support services to officers.
The social worker is expected to assist and train the department’s peer support team, which is made up of about four officers, Chief Bryan Jeter said. The social worker is also expected to provide training on strategies such as traumatic stress management.
“This allows us to call her in for help,” Jeter said.
The contract will be continuous and may be terminated at any time, as agreed. The social worker will be paid $150 per hour as needed by the agency, which will come from the city’s general fund. Jeter said she also has contracts with the Fife, Puyallup and Lakewood police departments.
Jeter said officers are the city’s greatest resource. The department wants to make sure they are investing in the mental health and well-being of officers, something that has been overlooked for many years, she said.
“Over the last two years there has been a focus on taking care of our officers,” Jeter said. “This was our attempt to try to make sure that we have resources for our officers.”
Jeter said that while most city employees have access to employee assistance programs, employees who are officers or first responders aren’t always served.
Unlike officers, the average person doesn’t witness homicides, child abuse or suicide, Jeter said. The trauma first responders are exposed to on a daily basis can be difficult for the general public to understand, she said.
“This is the first time we’ve been able to find someone local who specializes and is trained to work with the special circumstances of a first responder,” Jeter said.
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