The National Fraternal Order of Police, whose Director of FOP Officer Wellness Services, Ms. Sherri Martin, was Recognized in the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security and Government Excellence Awards for “Excellence in Public Safety Officers Wellness & Resilience,” regrettably reported that as of midnight on November 30th, there have been 350 officers shot in the line of duty to date in 2023.
This includes a 10% increase from 2021 and a 23% from the 2020 year-to-date numbers.
Of those officers shot, 42 of them were killed by gunfire, for a blessed reduction of 29% from 2021 and 7% from 2020 year to date.
But numbers are just that – numbers.
As Director Steven Dettelbach, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Explosives, expressed passionately in his keynote address at the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security and Excellence in Public Safety Awards Ceremony and Banquet Luncheon, the epidemic of Gun Violence by Illegal Guns taking place across the United States is claiming over 125 deaths daily.
We must go beyond the numbers and truly understand that each represents a person’s life.
A man or woman who heard the call, stepped up to make a difference and selflessly put themselves in harm’s way on behalf of ALL OF US, our families, neighborhoods, cities, and nation.
Each person will never return home at shift end: leaving wives, husbands, children, parents, siblings, families, friends, beloved pets, and loved ones devastated. Leaving children without a parent and surviving spouses alone.
These catastrophic losses impact generations of families and are particularly and repeatedly devastating during the holiday seasons when open chairs sit empty at holiday dinners, celebrations, and annual family traditions.
According to the National Fraternal Order of Police’s newly released ‘Officers Shot in Line of Duty’ report (see here in its entirety) – there have been 108 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers this year.
These ambush-style attacks have resulted in 130 officers being shot, 18 of whom were killed by gunfire.
“The dangers law enforcement officers across the country face each day are growing due to the increase in targeted attacks and the nationwide crime crisis, which has seen criminals emboldened by the failed policies of pandering prosecutors and cynical politicians,” stated National FOP President Patrick Yoes.
“Frankly, it is unlike anything I’ve seen in my 36 years of law enforcement.”
“In 2022, officers weathered one of the most dangerous years for law enforcement since the Fraternal Order of Police began recording this data in late 2015, and 2023 is on track to exceed this total.
“It is time to raise our voices and demand that Congress take action to address the violence towards law enforcement officers. Pass the Protect and Serve Act!
“It is incumbent upon our elected officials and community leaders to stand up, support these heroes, and condemn the violence against law enforcement officers.”
(Rep. John Rutherford (FL-05) hosts a bipartisan press conference on the Protect and Serve Act, legislation that creates federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target law enforcement officers in the line of duty. Courtesy of Rep. John Rutherford and YouTube. Posted on May 18, 2023.)
While the stresses are relentless, police officers, like firefighters and other first responders, are perceived as “tough.“
These added pressures lead to a stigma surrounding mental health challenges that keep many officers and first responders from seeking the help they need.
As we continue to face a rash of law enforcement suicides, it is time that we recognize the psychological toll of wearing the badge and honor the sacrifices of those officers who take their own lives.
Explore these issues and more in the video that follows, and learn about the Public Safety Officer Support Act and its implications for the future of law enforcement wellness programs.
It’s not just an eye-opener but a call to action for agencies, policymakers, and the public to recognize and address the mental health crisis among law enforcement, officers, and other first responders.
Tune in to understand the depth of the problem and what can be done to create a safer, healthier environment for those who protect and serve.
(National FOP President Patrick Yoes sits down with Dr. Serena Liebengood, a physician and suicide survivor, to discuss the critical issue of police officer wellness and mental health. Dr. Liebengood shares her personal story of losing her husband, Howie, a 15-year veteran of the U.S. Capitol Police, to suicide. The conversation delves into the systemic stressors that law enforcement officers face and the urgent need for comprehensive wellness programs. Dr. Liebengood brings her unique physician and public health expert perspective to shed light on the complex issue of officer wellness. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on organizational stress as a significant factor affecting officers’ mental health. Courtesy of the National FOP and YouTube. Posted on Oct 10, 2023.)
Learn more about the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-172), and what it means for law enforcement, fire services, and first responder communities.
The Public Safety Officer Support Act makes significant changes to the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program – extending coverage for first responders who die as a result of suicide under certain circumstances or are permanently and totally disabled as a result of traumatic self-inflicted injury.
The law is retroactive to January 1, 2019.
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States by calling or texting to 988.
(Detecting and treating a mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder, is not something to attempt on your own. Like many health conditions, help for mental health concerns takes professional diagnosis and treatment. And the earlier you get treatment, the better. If you or a loved one has mental health concerns, get professional help. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline—1-800-662-HELP (4357)—for 24-hour, free, confidential treatment referral. For more information, visit www.SAMHSA.gov/support. Courtesy of SAMHSA and YouTube.)
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is funded by the U.S. Department of Health’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
It provides FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SUPPORT to people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the U.S.
Sherri Martin, Director of FOP Officer Wellness Services Honored in 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Awards
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards, the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, now entering its Ninth Year, recognizes industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
Sherri Martin, Director of FOP Officer Wellness Services
Excellence in Public Safety & Community Resilience
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FOP Wellness Services
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Sheri Martin, the FOP National Director of Wellness Services, served most of her 23-year police career at the Charleston Police Department in South Carolina, where she achieved the rank of Lieutenant.
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She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Counseling from the Citadel, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
(In this episode of the Blue View, hear directly from Sherri Martin, National Director of Wellness Services at the FOP, as she sits down with National FOP President Patrick Yoes. FOP Division of Wellness Services provides a variety of resources to FOP members, including education, connections to culturally competent wellness practitioners, and guidance in all matters related to staying healthy and productive. Courtesy of the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and YouTube.)
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Sherri is licensed as a Professional Counselor Associate in Connecticut and has experience in trauma therapy work with military veterans.
The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security and Government Excellence Awards is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony and Banquet Luncheon.
In 2023 this exclusive sold-out event featured at ISC East, well over two hundred representatives of law enforcement, public safety, and industry leaders came together to honor the selfless service of those who stand on the front lines – and those who stand beside them – providing the capabilities and technologies to create a safer world for future generations.
Comprehensive collaborations between these private and public sectors have led to the development of innovative intelligence and technologies that serve to protect our Nation.
Steven Dettelbach, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Explosives, delivered the keynote address at the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security and Excellence in Public Safety Awards Ceremony and Banquet Luncheon.
Director Dettelbach spoke with passion on the epidemic of Gun Violence by Illegal Guns taking place across the United States, which results in over 125 deaths daily and impacting generations of families – leaving open chairs at holiday events.
Firearm injuries were the leading case of death for children for the third year in a row, he explained, and have doubled in the U.S. since 2021, levels that are simply intolerable.
Director Dettelbach lauded the strong partnerships with Federal, State, Local, and Tribal Policing that ATF has earned and relies upon to reduce violence and spoke with admiration as a former prosecutor on the selfless sense of mission and drive that is universal across the entire First Responder Community.
The prestigious Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program highlights the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
The ‘ASTORS’ was specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit, and intelligence to end-users in a variety of government, homeland security, enterprise, and public safety vertical markets.
The 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program was Proudly Sponsored by Platinum Event Sponsor: NEC National Security Systems (NSS)
And Our RETURNING Premier Sponsors:
ATI Systems, Automatic Systems of America,
Guard Dog AI, IPVideo Corporation, Rajant Corporation, RX Global, SIMS Software, and American Security Today!
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old-school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace and brings forward a fresh, compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorials that provide solutions to their challenges.
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AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches Private and public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from the Government at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as from private firms allied to the government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants and Dams, Bridges and Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting and Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools and Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, Be On the LookOut for the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2023 ‘A Year in Review.’
The Annual CHAMPIONS edition reviews ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.
It will serve as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2023 Products and Services’ endorsed by American Security Today and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware, and Networking Security – to name a few), the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION will have WHAT YOU NEED to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It will also include featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders and recognized firms in the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2024 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
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