Commanding a team of uniformed community engagement specialists tasked with building and enhancing police / community relations throughout the city. All officers on the team are trained as Crisis Intervention Team officers in the Memphis Model. The officers serve as liaisons between the police department and their assigned neighborhoods. The team's functions include attending monthly meetings of community groups and neighborhood associations, developing long-term plans and solutions to chronic or complex crime issues, mediating neighborhood disputes, and coordinating with regulatory and licensing agencies in the oversight of commercial properties.My previous & ancillary assignments include:Uniformed Patrol OfficerTraffic collision investigatorMobile Enforcement Team (targeted street-crimes suppression unit)Bicycle mounted community policing officerField Training OfficerPolice Academy instructorPolice Peer Support ProviderCrisis Intervention Team (CIT) Trainer & CoordinatorHostage NegotiatorHonor Guard Commander

Member and Team Leader with the Crisis Management Hostage Negotiations Team for the Wilmington Police Department.

Selected in January 2014 to act as the Training and Team Coordinator for the implementation of the Crisis Intervention Team (Memphis Model) concept for a 312 officer police department. My responsibilities include selection and training of new team members and providing for their continuing education. I also serve the State of Delaware CIT Committee as a law-enforcement advisor and act as in instructor for state-wide public safety personnel at the semi-annual certification sessions. In my capacity as Team Coordinator, I was tasked with developing, writing, and implementing the directive and standard operating procedure by which the team is managed.The Memphis Model Crisis Intervention Team is a police-based psychological first-aid concept. Police and other first responders are trained to respond to calls for service involving persons experiencing crises of mental health. The goal is for the responding officers to calm and de-escalate the crisis, assess the needs of the individual, and facilitate hand-off to appropriate care. Through proper implementation of the program, the teams reduce the incidence of uses of force, injured officers, and injured citizens.

- 23 years of experience as a Critical Incident Stress Management peer supporter to law enforcement and first responders throughout Delaware- Team training and operations coordinator for the Critical Incident Stress Management team for a 320 member urban police department- Certifications include: individual peer support, group crisis support, advanced crisis intervention, suicide intervention and prevention, stress management for law enforcement, line of duty death. As Team Coordinator I ensure that all active team members achieve and maintain levels of training appropriate to our mission. I receive emergency notifications and assemble necessary resources for immediate-need team call outs. I arrange for ongoing support of personnel following traumatic stress incidents. I maintain a relationship with clinicians and professionals specializing in emergency services support and mental health. I consult regularly with these professionals to ensure that my personnel receive the timeliest and most appropriate continuing care possible.I presently oversee the management and continuing development of wellness programs for the department, focusing on initiatives to improve the mental, physical, and professional health of our officers. To that end we offer peer support services, stress management, clinical referrals, and confidential wellness visits. As of April 2023 I will launch WPDs first wellness / critical incident response dog program, deploying a trained mental health canine for use in internal wellness as well as community mental health crises.

Law Enforcement career spanning more than 26 years:Commanded a uniformed patrol platoon of approximately thirty officers and four sergeants. Responsible for the efficient and effective allocation of manpower, managing payroll and overtime, monitoring attendance & scheduling, and overseeing investigations and discipline at the platoon level.

Supervising and training officers in the patrol division and overseeing day-to-day operations at the platoon levelConducting initial internal investigations and ensuring adherence to policy and procedureReviewing crime reports and other documents prepared by patrol officersOverseeing the submission of evidence and ensuring proper security and handlingManaging attendance, staffing levels, and assignments

Supervisor over a specialty unit tasked with the safety, security, and quality of life in Wilmington's business improvement districts.- Acted as the direct police department liaison to the business improvement district management companies- Conducted safety and security assessments and presentations for businesses ranging from sole proprietorships to top 100 companies on the Fortune 500 list- Formed and maintained business/residential coalition groups as a platform for the police and communities to share ideas and concerns- Formed a partnership with the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to address chronic homelessness in the city by connecting individuals with services- Performed direct outreach work into the homeless community and with persons experiencing persistent mental illness to build trust between their community and law enforcement- Managed day to day police operations, scheduling, training, personnel records, and personnel assignments- Reviewed reports, warrants, evidence, and other officer-generated documents for completeness and accuracy- Reported on the state of the district up the chain of command weekly, addressing areas of concern and areas of improvement

CIRS is dedicated to peer support and wellness training & education for first responders. We have numerous course offerings that range from basic peer supporter to specialties in Law Enforcement, veterans, clinicians, and other disciplines. Our principle instructors are a Licensed professional counselor with extensive experience working with first responders and a 26 year veteran police officer and unit commander with more than twenty years of peer support experience. We are available to travel to your agency at any location in the continental US for any of our courses. We are happy to put together any combination of our classes for a multi-day seminar to suit your needs. Inquire about how your agency can train its own personnel at no cost.We are also available to help create, expand, or mentor peer support teams.

Director on the board of a mental health & educational nonprofit

• Providing critical incident stress management support for individuals, groups, and businesses• Post-incident support and pre-incident education and awareness for traumatic stress• Ongoing stress mitigation support• Referral to further care and/or clinicians

Serving as a law enforcement liaison on the NAMI Delaware Advisory Board.Projects include the annual appeal, fundraising activities, Crisis Intervention Training for public safety personnel, and coordinating training opportunities between law enforcement agencies and NAMI, Delaware.

Elected to the Board of Directors- March 2017

Served three terms as the president of a Fraternal Order of Police local lodge serving the members of four municipal police departments, approximately 350 active officers and nearly as many retirees.As president, I preside at all meetings of the Lodge, Board of Directors, and its Executive Board and enforce order and a strict compliance with the adopted by-laws, and rules and regulations of the Lodge. With the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, I appoint a majority of any committee, or committees, to inquire into any affair or matter affecting the concerning the Lodge. By virtue of my office, I serve as a member of all standing committees. Along with the Recording Secretary, I sign all contracts and other official documents authorized by the Board of Directors. Along with the Treasurer or the Financial Secretary, I sign all orders on the Treasury or depository for the disbursement of Lodge funds.I serve the local lodge as a delegate to the Biennial National Conference and the Biennial State Conference.I serve on the contract negotiating team to establish collective bargaining agreements between the City of Wilmington and the Lodge on behalf of the sworn active duty members of the police department.I ensure that the contract is applied correctly and that both sides (labor and management) comply with the provisions therein, initiating mediation or arbitration in instances where there are disagreements.

- Acted as a liaison between the police department and my assigned neighborhoods- Attended monthly meetings of community groups and neighborhood associations- Developed long-term plans and solutions to chronic or complex crime issues- Mediated neighborhood disputes- Coordinated with regulatory and licensing agencies in the oversight of commercial properties