LAST NOVEMBER.. A LONG TIME SOUTH PORTLANDOLE P OFFICER TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.. SHAKING THE COMMUNITY.. BUT ALSO HELPING SHINE T HE SPOTLIGHT ONN AIMPORTANT ISSUE.. A FELLOW POLICE OFFICER D AN LONG TIME FRIEND OF THAT OFFICER SPOKE WITH WMTW NEWS 8'S ADRIANA SANCHEZ ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH.. JAKE LACHANCE - CUMBERLAND PD SERGEANT 04:26:43:14 "THE MORE WE CAN BE IN TUN ED WITH THOSE AND KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM AFTER TY HE HAPPEN THEN WE'LL BE BETTER OFF FOR EVERYBODY' 04:26:50:13 ADRIANA: THAT IS CUMBERLAND POLICE SERGEANT JAKE LACHANCE... TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF RESPONDING TO TRAUMATIC CAL..LS IN DECEMBER OF 2021.. FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A FRIEND AND FELLOW OFFICER.. SERGEANT LACHANCE STEPPED OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE.. AND STOODN I FRONT OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL TO TALK ABO UT THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING MENTAL HEALTH... áA BYTE OF THE VIDEO TALKI NG ABOUT SP OFFICER IN E BEGINNINá G ADRIANA: THE EVALUATIO NS THE CUMBERLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT CONDUCT FOR THEIR OFFICERS RECENTLY CHANGED 04:37:067 :1 "ITS NOT JUST COMING IN AND CHECKING BOXES OF 'HEY YOU'RE DOING GREAT OKER EP IT UP ITS HEY I KNOW YOU HAD THIS CALL THE OTHER DAY OR THE OTHER MONTH OR WHAT HAVE YOU HOW CAN WE HELP YOU THROUGH THAT OR HOW ARE YOU DOING THROUGH THAT - THERE'S MORE PROACTI VE TALKS ON OUR PART TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE HDLANED MORE PROPERLY" 04:37:26:19 ADRIANA: SERGEANT LACHCANE SAYS ALTHOUGH THERE IS A GROWING FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH.. THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO... LAUREN HAMPLE IS A THERAPIST WHO WORKS WITH THE CUMBERLAND PD OFFICERS.. SHE AGREES.. SINAYG THE STMAIG BEHIND MENTAL HEALTH PUTS A STRAIN ON OFFICERS SEEKING HELP LAUREN HAMPLE- EMDR ERTHAPIST 03:07: 22 "MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING THEIR BADGE AND GUN TAN KE AWAY, LOSING THEIR JOB LOSING THEIR LIVELIHOOD, BUT HERE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT BEING JUDGED, WHETHER IT'S SOMEONE FROM THEIR SUPERIORS OR THEIR PEERS, THE COMMUNITY" 03:26:07 ADRIANA: SHE ADDS.. IF THINGS DON'T CHANGE THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE OFFICERS LEAVING THE JOB... AS WE AR ALREADY E SEEING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.. BUT PROVIDING A FREE CONFIDENTIAL SERV
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Maine police officer shines light on mental health challenges law enforcement face
The death of a longtime member of the South Portland Police Department who took his own life last November, is putting a spotlight on the mental health challenges many first responders deal with.
A longtime member of the South Portland Police Department took his own life last November, shaking the community. His death has also put a spotlight on the mental health challenges many first responders deal with."The more we can be in tuned with those and know how to deal with them after they happen then we'll be better off for everybody,” Cumberland Police Department Sgt. Jake Lachance said about the challenges of responding to traumatic calls.After the death of his friend and fellow officer, Lachance stepped out of his comfort zone and spoke before the Cumberland Town Council to discuss the mental health of officers and other first responders.Since then, evaluations the police department conducts for its officers have changed."It’s not just coming in and checking boxes of ‘Hey, you're doing great, or keep it up.’ It’s, ‘Hey, I know you had this call the other day or the other month, or what have you. How can we help you through that, or how are you doing through that?’ There's more proactive talks on our part to make sure those are handled appropriately,” Lachance said.Lachance said that while there is a growing focus on mental health, there is a long way to go.Therapist Lauren Hample works with Cumberland police officers and agrees that the stigma behind mental health puts a strain on officers seeking help."Mostly because they concerned about having their badge and gun taken away, losing their job losing their livelihood, but they also worried about being judged, whether it's someone from their superiors or their peers, the community,” Hample said.Hample said providing a free confidential service for wellness checks on officers can help. She added that if things don’t change, more officers will continue to leave the profession.
CUMBERLAND, Maine —
A longtime member of the South Portland Police Department took his own life last November, shaking the community. His death has also put a spotlight on the mental health challenges many first responders deal with.
"The more we can be in tuned with those and know how to deal with them after they happen then we'll be better off for everybody,” Cumberland Police Department Sgt. Jake Lachance said about the challenges of responding to traumatic calls.
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After the death of his friend and fellow officer, Lachance stepped out of his comfort zone and spoke before the Cumberland Town Council to discuss the mental health of officers and other first responders.
Since then, evaluations the police department conducts for its officers have changed.
"It’s not just coming in and checking boxes of ‘Hey, you're doing great, or keep it up.’ It’s, ‘Hey, I know you had this call the other day or the other month, or what have you. How can we help you through that, or how are you doing through that?’ There's more proactive talks on our part to make sure those are handled appropriately,” Lachance said.
Lachance said that while there is a growing focus on mental health, there is a long way to go.
Therapist Lauren Hample works with Cumberland police officers and agrees that the stigma behind mental health puts a strain on officers seeking help.
"Mostly because they concerned about having their badge and gun taken away, losing their job losing their livelihood, but they also worried about being judged, whether it's someone from their superiors or their peers, the community,” Hample said.
Hample said providing a free confidential service for wellness checks on officers can help. She added that if things don’t change, more officers will continue to leave the profession.
