During his nearly three decades in law enforcement, Police Chief Steve Haulmark has seen up-close what can happen when a first responder suffers stress and trauma on the job.

This is why he has emphasized the importance of the Central Kansas Debriefing and Peer Support Team since becoming chief here in January 2021. Haulmark came here after 25 years at the Kansas City, Ks. Police Department.

“Mental health and wellness have been important to me for a long time,” Haulmark said. “I have seen colleagues and friends face extraordinary stress following a critical incident and not deal with it properly.

“Police officers and other first responders need a positive outlet to help them face the aftermath of an incident before stress manifests itself in a negative way. A debriefing can prevent some of the damage to themselves and their families.”

The police chief is well aware that some officers were not happy when he made debriefing sessions mandatory.

“Some people here were not interested in attending a debriefing and some were even angry about it,” Haulmark recalled. “However, they later expressed that it was beneficial to them.

“In my experience, many officers will decline the opportunity for a debriefing if it is voluntary,” Haulmark continued. “There has been a stigma attached to anyone who might seem weak or vulnerable. But I know it is a huge help to first responders when they talk about what they see and feel at a critical incident.”

Haulmark gives a lot of credit for the team’s recent successes to Great Bend Police Department Det. John Reynolds and Kelley Johnson, therapist.

“It obviously takes a special type of person to do this kind of work,” Haulmark said. “You have to genuinely care about others, as they try to make sense of their emotions. We are very fortunate that John and Kelley stepped up to help in this capacity.”

Kelley Johnson

The decision to make debriefings mandatory at the police department “is exactly what we needed,” said Kelley Johnson, therapist at Avenues for Change, 809 Patton. “In the past, debriefings were rare.

“But since Chief Haulmark came along, first responders are getting the attention they deserve. Making it mandatory is huge and the responses from earlier naysayers have been phenomenal. Officers have become engaged in the whole process.”

While first responders struggle with the aftermath of a critical incident, Johnson noted there is another side to this story.

“We tend to forget the flip side – the time spent at the actual scene of a critical incident,” she commented. “In addition to their reactions to the incident, first responders have to deal with the scene itself, while interacting with members of the community and, ultimately, family members. Then they may have to respond to the next call before acknowledging their reactions.

“They have to manage all this but have no time or awareness to manage themselves. Lack of awareness or management may lead to early burn-out, physical- and mental-health issues, and problems at home.”

Johnson realizes that the stigma of asking for help is largely to blame when a first responder pooh-poohs debriefings and peer support.

“They associate it with going to therapy. It is not therapy,” she emphasized. “It is about validating what they have been through, helping them become aware of their reactions and providing coping skills. We need to get past this stigma.

“Barriers to getting past it are words such as ‘weakness.’ But first responders are human and take on a really tough job. Having an outlet is critical.”

During a debriefing, the team not only leads a discussion of the incident involved but also provides education about the symptoms of trauma. It is an opportunity to look at what is happening on the inside.

“I have a strong passion for those who serve others,” Johnson summarized. “This is why I have worked independently with first responders for many years.

“We need to help them keep doing what they do so well – what they are called to do. It takes a special person. We can shift the domino effect of critical incidents so that all the dominos don’t have to fall, especially if we catch them early.”