Peer Support and Wellness

The Peer Support and Wellness Team (PSWT) is designed to provide support, training and resources related to the mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, financial and social health of sworn and non-sworn department members, their families and retirees. The team was originally started in 1989 as the part-time Critical Incident Support Team (CIST) and has progressively transitioned into a full-time PSWT, with additional sworn and professional staff part-time members, who are specially trained and ready to serve as needed. The legacy of CIST has allowed the current members of PSWT to carry-on, improve and expand the work that has been done to support our department members, their families and retirees. CIST previously also included supporting persons in the community who were in crisis; however, in 2001 those duties were moved to the newly-created Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) that has grown to support the citizens of Baltimore County 24/7.

Critical Incident Support

The PSWT is responsible for providing support for all incidents (officer-involved shootings, child deaths, officer injuries, etc.) that may cause trauma/a greater level of stress for all department members. The support is provided in coordination with our EAP Onsite Behavioral Specialist/other licensed mental health professionals affiliated with the PSWT. 

The purpose of this response is to support department members through the added stress and trauma of that incident. This includes the following and more:

  • Providing an understanding of how trauma effects the brain and nervous system
  • Providing positive coping skills to process and work through the trauma
  • Active listening
  • Mental health and self-care resources
  • Triaging and referral to a higher level of care

According to various research, law enforcement officers have the potential to experience hundreds of critical incidents over the course of their career, while the average person may encounter only a few traumatic events in their lifetime. The initial interaction between PSWT and the affected members is crucial to mitigating the potential for post traumatic stress injury or disorder. 

Specially-trained PSWT members use an array of crisis intervention tools that includes Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), Instinctual Trauma Response (ITR), Acute Adaptive Stress Protocol (ASAP), and more to meet the needs of the member. The team is trained to meet the needs of department members where they are and to help them get where they want to be. This allows the member to have reduced stress and anxiety as they navigate their processing of the incident of a PSWT member by their side. 

The PSWT Manager follows-up with department members to make sure they are supported during the time they need to heal, no matter the length of the process. 

Employee Assistance Program

Baltimore County’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services are available to County employees working 26 or more hours per week, retirees under age 65 and their household members (related or unrelated).

In addition, the EAP provides the Police Department with an Onsite Behavioral Specialist (OBS), who is available in-person 24 hours a week, as well as 24/7 via phone for members to call in times of crisis, or by appointment. The OBS also responds as needed during critical incidents, provides training and education, and participates in department training and activities.