New mental health resources are on the way for local law enforcement in the wake of multiple officer-involved shootings this year.
The new resources come as the law enforcement community is still reeling from the incident in Burnsville that took the lives of three first responders and a standoff just last month in Minnetonka that injured one officer.
Specialized training for therapists is in the works at Alder College Graduate School in Minnetonka, where Watson is in charge of the project.
“With what happened in Burnsville, it impacts complete communities, it’s not just one agency, it’s not just one area. It impacts the entire state,” Dr. Tom Watson said.
“The licensed professionals will be familiar with what goes on in the life of a law enforcement officer,” Watson said.
He added that training will be focused on “law enforcement culture, occupational stressors, and how that impacts both law enforcement officers, spouses, and family members.”
Watson noted the importance of the resources but also that officers have to work past the stigma of addressing mental health, which he sees more are willing to do.
“They talk about ‘I need assistance, and I’m going to stop being afraid to ask for it because of the stigma associated with it,” Watson said.
Funds from the Department of Public Safety will fund the program, being run out of Alder College in Minnetonka.
The new program is expected to employ 150 licensed therapists across the state starting in early 2025.