The Cambridge Police Department has recognized the value of providing a way for our personnel and their family to deal with personal and/or professional problems. One recognized and successful methodology is to provide a program that offers peer support. The mission of the Peer Support and Resiliency Program is to offer confidential assistance and support to all Cambridge Police Department employees and their family members in times of personal need or due to traumatic incidents. The Peer Support and Resiliency Team is composed of a group of peers who have trained and volunteered to make themselves available to any member of the department. This will provide a way for the employees to talk out personal and/or professional problems confidentially with someone who understands and cares.
Goals of the Peer Support and Resiliency Team:
- Proactively provide confidential critical incident stress management and educational support necessary to help ensure that all members of the Cambridge Police Department remain productive, optimal functioning and generally healthy.
- Increase our Peer Team’s capacity through training to enhance the quality of response to those needing services. A multi-disciplined approach promoting and encompassing mental health, wellbeing, physical fitness and healthy eating/nutrition.
Meet the Team:
- Officer Michael Hinds
- Detective Christina Pasquarello
- Detective Raymond Pina
- Officer William Simmons
- Officer David Porter
- Officer Brielle Sorey
- Sergeant Matthew Mahoney
- Lieutenant Paul Coutinho
- Detective Gustavo Lopez
- Officer Casimir Maziarz
- Officer Kevin Branley
- Officer Angelica Guerra
- Sergeant Timothy Lawton
- Officer Eugene Bustillo
- Officer Ivelise Padgett
- Detective Brendan O’Hearn
- Officer Lee Vieira
- Lieutenant Anthony Bongiorno
- Deputy Superintendent Pauline Wells
Police Chaplains (Additional Resources):
- Bishop Brian Greene - Pentecostal Tabernacle
- Reverend Larry Kim - Cambridge Community Fellowship
- Reverend Lorraine Thornhill - First Holiness Church
Core values:
- Confidentiality
- Ongoing continuing education and training
- Advocacy
- Commitment to peer support
- Promote well-being
- Mentoring
- Peer-centered
Resources:
- PTSD Awareness Month takes place in June. Read about the latest research findings to help those exposed to trauma.
- In this news interview, a retired police officer recalls the night he put a gun to his own head and nearly pulled the trigger.
- This article details how to "Manage your distress in the aftermath of a shooting," while this follow-up story discusses "Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting."
- Silent Suffering: Warning Signs and Steps to Prevent Police Suicide.
- Protect the Community - Protect Each Other.
- First Responder Drug and Alcohol Treatment Resources.
© 2018 City of Cambridge, MA