Family Wellness in the Aftermath of Mass Violence

Monday, October 16, 2023

12:15 PM – 1:30 PM PST

Location: Room: 7A

Submitter & Moderator(s)

Cristina Fernandez

Program Manager
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
Alexandria, Virginia, United States

Speaker(s)

Lori Kehoe

Retired Nurse
Naples, Florida, United States
Michael Kehoe

Chief of Police (Ret.)
Newtown Police Department, Connecticut
Naples, Florida, United States
John Nicoletti, PhD

Psychologist
Nicoletti-Flater Associates
Lakewood, Colorado, United States
Sara Dziejma

Policy Advisor
U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)

After a mass violence incident, first responders often receive mental health support. Often left out of the conversation are their family members. Families are the first line of support outside an agency for officers, and they are reeling with their own challenges after a mass violence tragedy. If supported, they can help identify if their loved one is struggling. This panel includes a police leader, a police psychologist, and a law enforcement spouse with firsthand experience in recovery following the Sandy Hook Elementary School, Columbine High School, and Virginia Tech shootings. They will highlight the challenges they faced, the role that families played in recovery, and how agencies can best support officers and family members in the wake of mass tragedy.