Michael T. Wiltsey, Ph.D., NJ Law Enforcement – Master Resilience Trainer; New Jersey City University - Professional Security Studies

In August 2019, then Attorney General Grewal, announced a directive establishing the New Jersey Resilience Program for Law Enforcement. The directive required every law enforcement officer in New Jersey to receive resilience training and for every law enforcement agency to appoint a Resilience Program Officer (RPO). This program was presumably the first of its kind in the entire country in two ways. First, it was mandated that a peer support point of contact (i.e., the RPO) was created and identified should an individual officer need support for mental health reasons. Second, it was mandated that every single law enforcement officer be provided with training on resilience in an effort to provide officers with tools to combat stress and improve their overall wellbeing. Though programs such as this did exist elsewhere in the country, to the author’s knowledge, the New Jersey program was the first to mandate both aspects of this directive.

Brief History

The New Jersey Resilience Program for law enforcement was prompted in response to an increase in law enforcement suicides. Even though suicide is a low base rate event, when it does occur, it shocks survivors and cuts to the core. In turn, it brings about a discussion on the factors that can lead to suicidal behavior, such as acute and chronic stress, acute and cumulative trauma, depression and anxiety. The experience of several suicides among law enforcement in New Jersey during a short period of time compelled the community to seek out programming to reduce the contributing risk factors for suicide. The Maple Shade Police Department in New Jersey was a driving force behind seeking such a program, as was former Attorney General Grewal himself after a personal experience with a law enforcement suicide. Resilience training is designed to teach skills for coping with acute and chronic stress and help inoculate someone from developing more severe psychopathology.

Resilience Training Model

The New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement is modeled after the FBI National Academy Associates Comprehensive Officer Resiliency Program. This program was created in 2017 when several National Academy Alumni attended training in a model developed by the United States Air Force and adapted for law enforcement. These Master Trainers then began teaching the program across the country to law enforcement officers in a train-the-trainer format. New Jersey held such a training in June 2018 whereby 23 Master Instructors were trained in the FBINAA program. These trainers then formed a working group to create the New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement modeled entirely from the FBINAA program. This program was modeled after the Air Force Comprehensive Airman Fitness Master Resiliency Program through collaboration with the FBINAA.

Training Components

The components of the resiliency training model outlined above is comprised of 12 lesson areas covering various skills and coping techniques for building resilience. The lessons are designed to overlap with four main areas of wellness: mental; physical; social; and spiritual. As such, skill development focuses on cognitive and behavioral strategies for coping with life’s stressors. The goal of this training is to provide officers with many skills they can utilize to combat stress both on the job and at home, and ultimately reduce officer suicides.

Peer Liaison Component

As described above, the program also established a peer liaison type role, the Resilience Program Officer (RPO), who is expected to be available to all law enforcement officers to answer questions about the training and program, as well as guide them to resources and support services should they need such referrals.

Early Success