SPC will hold a graduation ceremony for the first class of students for the Applied Mental Health Advanced Skills Certificate. The College is celebrating the achievement of the first group of active-duty police officers who have completed the Applied Mental Health Advanced Technical Certificate. Monday, July 22nd, 3pm, SPC Allstate Center, 3200 34Number Church of St. S. in St. Petersburg. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman will be the keynote speaker, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will also be speaking.
Lt. Col. Grossman is a former U.S. Army Ranger, Paratrooper, and Professor of Psychology at West Point. Over the past 25 years, Dave Grossman has been a leading voice for military and law enforcement men and women across the nation. Bulletproof Mind Grossman has written presentations that provide tools to enhance psychological resilience. Currently, Grossman serves as the Director of Grossman On Truth, LLC. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he has written and spoken extensively about terrorist threats and has published articles in the Harvard Law & Public Policy Journal and many leading law enforcement journals. He has been appointed a “Diplomat for Life” by the U.S. Homeland Security Accreditation Board and a “Life Member” of the American College of Forensic Examiners.
Attorney General Moody is a fifth-generation Floridian, born and raised in Plant City. He attended the University of Florida where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting and Law. He then attended Stetson University College of Law where he earned his LLM in International Law. Since taking office, he has been a recognized leader, having served as a member of the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, Chair of the Florida Opioid Abuse Task Force, and currently serves as Chair of the Florida Council on Human Trafficking.
Mental health, especially among emergency personnel, is an often overlooked yet pervasive issue. A 2022 study found that one in three police officers experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder while on the job. The same study also revealed that the suicide rate among police officers is higher than the rate of deaths in the line of duty.
“We are committed to providing comprehensive academic mental health training to our police officers with the goal of enhancing community outcomes and supporting the mental health of our officers,” said Dr. Joseph Smiley, dean of SPC’s School of Social, Behavioral Sciences and Human Services. “We are proud of the first group of outstanding police officers who have completed our Applied Mental Health Certificate program and look forward to offering this opportunity to a new group of officers this fall.”
Nearly four years have passed since the first Ruderman Report was released in 2018, and while the numbers have not changed significantly, social stress has only increased. There is an urgent need to change the culture of law enforcement and build stronger mental health support systems for officers who need help. This certification will equip officers with the knowledge and skills they need to address the complexities of mental health and provide their fellow officers with an additional resource they can turn to when they need it.
“As a former police officer and mental health therapist working with emergency personnel, it was a great experience working with this inaugural group in the Mental Health Certificate Program,” said Dr. Meredith Moran, SPC’s program coordinator. “As faculty, we learned so much from these officers about what it takes to make a positive difference in mental health at our agency and help our colleagues. We hope that SPC will serve as an example to the nation on how to make a real difference in the mental health status of emergency personnel.”
The first graduating class of 2024 is made up of 14 officers, detectives, sergeants, commanders and corporals from the St. Petersburg, Gulfport, Tampa and Clearwater Police Departments. The officers are:
St. Petersburg Police Department
- Police Officer Mariela Bakieva
- Officer Jeffrey Cornelius
- Sergeant Leonard Hasson
- Officer Diana Jones
- Officer Kaitlyn Larson
- Officer Stephanie Lesperance
- Detective Sidney Vantay
- Officer Jonathan Schweiger
Gulfport Police Department
- Commander Mary Farrand
- Officer Arion Nieves
Tampa Airport Police Department
- Officer Angeliesse Nestelwitz
- Officer Stephanie Pascali
Clearwater Police Department
- Detective Jonathan Van Geli
Tampa Police Department
“It’s really encouraging to be part of an initiative like the Police Mental Health Cohort. Mental health support for police officers is essential given the unique challenges and stresses they face,” said Commander Mae Farrand with the Gulfport Police Department. “Having culturally competent and empathetic instructors like Dr. Moran, Dr. Moore and Professor Molinaro can make a big difference in creating a safe space for officers to seek help, receive support and ask questions. Their open-door policy and willingness to incorporate feedback from participants demonstrates their commitment to continually improving the program to ensure it meets the needs of the people they serve.”
This year-long program is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively manage work-related stressors and support fellow officers and community members facing mental health issues. Throughout the training, officers will gain a range of skills, including:
- Emotional intelligence, counseling skills, and interviewing techniques to effectively support individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Ability to identify mental health issues requiring appropriate assessment within the context of professional practice
- Access to resources to successfully guide peers to higher levels of care, if needed.
Upon completing the training for the first group, participants will be qualified to serve as mental health liaisons within their agencies, a role that provides additional support to fellow officers in need. Graduating officers have committed to serving in this role for a minimum of three years to ensure a lasting impact and ongoing support within the law enforcement community.
“For police officers, mental health is an important aspect of overall wellness. Recognizing and addressing the mental health needs of officers is essential to ensure they can perform their jobs effectively and safely,” said Tampa Airport Police Department Chief Stephanie Pascali. “Providing robust mental health resources and support helps officers stay healthy, perform better, and be prepared to effectively serve and protect our communities. The SPC program has fostered a culture that values mental health, provided access to comprehensive mental health resources, and encouraged open discussions about mental health with the goal of helping officers live balanced, healthy lives.”
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