Law enforcement lifeline

As part of his work as a staff member at Hakes Wellness Solutions in Chippewa Falls, Mr. O’Neal uses his experience to assist law enforcement in the aftermath of officer-involved shootings and other life-threatening incidents and difficult calls. Supporting government officials.

Law enforcement officers can experience frustration, sadness, anger, and trauma after incidents on the job. Finding help to deal with those feelings can be a difficult task.

“I was a police officer in Eau Claire for 25 years. My father was a police officer. It was always something I wanted. I was involved in some serious incidents at work. , that’s how I met Holly Hakes. She helped me a lot during that time,” O’Neill said. “I know that after the second shoot, my life almost fell apart for me. I was diagnosed with PTSD. I’m now able to use that experience to help others in similar situations. Masu.”

O’Neal provides peer support services through her work at Hakes Wellness Solutions.

Haks Wellness Solutions recently expanded. This clinical practice exclusively serves law enforcement officers, first responders, and their families, providing counseling, consulting, training, coaching, and speaking engagements.

This business opened in 2021. The small house that originally housed the business has been converted into offices at 200 N. Rural St. The facility has now been renovated and staff added.

Holly and her husband Lee Hakes co-own the business and both have a passion for supporting law enforcement. Holly said she has been surrounded by law enforcement officers all her life.

Mr. Lee is a former law enforcement officer. Holly’s mother, Susan, said he worked as a 911 dispatcher in Chippewa Falls when Holly was young. Holly and Lee are also uncle and aunt to Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes.

Holly spent part of her early career working as a 911 dispatcher and in the juvenile justice system as a lead juvenile court officer and supervisor at a secure juvenile detention facility.

This experience sparked her passion for the emergency services profession.

“I don’t know what took me so long to start thinking about helping law enforcement, but I thought, ‘Wait a minute, maybe I can use my counseling degree to help law enforcement.’ I started probably around 2013,” Holly said. . “Law enforcement health is not always on our minds, but it should be.”

The couple opened the business in 2021.

“Mr. Lee had just retired, so I said, ‘I think you should quit your job and go into private practice for law enforcement,'” she said.

Holly Hakes is a qualified professional counselor with a passion for supporting people through difficult personal and professional situations. Holly said she considers it her personal mission to assist law enforcement and other first responders.

Holly said she understands the unique burden placed on the families of first responders.

“There are many ways that my work and that of counselors can assist law enforcement, many of which are proactive. “We require proactive check-ins. Then there’s post-incident work and general counseling support for people and their families,” she said.

Holly said she works on a variety of issues with law enforcement officers and their families. She says she handles everything from recruiting and staffing crises to difficult hours and missed vacations to difficult phone calls and post-investigation therapy.

“I love law enforcement. I love helping police dispatchers, correctional officers, police and sheriff’s department personnel, and first responders because incidents affect everyone on the scene.” she said. “That’s my purpose. There is a shortage of mental health counselors. We wanted to specialize in this group to make sure these people are visible so they can continue to be protected and served.” Because it needs to be done.”

Hallie Town Manager Jim Palmer said he was impressed by Holley’s story Friday as he spoke to dozens of law enforcement officers, chamber of commerce representatives and community members.

“I haven’t lived in the area that long. I retired here after working a temp job in the suburbs of Minneapolis, but I was so excited to learn about this place. It’s so unique and… It’s sorely needed,” Palmer said. “I know many men and women in departments across the region who could benefit from a place with these skills and expertise. … Every time I turn on the news, it feels like we’ve lost another police officer. This is the place to go to help with that.”

Holley said Friday that his heart was broken three times in 2023 when three law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in western Wisconsin.

Emily Breidenbach, 32, of the Chetek Police Department, and Hunter Seal, 23, of the Cameron Police Department, both died in the line of duty on April 8, 2023. A memorial was erected on Monday to mark the one-year anniversary of their deaths. In honor of Breidenbach of Chetek.

St. Croix County Deputy Katie Rising passed away in the line of duty on May 6, 2023.

Holly said in light of the deaths of those executives, she decided to expand her business, even though it only opened in 2021.

“Their deaths instantly changed my idea of ​​what I had to do. I didn’t have to sit on a small piece of land and make money. I needed to step up, and the law… We needed to expand and take seriously the provision of support that can continue to support the enforcement community,” Holley said. “Brothers and sisters Hunter, Emily, and Katie are dealing with not only the heartbreak of bereavement, but also the weight of the work we do every day and the heartbreak that will continue to follow in the wake of their deaths. I need help to pass.”

O’Neal said working with law enforcement has been a rewarding experience now that he is a retired police officer.

“We’ve done speaking engagements, and men come up to me afterwards and say, ‘I didn’t know other people knew what I was going through.’ . We try to normalize their emotions and this is an important part of staying healthy,” he said.