John Pfaehler – Mental Health Issues in the Law Enforcement Community
John Pfaehler has been in law enforcement for 22 years and is a corporal with the Rockville Police Department. John discussed police mental health issues, including post traumatic stress isorder (PTSD), and suicides. Following his own personal experience, John surveyed members of his own agency. With the startling results of that survey plus national police statistics, John presented his plan to develop a police mental wellness initiative for Montgomery County. The police suicide rate is two to three times the general public suicide rate and is generally kept quiet. The program’s objective is to recognize PTSD early, educate the police with a movie and panel discussions; and identify resources to assist police with PTSD issues and their families.