The Florida Department of Law Enforcement in collaboration with the Florida Police Chief’s Association, Florida Sheriff’s Association and other Florida state agencies are proud to announce the delivery of the first Command Level Post Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS).

This FREE seminar will be offered to any sworn officers in the State of Florida who hold the rank of Captain (or it’s equivalent) and above including, but not limited to: FDLE, FWC, FHP, other State Officers, Sheriff’s Departments, and Police Department’s. Spouses/significant others are also invited to attend. The seminar, as well as lodging and meals are provided at NO COST to the participant or the agency. This seminar is designed to assist First Responders that have been involved in on-duty critical incidents, suffer from cumulative career stress, or have been exposed to traumatic life events unrelated to their law enforcement career, and has had their life adversely affected as a result. This is a peer-based program, where peer-to-peer assistance will be accompanied by culturally competent clinical staff, to assist the attendees in finding healthy ways to cope with stress.  All peers are either active or retired First Responders, or spouses of First Responders (Spouse Peers). The PCIS has been used successfully in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Ohio, as well as several other states, to help our law enforcement communities understand and cope with the events that have adversely affected their lives. This seminar is not just for those individuals that have experienced major traumatic events, but also for individuals who have experienced trauma across a career.

Post Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS) 

This seminar is for First Responders who have experienced a critical incident, or a culmination of traumatic events over their career. Despite helpful support immediately following a critical incident, there can be long lasting effects. Going through a critical incident has been described as crossing a fence with no opportunity to jump back. A critical incident can rupture an officer’s basic worldview often leaving him/her with a sense of vulnerability that the uninitiated cannot understand. The job, the street, and one’s weapon may be perceived differently following such an incident.

Patterned on a format that has been used by the FBI for over 40 years, the PCIS will provide education on trauma, patterns of resolution, and field-tested coping strategies that promote recovery and resilience. Peer support is an important element of the PCIS. Discussion of incidents with fellow officers who have “been there” promotes normalization and recovery.

What are the benefits of attending?

An opportunity to:

• Improve Agency/Department response to Officers involved in critical incidents
• To include best practices for post-critical incident follow-up
• Share one’s experience with one’s peers
• Give and receive support
• Share in sessions with law enforcement/first responder related mental health professionals utilizing proven evidenced-based trauma recovery methods
• Learn coping strategies that will enable recovery from past critical incidents and strengthen one’s ability to deal with future incidents.

Who should attend? 

Any command level personnel who have experienced a critical incident (or cumulative trauma over their career) and that are still experiencing some type of daily impairment or lesser quality of life related to the traumatic exposure they experienced. The incident could have been recent or more distant, but if some level of diminished functioning still exists in your daily/home/family life, this seminar can be of great benefit to you (and your family). 

This Seminar will include a maximum of approximately 35 participants plus peer-team members. Peer-team members consist of trained law enforcement officers, and culturally competent mental health professionals.

Applicants should be those individuals who are seeking to learn new/additional coping skills, further their knowledge of PTSD and its affects, and are willing to be active participants in the large/small group and individual seminar exercises. As the course fills up, a waiting list will be started.

**Pre-registration does not guarantee attendance**

Spouses/significant others are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to attend with their LEO/First Responder family member. 

If you have any questions regarding the seminar, please contact FDLE Statewide CISM Coordinator Eric Jester by email at EricJester@fdle.state.fl.us