Local police officers push for peer support bill

Yarmouth officers still grieving the murder of fellow Sergeant Sean Gannon who was murdered after a standoff at a home in April, are pushing for more peer support.

Along with several other officers, they’re asking lawmakers to pass a bill that would encourage more departments to offer peer counseling to help first responders recover from witnessing traumatic events.

The bill, which is needed to protect the men and women who protect us, would promise officers confidentiality.

Because of the stigma attached to mental health issues like depression and suicide, confidentiality is crucial for officers who meet with peer support counselors.

These peer support teams can offer first responders regular check-ins in addition to counseling sessions.

Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson said Sgt. Gannon’s murder has taken a huge toll on his department. After the standoff that led to Sgt. Gannon’s death, other members of the Yarmouth PD ran to his aide and rushed to pull him out of that home.

Frederickson said his department’s peer support team was at the hospital within minutes of Sgt. Gannon’s arrival and they continued to help the officers get through the difficult time.

Frederickson said it makes no sense as to why the bill has not been passed.

“It’s a zero cost bill that will improve the mental well being of our people who are out there doing the job for the public,” said Frederickson. “It's a no brainer and it makes no sense.”

The bill has been held up in the committee for years. Representative Ted Speliotis said he is opposed to the bill over concerns of secrecy.

Speliotis argues that police chief’s may need to know details of a crime scene that may be undisclosed for the sake of confidentiality.

However, the numbers speak for themselves. Police say a staggering number of suicides within the police could have been prevented if the bill was already in effect.

When a gunman who murdered his own mother lunged toward Weymouth Police officer Ed O'Brien, a peer counselor helped O'Brien through the myriad of emotions that followed.

"We unfortunately get to see a lot more than everybody else does," said O'Brien. "We carry all that weight throughout a 10, 15-year career."

Now, O'Brien is a peer counselor himself.

The bill was introduced more than two and a half years ago, and in that time, 21 officers in Massachusets have committed suicide.

"That's not to say this bill would have prevented those suicides," said peer support officer, Tom Famolare. "But it certainly would have given those officers confidentiality to go to someone for help."

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