PITTSBURGH —
The Pittsburgh Police Bureau has introduced a wellness program to support first responders in coping with trauma, extending its assistance to Mt. Lebanon after the deaths of two children and their father.
Aaron Vander Meer, a licensed social worker and certified clinical trauma professional, became the department’s first head of wellness eight weeks ago. He previously worked with Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando in Frederick, Maryland.
Vander Meer focuses on addressing the cumulative effects of trauma on first responders.
“What we look at is all the issues that can happen individually that can compound over time,” he said.
“This benefits not just our officers, but it benefits the community as well. I think a position like this is critical in a police department,” Lando said. “And really, you look at the police, fire and EMS. These are all individuals that go to work every day and deal with other people’s crises, and I would say every police department, fire department and EMS service needs an Aaron.”
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Vander Meer said when two children were killed in Mt. Lebanon on Tuesday and their father then took his life too, he said he reached out to Mt. Lebanon’s police chief to offer support. Pittsburgh police then sent representatives from the Pittsburgh Member Assistance Program to the scene. They are individuals who have dealt with trauma themselves.
Vander Meer’s role is getting to know each officer. He said he has been riding along with officers to build relationships and help identify signs that someone may need assistance.
“We feel more agitated, more irritable, harder time managing small things that we used to. Start feeling tightness in your chest, harder time breathing, worse reactions to things that you normally would have,” Vander Meer said. “When we start to see those kind of signs, I think it’s time to reach out and say maybe I need some help, or maybe I need to talk to someone.”
Lando said the department is creating the Pittsburgh Police Foundation to support officer wellness and professional development.
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