“Behind the Badge” comes to Houston County: Seminar breaks barriers for police mental health, provides resources

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Law enforcement had a chance to gather on Tuesday for a seminar that organizers say could save lives, an effort from the Southern States Police Benevolent Association.

On April 11, the association’s Police Benevolent Foundation held “Behind the Badge,” a PTSD awareness seminar for law enforcement and families across middle Georgia. The daylong class was held at Central Georgia Technical College and provided those attending with statistics, resources, and most importantly, the chance to have an open dialogue regarding mental health issues affecting law enforcement and their families.

The class came about as collaboration between SSPBA, LEAPS and multiple area businesses, which SSPBA’s Director of Foundation and Media Relations Randy Byrd said contributed about $4,000 to operating costs. Guy Fussell is a local regional director for SSPBA, and vouched to bring the class to Houston County. He took on the organizing role, secured a suitable venue and took care of logistics.

According to the Byrd, the class saw around 50 in attendance. Byrd said he was pleased with the turnout and added that the group was a good cross section of middle Georgia law enforcement.

LEAPS Training Senior Instructor Tim Rutledge taught the class and provided his students with statistics.

“Studies show that somewhere between 78% and 87% of law enforcement have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” Rutledge said. “Studies also show that suicide in law enforcement far outpaces the rate for the general population. In fact, in 2023 thus far, there is a 2.6 times greater chance an officer will kill themselves rather than be killed by hostile gunfire.”

The class also provided law enforcement with valuable resources, like connections to therapy and peer support, and concluded with tips and tricks to reduce stress, such as reaching out to family and friends, and living healthy.

According to Rutledge, officers on average can experience almost 190 traumatic events over the course of their careers. Officers during the class were receptive and engaged with instruction, and had an open discussion on the stresses that the job can bring.

“Every officer who attended related to the stress of the job. All of the traumas of the job, the dead, the hurting, the broken, the worst in life moments were discussed and identified. Officers learn they are human and are experiencing normal human reactions to horrible events,” Rutledge said.

In providing the class, officers and their agencies both benefit, trickling down to the community, as Rutledge explained.

“The PBF realizes the number one killer of officers is stress. The average life expectancy of an officer is 59. We have a very high suicide rate, a high divorce rate. Officers are leaving departments, retiring early, or leaving for medical reasons in record numbers. The PBF wants to help this,” Rutledge said. “They realize that by helping the officer individually, they help the department retain the officer. This makes our communities safer.”

Both Rutledge and Byrd have had careers in law enforcement, and they both agree to the necessity of the seminar.

“I have seen some of the horrors these officers are enduring on a daily basis. I want to help those officers survive and thrive. They are hurting, and most citizens have no idea what they have seen,” Rutledge said.

Byrd added that everyday hardships associated with the job along with negative public perception can snowball into stress for officers. With this in mind, he is hopeful the organization can make an impact on law enforcement.

“It’s our hope that the seminar saved lives,” Byrd said. “If it saved one life, it’s worth it.”

Alongside the classes, the SSPBA works with lawmakers to help law enforcement, and provides legal council and end of watch benefits to officers and their families.

For more information about SSPBA and PBF, visit their websites: sspba.org and PBFI.org

To stay up to date on the organization, follow them on Facebook at “Southern States Police Benevolent Association.”

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