Our society recognizes that first responders face physical, emotional, and psychological stress during their service. Regular exposure to unusual, violent events that involve a perceived threat to, or actual loss of, human life and that may overwhelm an individual's usual coping mechanisms can cause extreme psychological distress. Unfortunately, the stress first responders face can, in turn, affect their families as well. The Post-Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS) addresses the fact that first responders "get stuck" with strong feelings and emotions but struggle to find effective ways to resolve them. 

No, PCIS has been around for many years. 

This seminar format originated with the FBI in 1983. South Carolina LEAP has been hosting the PCIS in South Carolina since January 2000 and is currently in 14 states nationwide. Four other states are in the planning and development stage of offering PCIS.

U.S. PCIS States:

Arkansas: https://arleap.org/

California: https://www.caleap.org/post-critical-incident-seminar-pcis

Florida: 

Georgia: https://dps.georgia.gov/divisions/office-public-safety-support/post-critical-incident-seminar-pcis

Kentucky: https://www.kypcis.com/

Louisiana: https://sites.google.com/view/louisiana-pcis-officerwellness/home

Missouri: https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolDivisions/HRD/PCIS/index.html

New York: https://www.nyleap.org/pcis-nyleap

Nevada:

North Carolina: https://www.nc-leap.org/event-details/p-c-i-s-xxviii

Oklahoma: https://warriorsrestfoundation.org/pcis/                                              

Ohio: https://statepatrol.ohio.gov/about-us/ohio-assist/

South Carolina: https://scleap.org/PCIS.html

Texas: https://www.lemitonline.org/programs/?mode=view&item=21

Virginia: https://valeap.org/upcoming-events/

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety Troopers and Employees Assistance Program (LA DPS TEAP) held the first Louisiana PCIS in March 2022. Since then, LA PCIS has hosted additional seminars and assisted more than 150 active and retired officers, spouses, and communications officers from more than 40 in-state and five out-of-state agencies.

The overall goal of the PCIS is to turn vulnerability into strength through learning and the proper application of peer support. This experiential workshop is for responders who have "been there" and still feel lasting effects despite the best support immediately after their critical incident. 

Going through a critical incident is like crossing a fence with no opportunity to jump back. It can disrupt a responder's worldview and change them and those they love.

 As a responder, you are vulnerable and must emotionally come to grips with a reality the uninitiated cannot understand. After experiencing critical incidents, responders may perceive the job, the street, and their weapon differently. 

The PCIS will provide education on trauma, patterns of resolution, and field-tested coping strategies to promote recovery and resilience. Peer support is an essential element of the PCIS. Discussing incidents with fellow emergency responders who have "been there" helps normalize experiences and supports recovery.

A Critical Incident is any event that results in an overwhelming sense of vulnerability and/or loss of control. These include line-of-duty shootings, being shot or seriously hurt on the job, high-speed pursuits that end in tragedy, events that bring prolonged and critical media attention, personal tragedies, and other similar incidents. 

PCIS is for emergency responders who have "been there." Even with the best support, long-lasting effects can follow a critical incident. 

A critical incident can shatter a person's basic worldview. Emergency responders are vulnerable and have to come to grips emotionally with a reality that others who have not experienced critical traumatic events cannot understand. After a critical incident, the job, the street, and everyday events are perceived differently.

As training slots are limited, we may not be able to include everyone who wishes to participate in the program. Each planned PCIS will include up to 20 officers and their spouses/significant others. 

As the course fills up, we will generate a waiting list. The facilitators will be trained and experienced peers, mental health professionals, and chaplains. This program will be offered to any fire service employees, EMS/EMT, and sworn law enforcement officers, including but not limited to State Troopers, Sheriff’s Deputies, Local Police Officers, Federal Agents, Fire Service, and 911 Telecommunicators.

Over 150 participants have attended LA PCIS! If you'd like to speak with them, I can share the names and numbers of some past participants who have gone through PCIS and volunteered to share their experience. 

Participants include officers and spouses from:

 In-State Agencies:

Alexandria City Police Department

Ascension Sheriff’s Office

Baton Rouge City Police Department

Bogalusa Police Department

Bossier Parish Fire/EMS

Caddo Sheriff’s Office

Covington Police Department

Chitimacha Tribal Police

Delhi Police Department

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office

East Jefferson Levee District Police Department

Evangeline Sheriff’s Office

Fordoche Police Department

Greenwood Police Department

Jackson Sheriff’s Office

Lafayette Police Department

Livingston Fire Department

Louisiana State Fire Marshall’s Office

Louisiana State Police Communications

Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit

Louisiana State Police Crime Lab

Louisiana Probation & Parole

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries

Mangham Police Department

Monroe Police Department

Morgan City Police Department

New Orleans Police Department

Pineville Police Department

Plaquemines Sheriff’s Office

Rapides Sheriff’s Office

SELU Police Department

Shreveport Police Department

St. Bernard Fire Department

St. Charles Sheriff’s Department

St. James Sheriff’s Office

St. John Sheriff’s Office

St. Mary’s Parish Sheriff’s Office

St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office

Union Parish Sheriff’s Office

Washington Sheriff’s Office

West Monroe Police Department

Out-of-State and Federal Agencies:

 United States Environmental Protection Agency-CID

Oakland County, Michigan

Wyoming State Patrol

Las Vegas Metro Police Department

Casper Police Department, Wyoming

Wyoming State Police

PCIS is a sponsored event that is FREE for officers and their spouses or long-term significant others. The seminar, lodging, and meals are valued at $1700, but thanks to our sponsors' generosity, participants are not charged as long as they attend all three days. 

It is held at Tall Timbers Retreat Center, 10218 Highway 165 South, Forest Hill, Louisiana 71430. Please see the location page for details about this location.