When the Unthinkable Happens: Mental Wellness Strategies for Surviving the Darkest Days

Monday, October 20, 2025

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM MT

Location: Mile High Ballroom 1EF, Colorado Convention Center

Join us for a powerful session where police leaders, officers, and family members share how they endured—and ultimately grew stronger—from unimaginable tragedies. Their compelling stories demonstrate how crisis can become a catalyst for positive change, fostering a culture in which mental wellness is central to officer safety. These courageous voices will offer personal accounts of recovery and resilience, along with practical strategies that helped their departments navigate and transform their darkest moments. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how hard-earned wisdom can drive meaningful reform, equipping agencies with tools to prioritize mental health and build stronger, more resilient teams. Officer wellness not only protects individuals—it strengthens entire agencies and contributes to safer, more connected communities.

Submitter(s)

Sara Dziejma

Policy Advisor
Bureau of Justice Assistance
Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Speaker(s)

Deborah Meader

Senior Policy Advisor
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Daniel Thompson

Chief of Police
Waukesha Police Department
Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States
TW

Timothy Whitcomb

Sheriff (retired)
Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office
Olean, New York, United States
Edward C. Keane, PhD

Police Psychologist
Danbury Police Department
Danbury, Connecticut, United States
LK

Laura King

Chief of Police (retired)/SAFLEO Program Lead
McHenry County Conservation District/IIR
Woodstock, Illinois, United States