PACT Program Supports Officers in Time of Grief

Law enforcement is there in our time of need, but what about their needs in a time of crisis?

It takes more than just bravery to work in law enforcement.

PACT is a program that supports officers with the mental and emotional demands of the job.

When tragedy strikes each law enforcement agency in the area has what they call PACT, which stands for Peer Assistance Crisis Team.
 
“Actually not so much talk, but listen we let them talk and were there to listen,” said Sgt. Gail Wischmann of the Cass County Sheriff’s PACT team.

The team consists of trained individuals within the department that monitor and support officers in time of tragedy.

PACT, which started just under 10 years ago, has encouraged officers to see that their emotional health matters.
 
“You suck it up, you can handle it, back then there wasn’t many women in law enforcement. You’re tough. You’re in law enforcement. You can do it, but really its post traumatic stress.” said Sgt. Wischmann.
 
Wischmann says for officers, dealing with post-traumatic stress is often very difficult.
 
“There so many things in your system that just get all hyped up when there’s a critical incident. Your thought process, and your body kind of wants to shut down,” said Sgt. Wischmann.

Since yesterday’s tragedy, PACT members have been following up with officers.

Sergeant Wischmann says their main priority within the first 24 hours is to sit down with officers so they can release their thoughts.
 
“Those who were on scene during the shooting the live incident, we will have sat down with a number of them individually or as a group to check to see how they’re doing, and will monitor them for a number of days,” said Sgt. Wischmann.
 
The Moorhead Police PACT team has been following up with Fargo police officers.

The Cass County PACT team is also assisting, in addition to helping their own officers as well.