Suicide and Trauma Sound Alarm for First Responders
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Page, 6 Follow on Twitter: @BurkeConnection on Twitter: Follow Classifieds, Page 10 Classifieds, v Entertainment, Page 8 v Children say hello to First Responder K9 Service Dog in Training Indy and her handler Fairfax County Chief of Police Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr. during the department’s Meet and Greet the Service Dogs. Fostering Dreams At Terra Centre Suicide and Trauma Back to School, Page 5 Sound Alarm for Helping Start the School Year Safely First Responders Opinion, Page 4 News, Page 3 Photo by Mercia Hobson/The Connection by Mercia Hobson/The Photo Opinion, Page 4 August 22-28, 2019 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com SPECIAL SAVINGS FOR YOUR TOYOTA 9/30/19. WELCOME TO ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA’S PERSONALIZED CAR CARE EXPERIENCE 9/30/19. ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA 2 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ August 22-28, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Suicide and Trauma Sound Alarm for First Responders Fairfax County “Across this nation, Chief of Police death due to suicide takes action to in first responder relieve stress and profession is encourage offic- outpacing line of duty death... And ers to ask for that is not ok.” help when — FCPD Chief needed. Edwin C. Roessler Jr. Photos by Mercia Hobson/The Connection Photos a preemptive stress release, and By Mercia Hobson also provide 24/7 emotional sup- The Connection port for first responders: police officers, firefighters, dispatchers, airfax County Chief of sheriffs and deputies in their time Police Colonel Edwin C. of need, when they suffer a dis- FRoessler Jr. is out to end ability and have to retire. Roessler the silence and stigma added: “We will have a core of K9s that surrounds the issue of men- that will provide them the support tal health in first responders. for their Post Traumatic Stress... “Across this nation, death due to It is our goal to provide mental suicide in first responder profes- health services so we can eradicate sion is outpacing line of duty suicide and make everybody bet- death... And that is not ok,” said ter to get back into service in a Chief Roessler Jr. during a Meet & community.” Matt Giese, Director Greet presented by the Police De- From left, during a special Meet & Greet, Fairfax County Police Department intro- of Operations for FRK9, thanked partment Aug. 13, and held at the duces five of its newest and furriest recruits Service Dogs in Training, from left: the FCPD Incident Support unit Public Safety Headquarters in Sully, Holmes, Indy, Lennie and Jack donated at no cost to the department by 1st and all the members within the Fairfax. Responder K9, a 501(c) 3 organization. department for the partnership. During the event, Roessler and Giese explained that two of the Jay Carson, Director of Incident FCPD Service Dogs would stay on Support Services Fairfax County More from FCPD in the department to deploy dur- Police Department (FCPD), Second Lieutenant Christopher ing Potentially Traumatic Events launched the department’s new Sharp, Media Relations Bureau: “From the moment Jack and I started this jour- (PTEs), “to help further assist program to combat suicide and ney; it was evident how happy people those in the community who are reduce stress after exposure to were to be around him, even if it was suffering from things that occur trauma during critical incidents. just for five minutes. … That brief en- counter, the moment when everything catastrophically, unfortunately on Trauma and stress can lead to else is set aside, and it’s just them and a daily basis,” said Giese. The dogs PTSD and depression. Jack, provides a glimpse of the immea- would help de-escalate the often- Roessler and Carson introduced surable impact he has.” strong emotions and stress that the department’s new Service Dog Jill Molley, Clinical Psychologist come with these events. Program and the initial five First FCPD: “When Holmes is with me, detec- Responder Canine (FRK9) puppies tives pause what they are doing and ACCORDING TO FCPD, in ad- assigned to the Incident Support spend a few minutes with him. They dition, the dogs would play a role Service Section. The dogs will be instantly smile and gather around him. … Holmes ‘changes the subject’ when he in fostering community relation- deployed to reduce the effects of shows up, which is a nice break from ships with trips to neighborhoods, a traumatic event, including fear their stressful work.” schools, local events, etc. All the and anxiety, for first responders dogs will go through a two-year and community members and par- Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr. Chief of Police: “As a chief of police I value inno- training program to meet the ticipate in other areas. vative methodologies to provide all first Americans With Disabilities Act “It is my goal, as your Chief of responders with the knowledge, skills, requirements for service dogs. The Police to lead an effort here in and abilities to end the mental health other three dogs would go to dis- Fairfax County, across the nation, epidemic in our professions. … As I watched officers respond happily to the abled first responders. and around the globe to get rid of puppies deployed in our agency over the “One of the things we plan to the stigma of mental health. One first seven months in their positive do over the course of the next two of our themes is, it’s ok, not to be wellness habits, it became an easy deci- sion to become part of the program to to three years is to dispatch thirty ok. It’s ok to seek help,” said assist me in my day-to-day struggles so of these highly-skilled, highly Roessler. Roessler explained that Children say hello to First Responder K9 Service Dog in I partnered with Indy… Indy is teaching trained, loving animals to first re- the department had formed a part- me more than I am training her on all Training Indy and her handler Fairfax County Chief of sponders in need, said Geise. He nership with FRK9, a nonprofit aspects of wellness as we continue for- Police Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr. during the ward for her to one day serve another added that FRK9 would need con- organization that provided the department’s Meet & Greet the Service Dogs. first responder.” tinued and ongoing support be- department with five purpose- cause everything to date they bred puppies and their associated pies, specially bred to become ser- honor those who have served and my K9 partner, Indy,” said Roessler. funded themselves. “If you are costs, including veterinary care at vice dogs. protected the community, the Ser- willing or interested in helping no charge. According to FRK9’s FCPD has five puppies from 4-8 vice Dogs in Training (SDiT) in- ROESSLER said the department’s with what we are doing here in founder, Roger Giese, FRK9 had months of age, currently being troduced to the public were K9s could help support officers Fairfax and beyond, please go to fielded a total of 14 Golden Re- trained by their FCPD handlers. Holmes, Jack, Indy, Sully and and the community at the onset frk9.org and reach out,” said triever and Labrador retriever pup- Named after fallen officers to Lennie. “I’m proud to be here with of critical incidents in the field, as Geise. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Burke Connection ❖ August 22-28, 2019 ❖ 3 Opinion Burke League of Women Voters to Hold Candidate Forums www.ConnectionNewspapers.com @BurkeConnection formal session, an informal meet and greet Board of Supervisors, School Board candidates An independent, locally owned weekly session will allow direct audience interaction newspaper delivered to with the candidates. The forums are free and homes and businesses. to participate in forums throughout the county. open to the public. Published by Additional information about the candidate Local Media Connection LLC he League of Women Voters of the a candidate forum for the three at large School forums, the 2019 General Election, League 1606 King Street Fairfax Area (LWVFA) will hold can- Board seats and Chair of the Board of Supervi- publications and other events can be found at: Alexandria, Virginia 22314 didate forums in each of Fairfax sors. www.lwv-fairfax.org T Free digital edition delivered to County’s nine magisterial districts The League organizes candidate forums prior Questions for the candidates can be submit- your email box. Go to for Board of Supervisors and School Board to elections to give voters opportunities to learn ted by accessing: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe candidates in September and October in the more about the candidates and to dive into LWVFA2019 run up to the Nov. 5, 2019 General Election. complex issues like redistricting and voting Go to www.vote411.org for an online voters NEWS DEPARTMENT: All certified candidates competing for seats on rights for fact-based discussions and be better guide to compare candidates’ positions side- [email protected] the two Boards to represent their respective informed citizens in our democracy. The Can- by-side. districts have been invited. Several of the fo- didate Forums are non-partisan, and the The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area is Kemal Kurspahic ❖ rums will also include Virginia State Senate League never supports nor opposes any candi- a non-partisan political organization that encourages Editor 703-778-9414 informed and active participation in government, [email protected] and House of Delegates candidates. date. A moderator will ask the candidates ques- works to increase understanding of major public policy In addition, the League will hold countywide tions generated by the audience.