Nassau Police Conference
The Nassau Police Conference (NPC) is an organization composed of professional police officers representing the 21 village, city, and special district departments throughout Nassau County, NY. Guided by our motto, “Police Officers Helping Police Officers,” we are dedicated to supporting our members in every aspect of their professional and personal lives.
NPC offers a wide range of services, including life insurance, legal assistance, and access to social events such as golf outings, family baseball trips, Police Olympics participation, Awards Nights, and organized pistol shoots.
To further support the well-being of our members, we provide personal guidance through our Member Assistance Program and Peer Support Group, offering confidential help when it’s needed most.
Our Political Action Committee actively advocates on behalf of our members at the local, state, and federal levels, ensuring their voices are heard by policymakers. In addition, NPC proudly sponsors educational seminars and maintains a scholarship program for the children of our members.
Community involvement is a cornerstone of our mission. NPC members proudly support and participate in charitable efforts, including AHRC Nassau, the Association for Children with Down Syndrome, Special Olympics, and a variety of other nonprofit organizations dedicated to making a difference.
Nassau Police Conference
Board Of Officers
Dan Zith
Rob Meier
Robert Russo
Nick DeLuca
Josh Tripi
Will Zito
Matt Viscusi
Rabbi Anchelle Perl
Kick Solutions
NPC Webmaster
Goals of the Nassau Police Conference Peer Support Team
To provide support during or after a critical incident
To provide information about critical incident stress and stress reactions so that they may be recognized as such and dealt with appropriately
To lessen the impact of the critical incident on the primary person(s) involved
To speed up recovery from the stress reactions before they damage the emotional, physical, and professional well-being of those involved
To identify and activate resources and referrals that can assist
To convery to those involved that they are not alone, that others have “been there” and want to help them through their incident
NASSAU POLICE CONFERENCE
PEER SUPPORT GROUP RESPONSE TEAM FOR CRITICAL INCIDENTS
Contact Information:
All requests for service and Peer Support response should be directed to the Coordinators who will in turn notify the appropriate number of Peer Support Team Members to respond.
Emergency “call out” situations may be determined by any of the following:
A police officer who self refers, a PBA Officer, or any police Supervisor or Chief of Police.
Contact numbers of Coordinators For emergency response:
Chris Mc Carthy
Cell: 516 857 5488
Coordinator
Board Certified in: Traumatic Stress, Acute Traumatic Stress Management and Certified Crisis Chaplain.
Diplomate, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
What is a Critical Incident?
A critical incident can be defined as ANY incident which adversely affects you or your family; or, any event during which the sights, smells, or sounds are so vivid that they cause an increase of stress or stress reactions, immediate or delayed. The most common of these incidents are:
- Being involved in a shooting situation
- Being the victim of an attack of deadly force
- A serious injury to self or another officer
- An adverse reaction to an accumulation of stressful events in a short period of time or to multiple victims in a single event
- A particularly unusual or gruesome injury or death of a child or elderly person under unusually tragic circumstances
- Any incident outside of our normal range of experience, or traumatic consequence resulting from a critical event
Remember, the effects of an incident will vary from one person to another. What is traumatic for one may not be for another. Stress from a critical incident can not be prevented, because it is an unavoidable result of your exposure to the trauma of the incident. Following the incident, stress can be recognized and managed to the point of healthy recovery and eventual healing.
Signs of Critical Incident Stress
- Re-experiencing the event (flashbacks)
- Heightened awareness
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty sleeping
- Nightmares
- Exhaustion or hyperactivity
- Guilt
- Depression or anxiety
- Anger or irritability
- Numbing, withdrawal, isolation
- Decline in job performance
- Memory loss or confusion
- Marital or family problems
You may or may not experience all or any of these symptoms. If you do, don’t worry: your reactions are NORMAL and very appropriate for you after a critical incident.
Ways to Deal with Critical Incidents
- Realize that others have gone through this before and have felt the same way you do now.
- Remember that your reactions are NORMAL and are expected. Don’t label yourself “crazy” or “weak.”
- Give yourself permission to feel rotten.
- Keep your life as routine as possible. Avoid making any life-changing decisions.
- Do, however, make a lot of choices about daily activity, because doing so can return a sense of control.
- Keep busy. Structure your time. Be with people, especially those who have “been there.”
- Watch your diet. Avoid sugar and
caffeine. Eat regular and balanced meals. Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables. - Avoid alcohol and drug usage. Any relief felt will be short-lived, and your feelings afterward will be more extreme than before.
- Alternate strenuous exercise and relaxation for the first 24 to 48 hours.
- Don’t hesitate to call a Peer Support Team member any time of the day or night if you need to talk.
