Beth Milliard has been a police officer with York Regional Police in Ontario, Canada for 18 years and is currently a Uniform Patrol Sergeant. She is also an adjunct professor, teaching in-class and on-line with Georgian College for 11 years and Simon Fraser University for the past 2 years creating and teaching an on-line course called Code of Ethics for Peer Support.
She has worked in many areas of policing: uniform, criminal investigation, recruiting, quality assurance and policy and planning. However, her most rewarding role to date is working in Peer Support and being part of the creation and implementation of initiatives related to mental health and psychological wellness for sworn and civilian members of York Regional Police and other first responder organizations.
As a subject matter expert in Project Safeguard and Peer Support she has had the opportunity to speak at venues across North America and, has been the author and peer reviewer of many articles related to police mental health and wellness.
She has completed her Master’s in Leadership with an emphasis on the psychological effects of police officers conducting internet child exploitation investigations and she has her PhD in Criminal Justice/Law and Public Policy with an emphasis in mental health
Dr. Brian Chopko holds the rank of Professor in the Criminology and Justice Studies program, Department of Sociology, at Kent State University at Stark. He is a licensed counselor, former police officer and deputy sheriff, and specializes in mental health issues related to the criminal justice system.
Most notably, he focuses on traumatic stress experienced by law enforcement officers.
Email address: bchopko@kent.edu
Brooke McQuerrey Tuttle
Brooke McQuerrey Tuttle serves as the Program Manager for the Center for Family Resilience at Oklahoma State University where she leads community-based research. She received her MS in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Missouri and is a current PhD candidate in Human Sciences at Oklahoma State University.
Her research interests include risk and resilience for justice involved youth, police officers, and law enforcement families.
Email address: brooke.tuttle@okstate.edu
Dr. Chuck Russo
Dr. Chuck Russo is the Program Director of Criminal Justice at American Military University (AMU). He began his career in law enforcement in 1987 in Central Florida and was involved all areas of patrol, training, special operations and investigations before retiring from law enforcement in 2013. Dr. Russo continues to design and instruct courses, as well as act as a consultant for education, government and industry throughout the world.
His recent research and presentations focus on emerging technology and law enforcement applications, post-traumatic stress, nongovernment intelligence actors, and online learning.
Email address: crusso@apus.edu
Barbara Benoliel, Ph.D.
Barbara Benoliel lives in Toronto Canada. She received her Ph.D. in Human Services from Walden University in 2006. She holds a M.Sc. in Organizational Behaviour from University of Tel Aviv, and a B.A. (honors) in Psychology from the University of Toronto. She is a Licensed Private Investigator, for workplace investigations, a Professional Mediator and Mitigation Specialist.
She is an award-winning faculty member and Ombuds at Walden University. She is the President of Preferred Solutions; a Conflict Management Consulting and Mediation Services organization that provides solutions to conflicts in businesses, governments and institutions. She was the 2015 McGowan award winner for contribution to alternative resolution services in Ontario.
Barbara is engaged in continuing research in the areas of:
Workplace Harassment and Psychological Harassment
Police Work Environment
Restorative Justice Applications
Workplace Violence
Shame, Apology, and Remorse in Resolving Disputes
Professional Associations:
Barbara is a member of several professional organizations; Past President of the ADR Institute of Ontario, member of the International Association of Ombudsman and the Association of Workplace Investigators. She is a regular contributor to HR and ADR Journals and presents at professional conferences.
Email: Barbara.benoliel@mail.waldenu.edu
Dr. George A. Bonanno
Dr. George A. Bonanno is a Professor of Clinical Psychology, Director of the Loss, Trauma, and Emotion Lab, and Director of the Resilience Center for Veterans and Families at Columbia University’s Teachers College. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1991.
His research interests center on the question of how human beings cope with loss, trauma and other forms of extreme adversity, with an emphasis on resilience and the salutary role of flexible regulatory processes. He has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. He recently authored The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Can Tell Us about Life after Loss (Basic Books), and was honored with the James McKeen Cattell award from the Association for Psychological Science “for a lifetime of intellectual achievements in applied psychological research and their impact on a critical problem in society at large.”
Dr. Tina Jaeckle
Tina Jaeckle, Ph. D. is a LCSW in Florida and has approximately 25 years of mental health and crisis intervention experience. Dr. Jaeckle has presented nationally on issues of crisis/trauma/stress/critical incidents, officer involved shootings and resiliency, suicide (law enforcement), child abuse/homicide, domestic violence, and mental illness.
She serves as the mental health/training coordinator for several Critical incident Stress Management and hostage/negotiation teams and now consults with numerous law enforcement agencies across the nation.
Dr. Jaeckle is also the current EAP counselor for the Jacksonville (Florida) Sheriff’s Office. Dr. Jaeckle has extensive experience in the development, coordination, and training of law enforcement and fire rescue critical incident teams and peer support programs.
She is also board-certified in emergency crisis response and bereavement trauma through the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress; a member of American Board of Critical Incident Professionals; a Fellow with the National Center for Crisis Management; a former visiting professor at the FBI Academy (Behavioral Science Unit/National Academy) in Quantico, Virginia; a past visiting instructor with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the US DOJ; and certified in force science analysis (Force Science Institute).
She completed a fellowship as the FBI’s Futurist in Residence for 2008–2009 and conducted research on illegal immigration, culture, and future policing implications. Dr. Jaeckle received the Distinguished Alumni Award for the Criminal Justice Institute at Nova Southeastern University and the Commitment to Social Change Award from Walden University for raising awareness on PTSD issues for first responders.
Dr. Jaeckle received a Bachelor of Science degree in criminology from Florida Southern College, and completed a master’s degree in social work from the University of Houston. She also completed a master’s of science degree in criminal justice, with a specialty track in the behavioral sciences from Nova Southeastern University and earned a Ph.D. in the humanities and social sciences, with an emphasis in conflict analysis and resolution (specialty in crisis management), from the same institution.
Current graduate faculty affiliations include Walden University, Nova Southeastern University, Martin Methodist College, and the University of Texas Permian Basin. Active research agendas include police and resiliency study in collaboration with Walden University, Yale University, and Columbia University.
Dr. Katy Kamkar
Dr. Katy Kamkar, Ph.D., C. Psych., is a Clinical Psychologist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
Dr. Kamkar is Director – Badge of Life Canada (BOLC) which is a peer-led national charitable organization for Police and Corrections/First Responders across Canada who are dealing with psychological injuries suffered in the line of duty.
She is also Director – Operation Lifesaver Canada – Funded by the Railway Association of Canada and Transport Canada focusing on National Action Plan for Railway Suicide Prevention.
She is the Provincial Mental Health Advisor to St. John Ambulance Ontario’s Council. She is also part of the Federal PTSD Act Advisory Committee, Public Health Agency of Canada, to support the development of the PTSD Federal Framework.
Dr. Kamkar is a Fellow & Member of the Collaborative Centre for Justice and Safety (CCJS) Advisory Council. She is on the Editorial Board – Section “Trust”- of the Journal of Community Safety & Well-Being (CSWB); is within the Scientific Advisory Committee of Anxiety Canada; within the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) of the Canadian Associations of Chiefs of Police (CACP); within the Psychology Advisory Committee of the Canadian Associations of Chiefs of Police (CACP); a Founding & Credentialed Member of the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (CACBT).
She provides Evidence-Based Assessment services, Independent Medical Evaluation, Disability Management services and Evidence Based Psychological Treatment for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Trauma and PTSD, Occupational Stress Injuries to First Responders and on Psychological Distress in the Workplace.
One of her greatest interests is to provide education to the public to promote mental health awareness and well-being. She provides ongoing Education and Workshops to Ministries and Organizations (Local, National and International), including First Responders Organizations.
Dr. Kamkar has made over 200 Media Appearances and has written close to 100 mental health articles/blogs for various comprehensive public resources and has provided numerous Public Relations / TV Media Work, including launching mental health series, being a former Health Blogger for CTV Health News and CP24 and currently a Mental Health Blogger for CAMH, Thomson Reuters Canadian Occupational Safety and other public resources.
Dr. Kamkar was also the Medical Practitioner for the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 and closely worked with Service Members/Veterans during the Invictus Games launched by Prince Harry.
Email address: katy.kamkar@camh.ca
Dr. Olivia Johnson
Dr. Johnson is founder of the Blue Wall Institute, an Air Force veteran, former police officer, and published author. She belongs to numerous professional organizations and Boards. Dr. Johnson is a subject expert in police suicide and prevention and recently received the Law Enforcement Psychological Autopsy Certification from the American Association of Suicidology. She holds a master’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri, St. Louis and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership Management from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Johnson formerly served as an Advisory Board member for VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Program regarding curriculum review for de-escalation training and techniques. She previously worked as a Senior Research Associate for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research as a Lead Instructor for the VALOR Officer Safety Program and was the Program Advisor and Lead Instructor for the Suicide Awareness for Law Enforcement Officers (SAFLEO) Program.
Dr. Tracie Keesee is the Vice President of Law Enforcement and Social Justice Initiatives for the Center for Policing Equity. Prior to CPE she served as the Deputy Commissioner of Equity and Inclusion and the Deputy Commissioner of Training for the New York Police Department (NYPD). Dr. Keesee is a graduate of the 203rd Session of the FBI National Academy.
