2023 NFOP Critical Issues in Policing National Survey: Focusing on Retention and Wellbeing

Sherri Martin serves as the National Director of Wellness Services for the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the largest representative organization of law enforcement officers in the United States, with over 354,000 members.  A career police officer, Sherri has extensive experience in crisis negotiation and intervention, serving most of her law enforcement career as a patrol supervisor and lead crisis negotiator.  While a member of the Charleston Police Department in South Carolina, where she served the bulk of her career, she achieved the rank of Lieutenant, and was responsible for the development of programs in the areas of officer wellness and crisis intervention within the community.  Sherri earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina and a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology from the Citadel, where she was chosen by faculty to receive the J. Patrick Leverett Award presented to the most outstanding graduate student in the Psychology program.   Additionally, Sherri has experience as a clinical therapist, having worked with clients suffering from PTSD and Clinical Depression during research conducted at Ralph H. Johnston Veterans Affairs Hospital in South Carolina.  She is licensed as a Professional Counselor Associate in the State of Connecticut.  While pursuing a Postgraduate Certificate in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Sherri led the Fraternal Order of Police National Officer Wellness Committee in a landmark survey of police officers on the subjects of critical stress, stigma, and use of wellness services. Sherri is a member of the National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide, led by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and has served as a contributor on various symposia on officer wellness and police suicide.  Along with the FOP National Officer Wellness Committee, Sherri is currently working on the development of a national database of culturally competent mental health providers for law enforcement.  In partnership with the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services of the US Department of Justice, the Fraternal Order of Police is also leading development of a nationally standardized curriculum in law enforcement peer support.   

Dr Jacqueline M. Drew is a police scholar with the Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Australia. Dr Drew has over 20 years of experience in law enforcement, as a practitioner and researcher. She is a psychologist, holding a PhD in organizational psychology. She provides expert advice to law enforcement on organizational systems and personnel practices, including police mental health and suicide, leadership, promotion systems and women and policing. Her work has translated into training of law enforcement personnel across Australia and United States, she works with police agencies to improve operational police practice and strives to make a positive impact on the working lives of police.