Focus on Officer Wellness: Bringing Grit to Police Psychology
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Discover how sports psychology is reshaping modern policing in this archived conversation from IACP’s Police Research Advancement Section. Sergeant Ashley Kierpaul shares her innovative work applying performance psychology principles to law enforcement training—revealing how these methods have strengthened police academy cadet retention, informed individualized field training plans, and enhanced performance in specialized assignments. This session offers a compelling look at how evidence‑based psychological strategies can build more resilient, adaptive, and effective officers. Revisit the discussion to see how these insights are helping transform the future of law enforcement training and operations.
Ashley Kierpaul
Sergeant
Michigan State Police
Sergeant Ashley Kierpaul has served at the Michigan State Police (MSP) since 2016. She is currently assigned as a police psychologist for MSP’s Office of Behavioral Science. Here, Sergeant Kierpaul provides psychological services for department members, including individual, group, and couples therapy, critical incident debriefs, psychoeducation classes, and psychological assessments for incoming recruits. She also serves first responders and veterans outside of the agency through private practice work.
Sergeant Kierpaul received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Michigan State University. She received her master’s degree in clinical psychology and her clinical license through the Michigan School of Psychology, where she received the Conceptual Research Award at the school’s 2021 research symposium for her group therapy proposal for first responders.
Prior to her current assignment, Sergeant Kierpaul was assigned as a trooper to the Houghton Lake and Brighton Posts. In 2019, she received the Samuel L. Mapes Award after leading her worksite with the most investigative felony arrests. She was promoted to the Recruiting and Selection Section after she revived MSP’s youth explorer programs. In 2022, MSP acknowledged Sergeant Kierpaul’s work through a Professional Excellence Award after she established explorer programs at eight posts across Michigan. Sergeant Kierpaul also served as a military police lieutenant in the Michigan Army National Guard, where she received an Army Achievement Medal in 2021 for her work at the Vibrant Response multi-state disaster training exercise.
Sergeant Kierpaul’s research interests include developing and evaluating treatment modalities for first responders and veterans to combat the cumulative effects of trauma and stress accumulated their career. Sergeant Kierpaul’s current focus is on implementing group therapy programs that both resonate with this population and are effective at reducing psychological symptoms associated with the work.
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