Practical Resilience Training: Skills to Expand Agency & Officer Wellness

Commander Dave Hughes is a 21 year veteran of the Columbus, Ohio, Police Department and began his law enforcement career at the age of 17 as a Police Explorer and radio dispatcher in 1989. Commander Hughes is currently in charge of the Division's Wellness Bureau which began in July, 2019. The Wellness Bureau consists of Police Therapy Dogs, Police Chaplains, Peer Assistance Team, Officer Support Team, C.I.T., Mental Crisis Response teams (Co-Responder), RREACT Opioid response teams (Co-Responder), Court Liaison Unit, Headquarters Operations Section and coordinates with our Employee Assistance Program with Columbus Public Health for employee wellness. Commander Hughes is married to his wife, Jessica, and has 3 teenage children, Aidan, Evan and Julia.

Colonel Rick Miller was born and raised in Watertown South Dakota. After graduation he attended the United States Marine Corps where he served 6 ½ years. He was assigned as a military police officer at Marine Corps Logistics Base in Barstow CA and later served as a Military Working Dog Handler and went on to training dogs and student handlers at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio TX. Colonel Miller started with the South Dakota Highway Patrol in 2001 and was stationed in Custer. After a short time, he was assigned to a Police Service Dog working interdiction in the Rapid City area. After his service dog retired in 2009 he was promoted to sergeant and in charge of administrative operations for western South Dakota as well as the SWAT team leader. In 2010 Colonel Miller was promoted to Lieutenant overseeing field operations.In 2013 Colonel Miller was appointed to the Assistant Superintendent in charge of administrative services and special operations. His duties include oversee hiring, training, aircraft operations, police service dogs and interdiction operations, budget, purchasing and legislative liaison. In June of 2019 Colonel Miller was appointed as the 15th Superintendent by Governor Kristi Noem. Colonel Miller has two sons, Alex and Luke and two steps sons, Cayden and Caleb. He and his wife Krista have been married since 2018.

Sergeant Rich Creamer is a 20-year veteran of the Norfolk Police Department and is currently assigned to the Norfolk Police Department's Training Division, where he is responsible for the development, maintenance, and instruction of courses related to Critical Incident Stress Management and Peer Support. Sergeant Creamer also provides CISM/Peer Support services to the Norfolk Police Department as well as other emergency services agencies throughout the region while developing an evolving-based vision and mission for the Norfolk Police Department to reflect trends in public safety mental health and wellness. Sgt. Creamer currently works with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and University of Penn in the development and delivery of VALOR- Resiliency in Law Enforcement curriculum. Prior to his current assignment, Sgt. Creamer held a leadership position in the Criminal Intelligence Unit and has extensive experience in violent crime investigations and criminal street gangs. Sergeant Creamer holds both a Bachelor's degree from Old Dominion University in Sociology and a Master's degree from Liberty University in Human Services Counseling.