Reciprocal Family Wellness: Agencies, Families, and Officers Benefit from Support Programming

Family resilience and wellbeing are critical components of officer wellness. Agencies who proactively implement family support programming can expect improved retention, resilient officers, and happier communities. Implementing family support may take the form of social events, spouse and family education through ride-along activities or benefit information sessions, and highlighting the resources available to family members. Take the next step in building a resilient support system for agency families by speaking with subject matter experts on implementing effective family programming.

  • Learn about the value of family wellness programming for officers, family members, and policing agencies.
  • Identify strategies to launch or enhance family wellness programming in an agency.
  • Prepare for common program challenges.

Jim Baker

Commissioner, Vermont Department of Corrections

James W. Baker served with the Vermont State Police for over 30 years. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed to the position of Director of the Vermont State Police on September 1, 2006 by Public Safety Commissioner Kerry L. Sleeper. He received a B.S. in Criminal Justice Management from Southern Vermont College and is a graduate of the 188th Session of the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia.  Baker has an extensive background in all aspects of law enforcement. He served as a Trooper, Detective Trooper, Sergeant Patrol Commander, Det. Sgt., Lieutenant Station Commander, Captain Troop Commander and Assistant Field Force Commander. Baker was promoted to the rank of Major in December 2004 and served as the Field Force Commander. Colonel Baker retired from the Vermont State Police on June 30, 2009 to start a consulting practice entitled JW Consulting. Through his consulting he has served as the Interim Director of the Vermont Police Academy, Acting Police Chief in the Town of  Manchester, Vt., Interim Chief of Police for City of Rutland, Vt. and project consultant for the FBI National Law Enforcement Data Exchange (N-DEx) program. Baker also served as Executive Support Specialist for the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Initiative within the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance.      Baker was appointed the Chief of Police for the City of Rutland in August 2012. He left the position of Chief of Police in January 2015 to accept a position with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as the Director of Law Enforcement Operations and Support. He later served as the Director of Advocacy. In his role at IACP Baker worked on national and international criminal justice issues to include the development of the Institute of Community Police Relations. In May 2018 Baker left IACP to devote more time to his consulting practice. His past work includes the project lead of the Arlington (Vt.) Area Renewal Project, leadership coaching, first responder safety and wellness and law enforcement executive searches. Baker currently serves as the Interim Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Corrections.         

Kimberly Jackson-Luzader, Master's of Counselor Education, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (NC LCMHC), Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC)

Trauma Counselor

Raleigh Police Department

Kimberly Jackson-Luzader is the first and only Trauma Counselor for the Raleigh Police Department (RPD). Her position was established in 2016 to offer short-term counseling, emotional support, and community resource referrals to individuals who have experienced traumatic events. In 2019, a Raleigh officer was critically injured in the line of duty and this traumatic incident highlighted an urgent need for law enforcement family support. Kimberly was able to quickly bridge this gap utilizing her trauma experience and program development and management skills. With this opportunity Kimberly’s role evolved into the Coordinator for RPD’s Families Behind the Badge, in addition to her primary duties as a Trauma Counselor. Families Behind the Badge is a support network that strives to be a resource for all RPD family members and defines family as those who love and support our RPD officers. She is an active champion for Officer Safety and Wellness within her current department and has assisted in developing a variety of wellness initiatives. Prior to joining the Raleigh Police Department, she worked as an outpatient therapist in both community and private sectors. She has over 12 years of clinical experience and advanced training specializing in trauma, grief, loss, suicide bereavement, and critical incident management. Kimberly holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Findlay and a master’s degree in Counseling from NC State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina and a Nationally Certified Counselor.

Ralph LeBlanc, Masters in Criminal Justice Anna Maria College

Chief of Police

Westminster, Massachusetts Police Department

Chief Ralph LeBlanc has been a member of the Westminster Police Department since 1993 starting as a part-time dispatcher and assending through the ranks, becoming Chief of Police in September of 2020. He has been progresive in his appraoch to officer health and wellness with his small department and advocating for his officers. Chief LeBlanc is a member of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police CISM/Peer Support Committee,

Hugh Velasquez

Commander

Colorado Springs Police Department

Hugh M. Velasquez is a commander with the Colorado Springs Police Department. He oversees the Professional Standards Division which includes the Professional Development, Compliance, and Wellness Section, the Evidence/Impound Section, the Internal Affairs Section, The Public Affairs Section, and the Police Psychologist. Commander Velasquez's service with the Colorado Springs Police Department began at the Sand Creek Patrol Division in 1997, where he became a property crime detective in 2001. He then transferred to the Homicide Unit in 2002. He was promoted to sergeant in 2005, where he served in three patrol divisions (Gold Hill, Falcon, and Sand Creek). He also served as a sergeant in the Sex Crimes/Crimes Against Children Unit from 2007-2011. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2012, where he served in three patrol divisions (Sand Creek, Stetson Hills, and Falcon). As a patrol lieutenant, at differing times, he also oversaw the School Resource Officer Unit, the Sand Creek Division Impact Unit, and GangNet. He served in the Professional Standards Division as the training director from 2012-2016. His final assignment as a lieutenant was in the Patrol Support Section of the Specialized Enforcement Division in 2019. Commander Velasquez earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1995. He attended the FBI Rocky Mountain Command College, Center for Creative Leadership’s Leadership Development Program, and the Colorado POST-University of Denver Daniels Executive Education Program’s Public Leadership Program.

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